Matthew 23:38
Matthew 23:38 in Multiple Translations
Look, your house is left to you desolate.
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
See, your house is made waste.
Now look—your house is left abandoned, totally empty.
Beholde, your habitation shalbe left vnto you desolate,
Lo, left desolate to you is your house;
Behold, your house is left to you desolate.
Behold, your house is left to you desolate.
Behold, you house shall be left to you, desolate.
So listen to this: Your city [SYN] will soon become an uninhabited place.
Berean Amplified Bible — Matthew 23:38
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Matthew 23:38 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Matthew 23:38
Study Notes — Matthew 23:38
- Context
- Cross References
- Matthew 23:38 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Matthew 23:38
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Matthew 23:38
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Matthew 23:38
- Trapp's Commentary on Matthew 23:38
- Ellicott's Commentary on Matthew 23:38
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Matthew 23:38
- Cambridge Bible on Matthew 23:38
- Barnes' Notes on Matthew 23:38
- Whedon's Commentary on Matthew 23:38
- Sermons on Matthew 23:38
Context — Lament over Jerusalem
38Look, your house is left to you desolate.
39For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 22:5 | But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by Myself, declares the LORD, that this house will become a pile of rubble.’” |
| 2 | Luke 13:35 | Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ” |
| 3 | Luke 21:24 | They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. |
| 4 | 1 Kings 9:7 | then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and I will banish from My presence this temple I have sanctified for My Name. Then Israel will become an object of scorn and ridicule among all peoples. |
| 5 | Luke 19:43–44 | For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God. ” |
| 6 | Luke 21:20 | But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near. |
| 7 | Luke 21:6 | “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” |
| 8 | Acts 6:13–14 | where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” |
| 9 | Mark 13:14 | So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. |
| 10 | Isaiah 64:10–12 | Your holy cities have become a wilderness. Zion has become a wasteland and Jerusalem a desolation. Our holy and beautiful temple, where our fathers praised You, has been burned with fire, and all that was dear to us lies in ruins. After all this, O LORD, will You restrain Yourself? Will You keep silent and afflict us beyond measure? |
Matthew 23:38 Summary
In Matthew 23:38, Jesus says that the temple, which was the center of Jewish worship, is left empty and alone because the people have rejected Him. This is a result of their refusal to come to Him and be gathered under His care, as He expressed in Matthew 23:37. Just like a house that is empty and unused, the temple will be desolate because it has lost its true purpose, which is to worship and honor God (as seen in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17). We can learn from this verse by making sure our own hearts and lives are not empty and rejecting of God's love, but instead filled with His presence and care (as promised in John 14:23).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jesus mean by 'your house' in Matthew 23:38?
In this context, 'your house' refers to the temple in Jerusalem, which was the center of Jewish worship and community, as seen in Matthew 23:37 where Jesus laments over Jerusalem, and also in Luke 19:41-44 where Jesus weeps over the city's future desolation.
Why does Jesus say the house is left desolate?
Jesus says the house is left desolate because the people have rejected Him and refused to come to Him, as stated in Matthew 23:37, and this rejection will lead to the temple's destruction, a consequence also prophesied in Matthew 24:2 and Luke 21:24.
Is this verse a prophecy or a statement of fact?
This verse is both a statement of fact, as Jesus was speaking to the current state of the temple and its people, and a prophecy, as it foretells the future desolation of the temple, which occurred in 70 AD when the Roman army destroyed it, fulfilling Jesus' words in Matthew 24:2.
How does this verse relate to the rest of Matthew 23?
This verse is part of Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees and the Jewish leaders, as seen in Matthew 23:1-36, where He criticizes their hypocrisy and lack of faith, and it serves as a culmination of His warnings to them, emphasizing the consequences of their actions, as also warned in Matthew 23:37 and Matthew 24:1-2.
Reflection Questions
- What are the consequences of rejecting God's love and provision, as seen in the context of Matthew 23:37-38?
- How can I ensure that my heart and life are not left desolate, but instead filled with the presence and love of God, as desired by Jesus in Matthew 23:37?
- What does it mean for me to 'come to Jesus' and be gathered under His care, as expressed in Matthew 23:37, and how can I apply this to my daily life?
- In what ways can I be a reflection of Jesus' love and care for others, as seen in His lament over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37, and how can I share this love with those around me?
Gill's Exposition on Matthew 23:38
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Matthew 23:38
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Matthew 23:38
Trapp's Commentary on Matthew 23:38
Ellicott's Commentary on Matthew 23:38
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Matthew 23:38
Cambridge Bible on Matthew 23:38
Barnes' Notes on Matthew 23:38
Whedon's Commentary on Matthew 23:38
Sermons on Matthew 23:38
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Eternal House of Wisdom by Steve Gallagher | This sermon emphasizes the importance of building an eternal house of wisdom by submitting to God's authority, word, dealings in life, and living out wisdom. It contrasts the rewar |
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Exposition on Psalm 89 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine preaches about the faithfulness of God's promises, despite the challenges faced by His people. He highlights the change brought by Christ's resurrection and the repro |
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The Eternal Conception and Decision by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the eternal purpose of God in his sermon 'The Eternal Conception and Decision', focusing on the significance of God's house as a representation of His p |
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Haggai 2:6 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith emphasizes the prophetic significance of Haggai 2:6, warning of a coming universal earthquake that symbolizes God's judgment on nations for their sins and rejection of |
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The Return of Jesus Christ to Earth by Oswald J. Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that the world is becoming increasingly evil and corrupt as we approach the end times. He refers to Acts 15:14-18 as the most important prop |
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Walking With God in Your Generation (Norwegian) by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of walking with God and living a life that pleases Him, drawing inspiration from the examples of Enoch and Noah. It challenges young people to |
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Jerusalem in Last Days Prophecy by Zac Poonen | This sermon delves into the prophecies concerning Jerusalem and Iraq in the last days, highlighting the significance of these locations in biblical end-time events. It emphasizes t |






