Matthew 23:39 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

NIV: For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.''

NASB: For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE Lord!’?'

CSB: For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'! "

NLT: For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’ '

KJV: For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

NKJV: for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

In this chapter, Jesus has warned of impending judgment on Israel's religious leaders (Matthew 23:1–3) and on her people (Matthew 23:38). Speaking from His perspective as God, and looking into Israel's past, Christ mourned Jerusalem's rejection of Him (Matthew 23:37). Now, through the actions of their religious leaders, they have fully and officially rejected Him as the Messiah. Without His protection, Jerusalem and its temple will be left as vulnerable as an abandoned building, with no One to protect them.

In that context, Jesus says that He will not be there to protect Israel. Further, His public ministry is now complete. The people, in a public sense, will not see Him again until He returns as the conquering King (Revelation 19:11–15). He cites Psalm 118: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD (Psalm 118:26)." When Jesus comes to Israel again, He will not come as a sacrificial Savior (Matthew 16:21), but as the Judge (Hebrews 9:28). At that time, the people of Israel will finally acknowledge His true position as their King.

Matthew 23:37–39 contains Jesus' cry of mourning over Jerusalem's unfaithfulness and impending ruin. He describes a devastating legacy of killing prophets and stoning God's messengers. Christ speaks from His divine perspective as a member of the Trinity. He expresses the longing God shows, in both the Old and New Testaments, to protect Jerusalem's children. Yet they have rejected Him. Now He will withdraw, and God's judgment will come. Jesus' public ministry in Jerusalem is now over: the city at large will not see Him again until they are ready to apply the words of Psalm 118: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

After thoroughly dismantling scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees in debate, Jesus even more thoroughly condemns these religious leaders for their religious hypocrisy. They do all their religious acts and works to be seen and approved of by other people. Jesus pronounces God's judgment on the scribes and Pharisees in a series of seven "woe to you" statements. He repeatedly calls them "blind" and "hypocrites." He concludes with a lament for Jerusalem and her children who rejected His protection. God's judgment is coming.

Matthew 23 concludes Matthew's multi-chapter account of all of Jesus' interactions in the temple during the last week before His arrest and crucifixion. After silencing the religious leaders with parables and brilliant responses (Matthew 21—22), He pronounces God's judgment on the scribes and Pharisees in a series of seven "woe to you" statements. Jesus mourns for the judgment that will come on Jerusalem for her rejection of God. This leads Jesus to leave the temple, sadly remarking on its impending destruction (Matthew 24:1–2). As the disciples ask about this, Jesus begins an extended teaching on the end times in chapter 24.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.

Accessed 5/5/2024 6:13:53 AM