39. For I say unto you--and these were His last words to
the impenitent nation, see on
Mr 13:1,
opening remarks.
Ye shall not see me henceforth--What? Does Jesus mean that He was
Himself the Lord of the temple, and that it became "deserted" when
HE
finally left it? It is even so. Now is thy fate sealed, O Jerusalem, for
the glory is departed from thee! That glory, once visible in the holy of
holies, over the mercy seat, when on the day of atonement the blood of
typical expiation was sprinkled on it and in front of it--called by the
Jews the Shekinah, or the Dwelling, as being the visible
pavilion of Jehovah--that glory, which Isaiah
(Isa 6:1-13)
saw in vision, the beloved disciple says was the glory of Christ
(Joh 12:41).
Though it was never visible in the second temple, Haggai foretold that
"the glory of that latter house should be greater than of the
former"
(Hag 2:9)
because "the Lord whom they sought was suddenly to come to His temple"
(Mal 3:1),
not in a mere bright cloud, but enshrined in living humanity! Yet brief
as well as "sudden" was the manifestation to be: for the words He was
now uttering were to be HIS VERY LAST
within its precincts.
till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the
Lord--that is, till those "Hosannas to the Son of David" with which
the multitude had welcomed Him into the city--instead of "sore
displeasing the chief priests and scribes"
(Mt 21:15)
--should break forth from the whole nation, as their glad acclaim to
their once pierced, but now acknowledged, Messiah. That such a time
will come is clear from
Zec 12:10;
Ro 11:26;
2Co 3:15, 16,
&c. In what sense they shall then "see Him" may be gathered from
Zec 2:10-13;
Eze 37:23-28; 39:28, 29,
&c.
JFB.
Outline
Jesus reproves the scribes and Pharisees. (1-12)
Crimes of the Pharisees. (13-33)
The guilt of Jerusalem. (34-39)
Painted Illustration of a Pharisee During the time of Jesus
Important Topics for Bible Study
Quick Reference Map
Map of Judea in the Time of Jesus
(Click to Enlarge)
Painted Illustration of a Scribe During the time of Jesus
Painted Illustration of a Rabbi During the time of Jesus
Ancient Customs
Geography
Jerusalem
Judaea
Matthew Resources
The New Testament