Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 23:38-39

"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 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." — Matthew 23:38-39 (ASV)

Nothing remained for the King but to pronounce the solemn sentence of death upon those who would not come to Him that they might have life: Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. The whole “house” of the Jews was left desolate when Jesus departed from them. The temple, the holy and beautiful “house,” became a spiritual desolation when Christ finally left it. Jerusalem was too far gone to be rescued from its self-sought doom.

Amid all this gloom there was one gleam of light: 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. After His death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus appeared many times to His disciples, but not once to the unbelieving Jews. His personal ministry to them was at an end, but it would be renewed when He comes to them a second time, without a sin-offering to salvation. Then they would say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Long ages have passed since the King went away into the far country. The signs of the times all tell us that His coming draws near. Oh, that Christians and Jews alike were on the lookout for the true Messiah, whose message to all is, Behold, I am coming quickly!