Luke 21:37 · Bible study
Luke 21:37 Commentary: Teaching by Day, Lodging by Night
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Jesus leave Jerusalem each night during Passion Week? Explore the Greek, historical context, and meaning of his retreat to the Mount of Olives.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus taught in the temple by day and lodged on the Mount of Olives by night during his final days before the crucifixion.
- Key words: ηὐλίζετο (aulizomai), to lodge in the open air; ἦν διδάσκων, was teaching (customary action).
- Main debate: Whether Jesus slept in a house at Bethany or outdoors with pilgrims on the mountain.
- Theological theme: The rhythm of public ministry and private prayer; Christ’s humility and dedication.
- Best use: A model for balancing service and solitude, and a background for understanding the events of holy week.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet.
KJV King James Version 1769
And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And every day he was teaching in the temple; and every night he went out, and lodged in the mount that is called Olivet.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And he was during the days in the temple teaching, and during the nights, going forth, he was lodging at the mount called of Olives;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And by day he was teaching in the temple, and by night, going out, he remained abroad on the mountain called [the mount] of Olives;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And in the daytime, he was teaching in the temple: but at night going out, he abode in the mount that is called Olivet.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y enseñaba|strong="G2258, G1321" de día en el templo; y de noche saliendo, estábase en el monte que se llama de las Olivas.
E ensinava durante os dias no Templo, porém, às noites saía e as passava no monte, chamado as Oliveiras.
Pendant le jour, Jésus enseignait dans le temple, et il allait passer la nuit à la montagne appelée montagne des oliviers.
Und er lehrte des Tages im Tempel; des Nachts aber ging er hinaus und blieb über Nacht am Ölberge.
Des daags nu was Hij lerende in de tempel; maar des nachts ging Hij uit, en vernachtte op den berg, genaamd den Olijf berg.
Or di giorno egli insegnava nel tempio; e la notte usciva e la passava sul monte detto degli Ulivi.
I nauczał we dnie w kościele; ale w nocy wychodząc, przebywał na górze, którą zowią oliwną.
Днем Он учил в храме, а ночи, выходя, проводил на горе, называемой Елеонскою.
耶穌每日 在 殿 裡教訓人， 每夜 出 城在 一座山，名叫 橄欖山 住宿。
And every day he was teaching in the Temple and every night he went out to the mountain which is named the Mountain of Olives to take his rest.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 21:37
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree this verse describes Jesus’ pattern during the final days of his public ministry, most likely Palm Sunday through Tuesday of Passion Week. The Greek imperfect tenses (Ἦν…διδάσκων, ηὐλίζετο) indicate customary or repeated action: teaching by day, lodging by night. Vincent's Word Studies notes that ηὐλίζετο appears only here and in Matthew 21:17, where it describes Jesus camping at Bethany. The Cambridge Bible suggests the verb implies sleeping in the open air, as Galilean pilgrims often did on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. Gill’s Exposition adds that Jesus likely withdrew for prayer. While commentators differ on whether he stayed in a house in Bethany or under the stars, all recognize the verse as a summary of his holy week routine.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jesus taught daily in the temple and spent each night on the Mount of Olives during his final days before the crucifixion.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Location of lodging | Jesus spent the nights on or near the Mount of Olives during the final days of Passion Week. | Some see Bethany, a village on the eastern slope, as the specific place (Matthew 21:17). Others suggest he slept in the open air among Galilean pilgrims, based on the verb ηὐλίζετο (to bivouac). |
| Purpose of withdrawal | Jesus used the nights for rest and likely for prayer. | Gill emphasizes prayer; Cambridge focuses on safety among pilgrims; others see it as avoiding arrest until the appointed hour. |
| Continuation after Tuesday | After the events of Tuesday, Jesus did not return to the temple. | Lange argues that Wednesday and Thursday were spent in seclusion. Wesley warns the verse does not imply Jesus entered the temple again after Tuesday. |
| Prophecy fulfillment | The Mount of Olives carries eschatological significance. | Some see a direct link to Zechariah 14:4 and the Lord’s return; others view it simply as a practical choice. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Luke 21:37 sits at the close of Jesus’ public teaching in the Jerusalem temple. The Passover festival swelled the city with pilgrims, many of whom camped on the Mount of Olives because Jerusalem had limited lodging. The Cambridge Bible notes that Jesus and his disciples probably joined these pilgrims, using the slopes as a safe base near the city. The Mount of Olives, just east of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley, held deep prophetic significance: Zechariah 14:4 links it to the coming of the Lord. By night, Jesus could pray in seclusion, as Gill suggests, away from the crowds and the hostile religious leaders who plotted against him during the day.
Luke’s Greek uses the accusative plural (τὰς ἡμέρας, the days; τὰς νύκτας, the nights) to mark duration, “during the days” and “during the nights.” This is not a single day but a repeated practice. Lange’s Commentary clarifies that after Tuesday evening Jesus did not return to the temple; the next days were spent in retirement with his disciples. The verb ηὐλίζετο, from αὐλίζομαι, originally described shepherds lodging in a courtyard overnight. Here it evokes a bare, exposed rest, far from the comfort of a home. Matthew 21:17 says he “camped” at Bethany, a village on the eastern slope of Olivet. By lodging outside the city walls, Jesus avoided nocturnal arrest while still making himself available to teach each morning.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Luke 21:37. The verse is stable across Greek manuscripts and early translations.
Reception History
Early Christian writers viewed this verse as evidence of Christ’s humility and his devotion to prayer. The phrase “abode in the mount” was often linked to the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18:1-2), emphasizing the Mount of Olives as a place of both teaching and agony. Reformation-era commentators, such as Matthew Henry and John Wesley, used the verse to encourage early rising and the habit of beginning the day with God. In modern preaching, the verse is frequently cited as a model for balancing public ministry with private retreat, and for trusting God’s protection even in vulnerable circumstances.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Public Labor: Jesus taught in the temple every day, fully engaged with the crowds and religious authorities.
- Private Retreat: Each night he withdrew to the Mount of Olives, a place of prayer and rest away from the pressure of Jerusalem.
- Rhythm of Devotion: His pattern shows the importance of balancing public ministry with private communion with the Father.
Five-point outline
- Dedication to Teaching: Jesus did not stop teaching even when opposition mounted.
- Wise Caution: Leaving the city at night avoided premature arrest (see John 12:36).
- Place of Prayer: Gill and others connect the Mount of Olives to Jesus’ habit of prayer (Luke 22:39).
- Fulfillment of Prophecy: Zechariah 14:4 associates the Mount of Olives with the Lord’s coming.
- Example for Disciples: Barnes highlights Jesus’ early morning return to the temple as a model for starting the day with God.
Illustration hooks
- A pastor who preaches on Sunday but spends Monday mornings in solitude, away from the demands of the congregation, a rhythm of giving and refueling.
- A parent who works hard all day providing for the family, then retreats to a quiet room to pray before the children wake up, following Jesus’ pattern of leaving the crowd behind.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Was Jesus afraid of being arrested at night, or was he simply avoiding unnecessary conflict?
- Why did he choose the Mount of Olives instead of staying in Bethany with friends?
- Does this verse mean we should always separate public service from private prayer?
Leading a Discussion
This verse gives us a window into how Jesus spent his final days before the cross. It describes a deliberate rhythm of public teaching and private withdrawal. As you discuss, consider what his pattern reveals about his priorities, and what it might teach us about ours.
Discussion questions
- What does the verse tell us about Jesus’ daily schedule during Passion Week? (Observation)
- Why do you think Jesus left Jerusalem each night instead of staying inside the city? (Interpretation)
- The Greek word for “lodge” (ηὐλίζετο) suggests sleeping in the open air. How does that shape your image of Jesus during this week? (Interpretation)
- In what ways does Jesus’ example challenge modern ideas of success and busyness? (Application)
- How can we create a rhythm of public service and private prayer in our own lives? (Application)
- Barnes saw Jesus’ early morning return to the temple as an encouragement to early worship. Do you agree? Why or why not? (Interpretation/Application)
- What does this verse teach us about trusting God with our safety and schedule? (Application)
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Zechariah 14:4 | His feet will stand in that day on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, making a very great valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north, and half of it toward the south. |
| Matthew 21:1 | When they came near to Jerusalem and came to Bethsphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, |
| Matthew 21:17 | He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and camped there. |
| Matthew 26:30 | When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. |
| Matthew 26:55 | In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. |
| Mark 11:12 | The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry. |
| Mark 11:19 | When evening came, he went out of the city. |
| Luke 19:37 | As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke clarifies that the Greek phrase translated "in the day time" actually means "every day" and refers to Jesus' final four days. He notes that Jesus taught daily in the temple and each evening withdrew to Bethany, a town at the foot or on the slope of the Mount of Olives.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights Jesus' habit of rising early to teach in the temple as a deliberate example for believers. Early morning prayer, he argues, is like stopping evil at its source; delaying it allows worldly distractions to gain control. Starting the day with God makes the work of piety easier and keeps the heart from being swept away.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible Schools emphasizes the exact sequence of Jesus final days in Jerusalem: He taught in the temple only during the daytime of Sunday through Tuesday, then withdrew to the Mount of Olives each night, likely sleeping in the open air with His disciples, as was common for Galilean pilgrims.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note draws attention to Jesus' deliberate daily pattern: public teaching in the Temple by day, then withdrawal to the Mount of Olives at night. This rhythm shows the Lord's commitment to both open instruction in the heart of worship and quiet retirement for prayer and rest.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights Jesus' daily rhythm of openly teaching in the temple during the day and withdrawing to the Mount of Olives at night. He suggests the purpose was prayer, both for himself and his disciples, given the little time they had left together.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB clarifies the timing and location of Jesus' actions in this passage. He specifies that the events occurred during the daytime of what he calls "this His last week" — the final week before the crucifixion. He also identifies "the mount" as Bethany, the village where Jesus stayed.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange observes that Luke is not claiming Jesus taught the end-times discourse in the temple. Instead, he is summarizing Jesus' daily pattern during those final days: teaching in the temple by day, lodging on the Mount of Olives by night. The people's eager early-morning gatherings show their undiminished hunger for his teaching, starkly contrasting with their rejection days later.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws a parallel between the natural and spiritual worlds: just as budding trees reliably signal summer, certain events reliably signal the kingdom of God's approach. For him, a nation's ripe iniquity foretells its ruin, and the fall of persecuting powers directly indicates that God's kingdom is about to gain ground.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Abode [ ηυλιζετο] . Only here and Mt 21:17 .
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley clarifies that the phrase "now by day" describes Jesus' general pattern of teaching in the temple during his time in Jerusalem, not a specific day's occurrence. The wording does not imply that Jesus returned to the temple again after the events described just before this verse.