What Did Jesus Mean By “Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord” In Matthew 23:39?

Jesus concluded his prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem by telling the teachers of the law and the Pharisees (Matthew 23:39),

“...you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”

This is a quotation of Psalm 118:26.

Why did Jesus quote this verse, and what was the significance of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees seeing him again?

Psalm 118:26 was a verse often quoted by the Jewish people as they looked forward to the Messiah delivering them from Roman occupation (see Matthew 21:9).

However, according to Jesus, the next time they would see him was when he was coming on the clouds in judgment of Israel (Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62).

It is my belief this judgment occurred in AD 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman armies and left desolate.

The context of Psalm 118:26 speaks about the stone the builders rejected (see verse 22).

Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22 in Luke 20:17 when he declared he was the stone.

The builders who rejected the stone were the leaders of Israel (Luke 20:19).

I explain this more fully in my book, Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream: The Statue, The Stone, and The Kingdom of Grace .

Also in the context of Psalm 118:26 are the following words (Psalm 118:25-26):

“Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.”

Notice these are Jewish people crying out for salvation...for success against their enemies.

They are crying out for deliverance.

Also notice they are crying out from the house of the Lord, the temple in Jerusalem.

They are crying out fort he one who comes in the name of the Lord to save them.

This one is the Messiah.

Let’s return to Matthew 23:34-39, when Jesus quoted Psalm 118:26, and put this in context of Jesus pronouncing judgment upon the leaders of Israel and the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.

Remember, Jesus said,

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say,

‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”

Understanding that the leaders and people of Israel would often proclaim Psalm 118:26 as they longed for deliverance from the Romans, it is very likely they were proclaiming this verse as the Roman armies surrounded them in AD 70.

At this time, scholars tell us that around one million Jewish people retreated into the walls of Jerusalem for protection.

It was from within the temple, the house in Jerusalem, where Psalm 118:25-26 occurred.

So it is very likely the Jewish people in AD 70 were shouting from within the temple,

“Lord save us. Lord grant us success ”

as they awaited the Messiah to deliver them from the Roman armies.

Yet they rejected Jesus as the Messiah; and instead of coming to rescue them, he was coming on the clouds in judgment as they recited,

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

The name of the Lord was Jesus.

Yet they rejected him, while flogging, crucifying, and killing many of their own Jewish people who believed Jesus was the Messiah.

This is an excerpt from Brad’s book:
Revelation Volume One: Judgment On First-Century Israel.

Available On Amazon May 4-2025!