John 14:2 Meaning of My Father’s House Has Many Rooms

John 14:2
“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”

Explanation and Commentary of John 14:2

Jesus is comforting his disciples as he is preparing to leave them. Seeing that they are dismayed at the thought of losing him, he assures them that not only will he return for them, but that he has a wonderful place for them where he will be with them. This is mysterious but should give us great hope. The Father knows us, loves us, and has sent his Son to save us to be with him forever. This was told to the disciples as a comfort, and it should be a comfort to us as well.

The Bible uses much symbolic and apocalyptic language to describe the afterlife, and so scholars have struggled to absolutely define the nature of it. If God had wanted us to be able to absolutely define it, he would have absolutely described it. That said, what we know from Scripture is enough to show us why we would want to go there. Here, it is enough to say that it is a perfect place and our part of it is uniquely designed for us. In 14:6 Jesus says that he is the way to this place in the Father’s house.

Another and perhaps simultaneous possibility is that Jesus is not only talking about a dwelling in heaven but by pouring out his Holy Spirit on the Church is preparing for them to be the house with many rooms. God’s people saw the temple as his house, and they would soon come to understand that they were the new temple of God. In this respect not only do we have a place in heaven, but God has a present place in us.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of John 14:2

#1 “My Father’s house has many rooms;”
Jesus refers to God as his Father and ours as well. He resides in heaven, which is an actual place, though where this heavenly dimension is remains a mystery. But in some real way, God has a house with a place for his people. This should be a great comfort to anyone who belongs to him. At the same time, his dwelling place is in the many rooms that are his church.

#2 “if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”
Jesus never lies, and it seems that he had told them about this “place” before, to which Jesus is the way (Jn 14:6).

Bible Study on John 14:2

Expert Overview of John Ch. 13-21

Biblical Translations of John 14:2

NIV
“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”

NLT
“There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?”

ESV
“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

KJV
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

NKJV
“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”