O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,Jesus laments over the city that stood at the center of Israel’s worship, government, and national life. Its repeated name conveys grief over a people especially privileged by God’s presence, the Temple, and the ministry of His servants. Luk 19:41-44 As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city,… who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, Jerusalem’s history included repeated rejection of those God sent to call the nation to repentance. Prophets endured opposition, imprisonment, and death because their message exposed sin and warned of judgment. The city’s treatment of God’s messengers revealed persistent resistance to His authority. 2Ch 24:20-22 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada… how often I have longed to gather your children together, Jesus speaks with the compassion of the One who had continually called Israel back to faithfulness. His desire was to receive, protect, and restore the people of the city rather than abandon them to the judgment their rebellion would bring. Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets… as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, The picture is one of shelter and protection. Jesus offered Jerusalem safety under His care, as a mother bird shields her young from danger. Deu 32:11-12 As an eagle stirs up its nest and hovers over its young,… but you were unwilling! Jerusalem’s leaders and many of its people rejected the Messiah and His call to repentance. Their refusal would lead to the desolation of the city and the destruction of the Temple in AD 70. Jhn 5:40 yet you refuse to come to Me to have life. Persons / Places / Events 1. JerusalemThe city is central to Jewish identity and worship, often representing the heart of the Jewish nation. It is a place of both spiritual significance and historical conflict. 2. Prophets Messengers sent by God to deliver His word to the people. Historically, many prophets faced rejection and persecution from those they were sent to. 3. Jesus The speaker of this verse, expressing His lament over Jerusalem's rejection of His message and His desire to protect and nurture its people. 4. Chicks and Hen Imagery A metaphor used by Jesus to illustrate His protective and nurturing desire for the people of Jerusalem, drawing from the natural behavior of a hen with her chicks. 5. Rejection The event of Jerusalem's historical pattern of rejecting God's messengers, culminating in the rejection of Jesus Himself. Teaching Points God's Persistent LoveDespite repeated rejection, God's love and desire to protect His people remain steadfast. This calls us to reflect on God's patience and mercy in our own lives. The Consequences of Rejection Ignoring God's call can lead to spiritual desolation. We must be attentive and responsive to God's voice in our lives. The Heart of Jesus Jesus' lament reveals His deep compassion and sorrow for those who turn away from Him. We are called to share in His compassion for the lost. The Role of Prophets God's messengers often face opposition. We should support and heed those who faithfully proclaim God's truth today. Personal Reflection Consider areas in our lives where we may be resisting God's call and seek to align our hearts with His will. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the imagery of a hen gathering her chicks help us understand Jesus' heart for Jerusalem and for us today?2. In what ways can we be more receptive to God's messengers in our lives, and what might be the consequences of ignoring them? 3. How does Jesus' lament over Jerusalem challenge us to respond to His call in our own lives? 4. What parallels can we draw between the historical rejection of prophets in the Old Testament and the rejection of Jesus in the New Testament? 5. How can we cultivate a heart of compassion like Jesus for those who are spiritually lost or resistant to the Gospel? Connections to Other Scriptures Luke 13:34This parallel passage echoes Jesus' lament over Jerusalem, emphasizing His desire to gather and protect the people. Isaiah 53:3 This prophecy speaks of the Messiah being despised and rejected, which connects to the rejection Jesus experiences in Jerusalem. Psalm 91:4 This verse uses similar imagery of God covering His people with His feathers, highlighting the protective nature of God. 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 This passage recounts the history of Israel's rejection of God's prophets, providing a historical backdrop to Jesus' lament. John 1:11 This verse speaks of Jesus coming to His own, and His own not receiving Him, directly relating to the rejection mentioned in Matthew 23:37. People Abel, Barachias, Berechiah, Hen, Jesus, Zachariah, Zacharias, ZechariahPlaces JerusalemTopics Bird, Brood, Chickens, Chicks, Death, Desired, Gather, Gathered, Gathereth, Gathers, Hen, Jerusalem, Kill, Killest, Killeth, Killing, Kills, Longed, Murderest, Myself, O, Often, Ones, Prophets, Putting, Stone, Stones, Stonest, Stoneth, Stoning, Takes, Unwilling, Wanted, Willing, WingsDictionary of Bible Themes Matthew 23:37 1175 God, will of 5541 society, negative Library The Morality of the Gospel. Is stating the morality of the Gospel as an argument of its truth, I am willing to admit two points; first, that the teaching of morality was not the primary design of the mission; secondly, that morality, neither in the Gospel, nor in any other book, can be a subject, properly speaking, of discovery. If I were to describe in a very few words the scope of Christianity as a revelation, [49] I should say that it was to influence the conduct of human life, by establishing the proof of a future state … William Paley—Evidences of Christianity Jesus' Last Public Discourse. Denunciation of Scribes and Pharisees. Christianity Misunderstood by Believers. First Attempts on Jerusalem. For which Cause Our Lord Himself Also with his Own Mouth Saith... Relation of the Pharisees to the Sadducees and Essenes, and to the Gospel of Christ Among the People, and with the Pharisees The General Service to a Prophet. Of the Power of Making Laws. The Cruelty of the Pope and his Adherents, in this Respect, in Tyrannically Oppressing and Destroying Souls. Hints to Teachers and Questions for Pupils On Attending the Church Service Machinations of the Enemies of Jesus. The Early Ministry in Judea The Crossing of the Jordan Subjects of Study. Home Education in Israel; Female Education. Elementary Schools, Schoolmasters, and School Arrangements. Letter Xliv Concerning the Maccabees but to whom Written is Unknown. Number and Order of the Separate Books. Elucidations. "The Carnal Mind is Enmity against God for it is not Subject to the Law of God, Neither Indeed Can Be. So Then they that Are We are not Binding Heavy Burdens and Laying them Upon Your Shoulders... Repentance and Impenitence. Second Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to Brotherly Love. Links Matthew 23:37 NIVMatthew 23:37 NLT Matthew 23:37 ESV Matthew 23:37 NASB Matthew 23:37 KJV Matthew 23:37 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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