37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38 See, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ” (Matthew 23:37–39 (ESV)
The Bible contains various genres of literature. The four New Testament Gospels are ancient biographies of Jesus Christ. Each of the four contain a predominant theme concerning Jesus’ person and work. The Gospel of John contains the theme of Jesus’ deity. The Gospel of Luke contains the theme of Jesus’ humanity. The Gospel of Mark has the theme of Jesus’ ministry of servanthood. The Gospel of Matthew has the theme of Jesus’ kingly majesty.
However, the Gospels also contain elements of other biblical genres. One such genre is Hebrew poetry. The largest collection of biblical Hebrew poetry are the Psalms. These 150 separate songs express various styles, emotions, perspectives or points of view. There are Messianic Psalms, Thanksgiving Psalms, and even Wisdom Psalms. Today’s text from Matthew contains the emotional tone of a Lament Psalm. A Lament Psalm is a song or expression of grief.
Jesus’ expressed grief and sorrow over Jerusalem. This tone is displayed by His words “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem.” Within this context, the repetition conveys deep sorrow by our Lord for the city of peace. Why? It is because the city represented the people God chose to be His children. However, instead of receiving God’s self-disclosure by His prophets the people of God killed the prophets of God and rejected the Word of God. In so doing, they rejected God.
“This outpouring of grief is addressed to “Jerusalem” because this city, being the capital, Israel’s very heart and center, symbolizes the spirit or attitude of the nation as a whole. Intense emotion, unfathomable pathos, finds its expression in the repetition of the word Jerusalem. Cf. “altar, altar” (1 Kings 13:2), “Martha, Martha” (Luke 10:41), “Simon, Simon” (Luke 22:31), and such multiple repetitions as “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died for you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Sam. 18:33); and “Land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord” (Jer. 22:29; cf. 7:4),” states Dr. William Hendriksen.
“That the nation was indeed guilty of killing and stoning God’s official ambassadors has already been established; see Matt. 5:12. Proof for “How often would I have gathered your children to myself” is found first of all in the Gospel according to John (2:14; 5:14; 7:14, 28; [8:2]; 10:22, 23). Incidentally, this statement of Jesus also shows that even the Synoptics, though stressing Christ’s work in and around Galilee, do bear testimony to the extensive labor which Jesus had performed in Jerusalem and vicinity. Bearing in mind, however, that Jerusalem represented the nation, it should be pointed out that Christ’s sympathy and yearning love had by no means been confined to the inhabitants of this city or even of Judea. It had been abundantly evident also in the northern regions. See Matt. 9:36; 11:25–30; 15:32; Luke 15; etc.).”
Jesus tenderly compared His love for Jerusalem to a hen and her chicks. “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”
“The simile Jesus uses is unforgettable. A chicken hawk suddenly appears, its wings folded, its eyes concentrated on the farmyard, its ominous claws ready to grasp a chick.Or, to change the figure, a storm is approaching. Lightning flashes become more frequent, the rumbling of the thunder grows louder and follows the electrical discharges more and more closely. Raindrops develop into a shower, the shower into a cloudburst. In either case what happens is that with an anxious and commanding “cluck, cluck, cluck!” the hen calls her chicks, conceals them under her protecting wings, and rushes off to a place of shelter. “How frequently,” says Jesus, “I have similarly yearned to gather you. But you refused to come,” explains Dr. Hendriksen.
Did Israel really think that the Lord’s threats were empty, and His predictions of approaching woe ridiculous? The result of such obstinence is desolation. To be desolate (ἔρημος; eremos) means to be lonely, deserted and forsaken. This prophecy would be historically fulfilled in 70 A.D.
Jesus concluded His lament with the words, “39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ” This statement did not refer to Jesu recent entrance into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-11). Rather, Jesus referred to His Second Coming.
“The meaning is that after this week of the passion Jesus will not again publicly reveal himself to the Jews until the day of his second coming. Except for a brief transition period (Acts 13:46), the day of special opportunity for the Jews is past. At Christ’s return upon the clouds of glory “every eye shall see him” (Rev. 1:7). “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (see Matt. 21:9; Luke 19:38) will then be on every lip. Those who will have repented before they died will then, at that glorious coming, proclaim Christ joyfully; the others ruefully, remorsefully, not penitently. But so majestic and radiant will be Christ’s glory that all will feel impelled to render homage to him. Cf. Isa. 45:23; Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10, 11,” concludes Dr. Hendriksen.
Jesus Christ is returning soon. Are you ready?
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 