Matthew 23:37-38
“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! See, your house is left to you desolate.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus uses the tender image of a hen gathering her young to express His profound desire to protect Jerusalem. The crucial point often missed is that "how often" isn't just about multiple attempts, but highlights the persistent, maternal nature of God's outreach to His people, a love that sought to shield them even as they repeatedly chose a path of destruction.
Just before this moment, Jesus has delivered a scathing indictment of the religious leaders, calling them hypocrites and outwardly religious but inwardly corrupt. He then pronounces a series of "woes" upon them, predicting their judgment and the judgment that will fall upon Jerusalem for rejecting God's messengers. This verse is Jesus' deeply emotional response to the city's persistent rejection of God's love and protection, contrasting His desire to gather and protect its people with their stubborn refusal.
Jesus looks at Jerusalem, not with anger, but with profound sorrow. Why does this beloved city break His heart so deeply?
Jesus' lament over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37 is more than just a sad observation; it's a prophetic declaration woven with deep personal grief. The repetition of "Jerusalem, Jerusalem" isn't just for emphasis; it signifies the weight of the city's history and its tragic destiny.
A Pattern of Violence
He calls Jerusalem "the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it." This wasn't a new problem; it was Jerusalem's identity. For generations, they had rejected and murdered God's messengers. This pattern shows a deep-seated rebellion against God's truth and His messengers.
A Broken Heart's Cry
Jesus' lament reveals His tender heart. He compares Himself to a mother hen, yearning to gather her chicks under her wings for protection. This image highlights His desire to shield Jerusalem from the impending judgment, offering them safety and life. His willingness to protect them, and their persistent refusal, is the source of His profound sorrow.
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Jesus offered protection, a mother's tender care. But Jerusalem's response was a firm "no." What does this tell us about the power of human will?
The core of Jesus' lament lies in the stark contrast between His persistent, loving desire and Jerusalem's willful rejection. He states plainly, "how often would I have gathered your children together... and you were not willing!"
Divine Desire vs. Human Defiance
Jesus expresses a deep, repeated longing to gather Jerusalem's people, like a hen gathers her chicks. This wasn't a one-time offer; it was a consistent, loving pursuit throughout their history and His ministry. His desire was for their wholeness and safety under His divine protection.
The Weight of "You Would Not"
The phrase "and you were not willing" is incredibly powerful. It underscores that the barrier to salvation and protection was not God's power or desire, but Jerusalem's own stubborn choice. Their "will" actively resisted God's will. This highlights the critical role of human free will in responding to God's grace. Even divine love, offered repeatedly, cannot overcome a determined, persistent refusal.
Understand the original words
Ierousalēm · Greek Proper Noun
The capital of Israel, representing the heart of the nation, the site of the Temple, and the center of God's covenantal dealings with His people. It is frequently portrayed in Scripture as the place of spiritual rebellion and the rejection of God's messengers.
prophētēs · Greek Noun
Individuals commissioned by God to declare His word to His people, often calling them to repentance. They were frequently persecuted or killed by those who rejected God’s authority.
pterux · Greek Noun
A metaphorical image signifying divine protection, care, comfort, and the sheltering presence of God. It draws on the imagery of a mother bird protecting her young from danger.
erēmos · Greek Adjective
A state of being abandoned, forsaken, or laid waste. Biblically, it often refers to the withdrawal of God's presence, leading to spiritual or physical ruin.
oikos · Greek Noun
A reference to the Temple in Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God's name. Its desolation signifies the end of the old covenant order and the departure of the Lord's glory due to national rebellion.
Jesus' lament over Jerusalem highlights a long history of rejection towards God's messengers and divine overtures, culminating in His own rejection and the city's impending destruction.
c. 970 BC
Solomon's Temple Dedicated
The First Temple in Jerusalem is dedicated, marking it as the central place of worship for Israel and a symbol of God's presence.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrians, leading to the exile of many Israelites and reinforcing Jerusalem's importance as the sole remaining religious center for Judah.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and First Temple
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the First Temple, and exile much of the population, marking a period of profound national trauma and religious crisis.
c. 516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
Following their return from Babylonian exile, the Jewish people, with encouragement from prophets like Haggai and Zechariah, rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.
c. 458 BC - 430 BC
Ministry of Ezra and Nehemiah
Ezra and Nehemiah lead reforms in Jerusalem, re-establishing religious law and rebuilding the city walls, reinforcing the importance of the Law and the Temple.
c. 4 BC - AD 30/33— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus conducts his public ministry, including multiple visits to Jerusalem and the Temple, ultimately being crucified there. This period is the direct context for His lament.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and Second Temple
Roman legions under Titus conquer Jerusalem, destroy the city and the Second Temple, and scatter the Jewish people, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy of desolation.
This passage is a parallel account of Jesus' lament over Jerusalem, also using the tender image of a hen gathering her brood, emphasizing His desire to protect them and their persistent refusal.
Deuteronomy 32:11This Old Testament passage describes God's protective care for Israel using the imagery of an eagle stirring up its nest and spreading its wings over its young, providing an earlier example of God's nurturing desire for His people.
Jeremiah 7:11This prophecy describes Jerusalem as having become a 'den of robbers,' echoing Jesus' accusation of Jerusalem turning God's house into something it was never meant to be, highlighting a historical pattern of corruption and rebellion.
Zechariah 12:10This prophetic passage speaks of a future time when Jerusalem will look upon Him whom they have pierced, which Jesus alludes to when He states they will not see Him again until they acknowledge Him, connecting the current rejection to a future reckoning.
Romans 11:25-27This passage discusses the hardening of Israel in part until the full number of Gentiles comes in, and then all Israel will be saved, offering a theological perspective on God's long-suffering plan that includes both judgment and ultimate redemption for His people.
vincentMatthew 23:37: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
Hen (ὄρνις)Generic: bird or fowl; but hen is used generically of the mother-bird of all species.
bensonMatthew 23:37: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
Matthew 23:37 . O Jerusalem, Jerusalem — The Lord Jesus having thus laid before the Pharisees and the Jewish nation their heinous guilt and impending ruin, was exceedingly moved at the thought of the calamities coming upon them. A day or two before he had…
Jesus uses the tender image of a hen gathering her young to express His profound desire to protect Jerusalem. The crucial point often missed is that "how often" isn't just about multiple attempts, but highlights the persistent, maternal nature of God's outreach to His people, a love that sought to shield them even as they repeatedly chose a path of destruction.
Just before this moment, Jesus has delivered a scathing indictment of the religious leaders, calling them hypocrites and outwardly religious but inwardly corrupt. He then pronounces a series of "woes" upon them, predicting their judgment and the judgment that will fall upon Jerusalem for rejecting God's messengers. This verse is Jesus' deeply emotional response to the city's persistent rejection of God's love and protection, contrasting His desire to gather and protect its people with their stubborn refusal.
Just before this moment, Jesus has delivered a scathing indictment of the religious leaders, calling them hypocrites and outwardly religious but inwardly corrupt. He then pronounces a series of "woes" upon them, predicting their judgment and the judgment that will fall upon Jerusalem for rejecting God's messengers. This verse is Jesus' deeply emotional response to the city's persistent rejection of God's love and protection, contrasting His desire to gather and protect its people with their stubborn refusal.
"“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! See, your house is…" — Jesus uses the tender image of a hen gathering her young to express His profound desire to protect Jerusalem. The crucial point often missed is that "how often" isn't just about multiple attempts, bu…
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