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37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

 

Jesus showed His compassion for unbelieving Israel and assured them that God would fulfill His promise to establish them as a nation in the future (vv 37-39). He lamented their present rejection of the Messiah.

23:37

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!

Jesus directed His lament to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It was in Jerusalem that Israel would officially reject her Messiah. This was characteristic of a city that killed prophets and stoned those sent to rebuke her. What was true of the past will be true of the future. Jesus drew no happiness from this, but instead sorrow and grief.

How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

Jesus often longed to appeal to Jerusalem tenderly to accept Him as Messiah, but the city was shut down volitionally. They had every opportunity to receive the Messiah.

23:38

See [emphatic statement]! Your house is left to you desolate;

The judgment on the “house” refers to the temple. This was the center of faith for Israel. As a result of Israel’s rejection of the Messiah, they were left “desolate” (deserted and alone without the Messiah).

23:39

for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”

This was the last public appearance of Jesus before the events surrounding the cross. Jesus next gave the Olivet Discourse to His disciples privately (Mt 24, 25). Jesus finished communication with the nation with this verse.

From this point the nation would not receive any further public messages from Jesus until His Second Coming. Their rejection of Him was final, but Jesus anticipated the time when Israel will accept Him as Messiah. This is a quote from Psalm 118:26. The crowds a few days before recited this psalm at the Triumphal Entry. One day there will be another Triumphal Entry when Israel will accept Jesus as her Messiah.

PRINCIPLE:

Jesus never pronounces judgment without an offer of grace.

APPLICATION:

In a future day the Lord will restore Israel and they will acclaim: “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Jesus will postpone His kingdom until after His Second Coming. One day God will restore Israel in Millennial glory. At that time Israel will own Jesus as their Messiah King. Jerusalem will be the capital of His kingdom.

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