Matthew 23:37-39

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!’ ”

Commentary

The Lord Jesus Christ now laments Jerusalem, “the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her.” Because instead of receiving and believing God’s prophets the nation of Israel throughout its history has only killed and persecuted them, even the Prophet whom God sent to them that is His own Son. Therefore, the Lord Jesus says that though He longed to gather them together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wing, (protecting them and comforting them) they were not willing (vs. 37). Therefore, the Lord Jesus says their house will be left to them desolate, devoid of the Holy Person, Presence, and Spirit of God (vs. 38). Jerusalem then as being figurative of the nation of Israel itself will see the Lord Jesus Christ their Messiah no more till they say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’

Scripture Quotations: 

The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson