How Often Would I Have Gathered: Matt. 23:37
Matthew 23:37 – "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 would not!"Oh, I so much want to begin with the analogy of the chicken gathering her brood but think it wise to set the context of today’s verse. In the first verses of Matthew 23, Jesus delivers a scathing rebuke to the scribes and Pharisees. As a matter of fact, his exact words to them are, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees!" He not only says this once but seven times and calls them names – hypocrites(7x’s), blind guides (1x), blind fools (1x), whitewashed tombs (1x), brood of vipers (1x), and serpents (1x). Strong language for the rulers of his day. Strong warnings for those who were entrusted with the care of His chicks.
God had sent many emissaries to the people of Israel who clearly pointed them in the right way but instead they "killed the prophets and stoned those who are sent to it!" This particular group of scribes and Pharisees was so prideful that they were sure had they lived in the times of their fathers they would not have taken the same action. But we know better. Not only would they have joined in, but they would very soon kill the Son of God. Jesus knew this.
Doesn't it make you weep to see the compassion Jesus shows here for Israel (including the scribes and Pharisees), his dearly loved people yet in many ways his enemies? Can't you hear the empathy in the words "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem"? Haven't you uttered similar words over friends and family? These people hate him and yet he loves them. He loves them enough to want to gather them as a hen gathers her chicks, but they wouldn't let him.
Such imagery conjures up in my mind the very maternal instinct of a plump hen in a slight tizzy, wings stretched as far as they'll reach, corralling her babes under her body. Danger is near and they need protection or night is coming and it's time to be tucked in. Once gathered, her chicks can be barely seen because she encompasses the whole brood. While she offers a warm place of safety and rest, there needs to be a word of warning, you do not want to mess with "this chick". "Hen pecked" will have a whole new meaning.
Jesus was offering his dearly loved people, Israel, gentle yet fierce love and protection and they would not have it. Hard to imagine isn't it.
Jesus is offering the same love and protection to us through his death on the cross? Will we have it?
Psalm 91:1 -- He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
by Debbie Stengele
Labels: Guest Post, Lent, Love of Christ
posted by Tim Shorey at
7:30 AM
2 Comments:
"Gentle" love, and "fierce" protection offered to us by the Lord... Amen.
Yes, Debbie, it is hard to imagine, as you point out, that anyone would forfeit such an offer.
It is pride, unbelief, ignorance, stubborness, self-will, independence, etc. that keep some from this gracious offer of love and protection... and ultimately from salvation.
I pray that my own spirit will ever yield to the generous call from our Lord to be gathered under his bosom. And that he would remove from me anything that smacks of an independent "don't need any help, thank-you" kind of spirit.
Thanks Debbie,
This was an interesting read for me. I have always been a bit shaken by this chapter. How terrifying to have God the Son hurl out all those scathing words of "woe" and rebuke to the Scribes and Pharisees there in the temple that day.
From the beginning of the chapter where He charges all to, 'do as they (the Pharisees) say, but not as they do.'
He then mocks their idea of so called worship with their ostentatious clothing and pointing out their 'long fringes and broad phylacteries,' to their attentive adornment of the tombs of murdered prophets, claiming that if "THEY'D been around then, they wouldn't have killed them.' No they were sure they would have done so much better and show their piety by attending to tombs. He pretty much exposes their mockery of true worship, pointing out their many failures and missing the entire point and heart of the law.
Yes, this passage records a very emotional Savior. From His outrage over their lack of godly concern for the people placed in their care, to the complete hypocrisy of their entire way of life and how it is all a heinous affront to a Holy God.
They foolishly call themselves "Rabbi" when they are the most unsuitable teachers and most abhorrent group in God's sight. Instead of having true concern for, and following of God's law, they are so much more concerned with their own honor and that due preference be given to them because of who they are. They use their rank and power to lord it over the people with their "man made" rules rather than God's.
This emotionally scathing, verbal rebuke to them ends with this conclusion: 'You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?" A terrifying thought for me to even imagine. It's like Jonathan Edwards called it: "Sinners in the hands of an Angry God."
Our Lord then turns with broken hearted weeping, and heart wrenching plea: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it."
Yes, Debbie. I do see God the Son's great compassion here. His great desire to love and protect those He has chosen to love. I weep for thankfulness that I will never know His rage and wrath against my sin. I weep to know He had such compassion to willing choose to come and take the rage and wrath of a Holy God on Himself for me.
He truly paid the debt that I could never pay. Why He should choose to have compassion on me, is beyond my understanding. But because He did and because He lives, I will live for Him, love, worship and adore Him forever with a grateful heart.
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