Matthew 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!”

This verse is part of a larger passage in Matthew 23 where Jesus delivers a series of rebukes and denunciations against the religious leaders of His time, the Pharisees and the scribes. In this specific verse, Jesus expresses His deep sorrow and lamentation over the city of Jerusalem and its people.

Jesus begins by addressing the city of Jerusalem twice, emphasizing the seriousness and urgency of His message. He uses repetition as a literary device to convey strong emotions. By saying “Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” Jesus expresses His deep concern and compassion for the people of the city.

Jesus accuses Jerusalem of killing the prophets and stoning those who were sent to them. Throughout the history of Israel, many prophets were sent by God to deliver His messages, but they were often rejected and even persecuted by the people. Jesus acknowledges this pattern of rejecting God’s messengers, highlighting the city’s history of resistance to God’s word.

The second part of the verse contains a vivid metaphor. Jesus compares Himself to a mother hen who gathers her chicks under her wings for protection and safety. This imagery portrays Jesus’ desire to gather and protect the people of Jerusalem, symbolizing His love, care, and willingness to shelter them from harm.

However, despite His genuine desire to gather and protect them, Jesus laments that the people of Jerusalem were unwilling to accept His invitation. The phrase “and ye would not” indicates their resistance and refusal to embrace Jesus’ teachings and receive His love and protection.

In this verse, Jesus expresses both His righteous anger at the religious leaders for their mistreatment of God’s messengers and His deep sadness and compassion for the people who rejected Him and His message. It reveals His longing for the people to respond to His love and find shelter and salvation in Him.

This verse serves as a reminder to us today to not harden our hearts and reject the call of Jesus. It calls us to respond to His love, seek His protection, and embrace His teachings with humility and openness. It also warns us against the dangers of religious hypocrisy and the rejection of God’s messengers.

Overall, Matthew 23:37 is a poignant and powerful verse that showcases Jesus’ love, compassion, and desire to gather and protect His people, while also highlighting the consequences of rejecting Him.