Rejection of Love
After He declared the “woes”, revealing the wicked hearts of the people and their need for judgment, Jesus then proclaimed in Matthew 23:34-39 the suffering they were about to bring upon
themselves. First, He proclaimed the wickedness of the people—“I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city.” (v. 34) God sends His servants to deliver His message: He sent them in Old Testament times, and continues to do so. In their wickedness, the people killed God’s messengers rather than listen to them! Second, He prophesied the destruction of the city—“Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” (v. 36) Historically, they were the generation that experienced the destruction of Jerusalem and the burning of the temple. Luke 19:43 records, “Days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side.” This was the exact method used by Rome when they laid siege to the city in AD 70. Third, He professed the removal of the blessing—“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! See! Your house is left to you desolate.” (vv. 37-38) What an expression of Jesus’ divine character! He is full of compassion. He desires our benefit, not evil. He does not delight in the destruction of the wicked, but He is just. Because of unrepentant wickedness, Jesus removed His blessing! When Jesus departed from the temple in Matthew 24:1, the glory of God went with Him: “Icabod!” Yet, the Savior is ready to receive all who come. There is nothing between sinners and eternal life but pride and unwillingness.
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
