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! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Matthew 23:37-39 KJV)
Lament over Jerusalem
Jesus Christ laments the wickedness of Jerusalem: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!” The repetition expresses deep sorrow. A day or two before, Christ had wept over Jerusalem; now he sighs and groans over it. Jerusalem, once the vision of peace, will now be the seat of war and confusion. Once the joy of the whole earth, it will become a hissing and an astonishment. Once a city compact together, it will be shattered by internal strife. Once the place God chose to put his name, it will be abandoned to ruin.
The city shall suffer this calamity because: first, she persecuted God’s messengers: “You kill the prophets and stone those sent to you.” At Jerusalem, where the gospel was first preached, it was first persecuted. The leaders instigated mobs to kill prophets, and later used Roman authorities to execute them.
Second, she rejected Christ and the gospel. Here is Christ’s wonderful grace: “How often would I have gathered your children, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings!” Christ’s aim was to gather them in from their wanderings, to give them protection and comfort. But they refused: “You would not.” Their stubbornness stood against Christ’s mercy. He was willing to save them, but they were not willing to be saved by him. They loved their sins, trusted in their righteousness, and rejected both Christ’s grace and his rule.
He declares Jerusalem’s doom: “Your house is left to you desolate.” The city and temple, once God’s dwelling, would be abandoned. Christ was departing from the temple and never returned. They wanted it for themselves, so he left it to them. When Christ departs, the place is forsaken. Soon after, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed, leaving not one stone upon another. When God withdraws, enemies break in.
Then Christ bids a final farewell: “You shall not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” This speaks of his departure. He would leave and not return until his second coming, when every eye will see him. Then even those who rejected him will acknowledge him, and every knee shall bow.