Title: Lament for Jerusalem/Matthew 23:37-39
Contents
I. Jerusalem, Jerusalem
(Matthew 23:37) Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times have I sought to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were not willing.
A. The role of Jerusalem
Jerusalem was the capital of the Jewish nation and the stronghold of religion. But Jesus personified Jerusalem, saying that Jerusalem killed the prophets and stoned those who were sent. The reason is that there was a Sanhaedrin Council in charge of not only politics but also church affairs. It was the headquarters of the persecution of prophets and saints. Sanhadrin had a strong authority to make final decisions on all matters related to the interpretation of the law, but he was not given the authority to execute criminal cases. It was under the jurisdiction of the Roman governorate.
However, against them and their opponents, they caused a commotion in the crowd, leading to their death.
In this way they killed Jesus and killed Stephen. Although the gospel first began in Jerusalem, it also suffered the most powerful persecution. The high priest in Jerusalem sent an official letter to the believers in Jesus, and countless people were arrested and persecuted.
The people of God were stoned to death by the law by which false prophets and shamans were to be put to death. This was the role of Jerusalem in rebelling against Christ.
B. Christ's Affection and Lament for Jerusalem
The deeper the affection for the other person, the deeper the sadness. Christ's groaning toward Jerusalem would be more correct to call it a cry.
David loved his son Absalom very much. However, Absalom rebelled to usurp David's throne and died. At that time, David cried with his throat, “My son Absalom, my son Absalom!” Such was Christ's love for Jerusalem. Jerusalem, on the verge of destruction, several times Christ tried to gather her children together as a hen gathers her nine chicks under her wings, but they refused.
Now, at the imminent destruction of Jerusalem, Christ groans with wailing. It is a sigh of love. He did not rejoice over their destruction, but mourn and mourn.
II. rejecting Christ
(Matthew 23:37) But you did not want it.
A. The Grace of Christ
Like Adam and Eve, after we have sinned, we are more inclined to cover up and make excuses than to admit and repent. How can I hide my sins and reveal my righteousness? We are truly too ugly to receive God's grace. But the Lord not only said that a soul is more precious than the world, but He did not spare his own honor and life.
Christ loves each one of us as if Christ Himself had no meaning unless the soul was saved. Christ loved the people of Jerusalem so much. So he would gather his children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. I've tried that too many times.
For Christ knows all too well that the people will perish unless they come to him.
The Lord went to Jerusalem to preach the word and perform many miracles. And today the Holy Spirit calls us to gather us through the gospel. Answering that call is the greatest way to repay God's grace and the way to life.
B. Stubborn and Willful Exclusion
But Jerusalem did not respond to the Lord's call. Even today, millions of people do not respond to the Lord's call. It is because they are obsessed with their own self-righteousness or are concerned with things that will be destroyed and destroyed with the destruction of the world.
There can be no success without sacrifice and hard work, just as Rome was not built in a day. The Bible says that the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. The man who found the hidden treasure in the field then sold all his possessions and bought the field. He sacrificed all his wealth for the sake of the treasure.
These words teach us that we must endure giving up and sacrifice for the sake of heaven. When Christ calls us, we cannot hear the voice of Christ if we are only listening to the world. There is no life apart from Christ. Just as a branch needs to be attached to a tree to live, so our soul needs to be united to Christ to live.
III. Your house will be left desolate
(Matthew 23:38) Behold, your house is left desolate (Matthew 23:39) I tell you, from now on you will not see me until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
A. Your house will be abandoned
The poorest person in this world is the outcast. Such a person is a person who no matter what happens, no one cares. People become indifferent to someone if they don't react the first few times they care.
The scariest thing in the world is indifference. The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference. It's just not paying attention. It's about giving up altogether.
Jerusalem was a place of glory. But it is corrupt and corrupt. The temple became a marketplace and a den of robbers. Jesus also performed miracles to restore it and made every effort to restore it. But they were unresponsive. Rather, it showed no sign of rejection and return. So eventually Christ also left the place and deserted its inhabitants. From there the presence and glory of God departed. Although the outward appearance is the same, it has become a place where God's glory has departed from.
B. Your house shall be desolate.
The empty house, where everyone has left, eventually collapses into ruins before long. A house abandoned by its owner is gloomy and will soon collapse. The Lord of the temple is Christ and God. The temple from which the Lord has departed will fall down, leaving no stone upon it. When the Holy Spirit sent by Christ is present in the temple, there is life, true joy, and true love. Humans are also the temple of God. Without the Holy Spirit, man is like ruins.
In the end, the temple from which the glory of God had departed fell down in A.D. 70 along with the city of Jerusalem, leaving no stone on top of it.
C. The Promise of the Restoration of Jerusalem
The present Jerusalem has been abandoned and desolate because of its stubborn rejection of Christ. But when the one who comes in the name of the Lord comes again, then Jerusalem will receive it. Now they do not see Christ because of their stubbornness and partiality in their Word, but the Lord has left them saying that they will come back to Him.