Luke 13:34Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

n gathereth her chickens under her wings, but thou wilt not; behold thy house is forsaken by thee.’ He instructed them through the wise Moses, establishing a law to guide their actions and be their ruler in leading a commendable life, one that, though still cloaked in shadow, held the semblance of genuine worship. He communicated through the holy prophets, longing for them to be sheltered under his wings, under his protection, that is, under his reign. Yet, they squandered such a valuable blessing through their wickedness, ingratitude, and neglect.

How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing!" He further prophesied, “Behold, your house is left desolate. Everything I have brought to the earth is not for you now. You will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Thus, the first of the nations called to Christ's kingdom will ultimately be the last to come to faith at the end of the ages.

"Behold, your house is left empty" signifies a warning, a consequence, for the inhabitants of Jerusalem had rejected the aid and protection offered by the Savior's outstretched hand. In the Gospel of Matthew, this warning is detailed (Matthew 23:37-39); having delivered it within the temple, Jesus departs and does not return for the remainder of His earthly ministry. Thus, it is clear that "house" refers to God's house, the temple in Jerusalem; it is now abandoned by Christ Jesus, along with His grace and protection, which are essential for its survival, and, should it perish, the city and its people would likewise face ruin. "I say unto you," speaks of the continuation of this warning, with its fulfillment anticipated at Christ's second coming, when all creation—some willingly and others unwillingly—will honor Him as He returns in the clouds of heaven. "I leave your house, and you will not see Me extend My saving hand to you again until the time when you will involuntarily proclaim, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'" If we interpret this moment as Jesus addressing the Pharisees directly, who cautioned Him regarding Herod's intentions ("I tell you"), it alludes to the triumphant entry of the Lord as the Messiah into Jerusalem (Luke 19:38), which marks the time before Christ had truly visited the city. The essence of this message to the Pharisees indicates that even though Jesus would soon be present, He would not be in Jerusalem at that moment. Although He is destined to face death in the near future within the city—a goal fervently sought by the Pharisees—it will not occur as they desire, and they will not witness Him until He is solemnly acclaimed and honored as the Messiah by the multitude.

Indeed, we might have reacted with anger towards such wrongdoings and possibly resorted to rash actions against them. Yet, Christ felt compassion for both the misguided leaders and the people they misled. His rebukes were motivated by a desire for them to recognize their sins, repent, and abandon their deceitful ways. He publicly admonished them out of pity for this lost nation, wishing to alert them to the false teachings of the Pharisees. With tears held back, He delivered His final words and warnings to both the leaders and the people with great sadness and unfathomable grief. He prepared to depart from the temple, never to return. His mission as the Messiah had come to a close. Although God's chosen people had been promised the arrival of the Messiah, they only acknowledged Him as a miracle worker. They exploited His divine gifts and aimed to declare Him as the worldly King of the Jews to rule over all nations under His authority, yet they ultimately rejected Him as the true Messiah. In the midst of such unsettling emotions, could He have presented His last appeal to the Pharisees and the crowds with anger, during His final effort to save them from dire condemnation? Absolutely not! It was not anger that He withheld, but tears. When He completed His denunciations, He cried out with tears in His eyes, filled with deep longing and sorrow: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate, for you will see me no more until the time of my Second Coming and the Last Judgment.”

On the same day that He resolved the concerns of His interlocutor, the Pharisees approached Him, cloaked in a façade of cordiality, and warned Him to leave, saying, "Begone, and go away from here, for Herod seeketh to kill thee." However, their attempt to intimidate the Lord was in vain. With a strong sense of righteousness and awareness of what lay ahead, He indicated to the Pharisees that divine providence had determined a fixed time for His ministry. Until that predetermined moment, He would continue His mission, culminating ultimately in the city responsible for killing many prophets. "I will cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will die. It is fitting for Me to go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it is impossible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem."

This poignant statement, which conveys deep sorrow, attributes to Jerusalem the unfortunate distinction of being the site where harsh persecution against the messengers of truth was either planned or executed. Redirecting the focus of His audience to the ultimate fate of that sinful city and nation, the Savior expressed profound words filled with loving reproach—words He would repeat during His final visit to the temple: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Behold, your house is left to you desolate." The first arrival of the Messiah was drawing to a close, and soon, due to the unbelief of those who failed to recognize the moment of their visitation, the land, the city, and the temple would face destruction and desolation.

However, at His second glorious coming, the time will arrive when even the most hardened in disbelief will witness His divine authority and be compelled to bow before Him: "I tell you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.'"