Matthew 23:37Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Following this, Christ directs His attention to the city, with the intention of illuminating His listeners, and exclaims, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem”! What is the significance of this profound declaration? It embodies mercy, compassion, and immense love. It is as though He justifies Himself before a cherished woman who, despite His constant affection, has disregarded the one who loves her and consequently merits punishment, just as He prepares to bring forth judgment.

The Lord laments the city of Jerusalem, addressing it with a heart full of compassion. He confronts it with consequences and seeks to justify His actions, much like a beloved who endures the neglect of one dear to them. The Lord admonishes Jerusalem for its transgressions, highlighting that despite His numerous attempts to offer forgiveness, it remained unrepentant. Instead of heeding the Lord's call to ascend to Him, Jerusalem fell prey to the lies of the adversary, who led it away from the truth. The Lord desires to cleanse sin and restore the purity of heart. He beautifully illustrates His compassion, likening it to the tender care of a bird.

He refers to Jerusalem not merely as the stones and structures of the city, but as its people. He exclaims with a paternal tenderness, echoing the moment recorded elsewhere when He wept upon seeing the city. Through His statement, "How often would I have gathered thy children," He affirms that all the earlier prophets were sent by Him. The imagery of a bird bringing its young under its wings is highlighted in the song of Deuteronomy, where it is noted how the eagle shelters its nest, yearning for its eaglets, extending its wings, lifting them up, and carrying them on its plumes.

Directing his words toward the city, he expresses his sorrow. The repeated mention of the name reflects deep compassion. He laments it as a once cherished place that will face great suffering due to the sins of its inhabitants. He then reproaches them for the deaths of the prophets he had sent. "I wished," he articulates, "to gather your children under my care, but their sins have driven them away from God's embrace." His love for the Jewish people is evident through this example. Some interpret his remarks as referring to the Jews who were scattered during previous captivities. "And you are unwilling to accept me," he continues, "instead, you persecute me and wish to bring about my death." Once more, he shifts his focus back to the dwellers of the city.

The proliferation of transgressions, my wise friend, compels even the Divine and fervent essence to shift from its inherent goodness to a state of divine wrath, which, while not aligned with God's nature, serves a purpose for our benefit. This is echoed by the Lord's words to the Jews: ‘How often would I have gathered your children together, and you would not? Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.’ In other words, since you reject compassion, you will experience the weight of divine retribution.

The Lord sought to execute judgment upon Jerusalem due to its guilt of bloodshed. Consequently, it stands accused of these transgressions. He reproaches those who have persecuted the prophets and stoned those sent to them, highlighting their repeated rejection of mercy. The phrase "how often" alludes to many years and generations when the Lord returned His people from exile, who had been dispersed due to their sins. By using imagery of wings and shadows, Jesus instructs them about His divine authority, even while embodying humanity, as Moses once declared: "He spreadeth out his wings, he taketh them" (Deuteronomy 32:11). Similarly, David wrote: "The sons of men in the shadow of Thy wings rest" (Ps. 35:8).

Understanding the future lies within the Lord's wisdom, and He anticipated the destruction of Jerusalem along with the anguish that the Romans would bring upon its inhabitants. This foresight is reflected in His poignant lament, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem!" He contemplated the blood that had been shed by His faithful followers, and the further blood that was soon to be spilled. However, His sorrow was not primarily for the trials faced by His saints, as He was aware of the glorious rewards awaiting them after death. Rather, His heart ached for those who would endure present tribulations, which would be compounded by even greater suffering in the life to come.

The Lord lamented: JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM, YOU WHO MISTREAT THE PROPHETS AND STONE THOSE SENT TO YOU! Despite your numerous transgressions, my love for you has remained unwavering; indeed, I have longed to gather your children as a hen gathers her chicks beneath her wings. How often I have come to this city, teaching and performing miracles in an effort to draw those who dwell here towards me, so that they might recognize me as their Messiah and enter my kingdom. My desire was to embrace all with my love and to envelop everyone in my grace, yet all my efforts were in vain: YOU DID NOT WANT ME!

Certain Gospel interpreters believe that Jesus Christ condemned the scribes and Pharisees out of anger. However, this is not the case. His denunciation of these corrupt and hypocritical leaders was rooted in profound sorrow, a grief we may struggle to fully comprehend. This sorrow, which emerged during His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where the entire nation rejoiced, was also seen in His weeping over the destiny of the holy city and God’s chosen people. It was this sorrow that led Him, just two days later, to beseech the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane for a delay in the execution of God’s will. To assume that Christ’s response was one of anger toward the Pharisees and scribes is to unfairly project their shortcomings onto Him.

The tempest of divine retribution was already looming overhead, prepared to unleash its fury upon those guilty of their transgressions. Yet, amidst this righteous indignation, a voice emerged, imbued with profound compassion for the afflicted city: ‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are 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! Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I say to you, you will not see Me from this time on until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,’’ indicating that you will cry out as the crowd did upon My entry into Jerusalem, but it will be too late. This prophecy unfolded with dreadful precision during the siege and conquest of Jerusalem, when indeed ‘the house of the Jews was left empty,’ reduced to a mound of ruins and decaying bodies.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem": what is the meaning behind this profound declaration? It embodies the essence of grace, mercy, and immense love. It is as though, in front of a cherished yet ungrateful beloved who spurned the one who adored her and thus warrants retribution, He finds Himself justifying His intentions, despite having considered judgment. - "How often": this encapsulates the entirety of His endeavors; it explains why He frequently came to Jerusalem to preach and perform miracles. - "Gather thy children": this refers to urging your people to turn back to themselves, that they may acknowledge Me as their Messiah and enter into My kingdom. - As a hen gathers her chicks: this analogy illustrates His deep affection, as this bird possesses an intense love for her offspring (Chrysostom). - "Not willing": the refusal to return was not due to My lack of outreach, but rather a result of your own malevolent disposition — it was your choice not to.

Jerusalem, a place notorious for persecuting the prophets (Luke 13:33), was destined to face the divine wrath. Consequently, the Lord, filled with compassion, mercy, and profound love (St. John Chrysostom), directed a poignant admonition toward the city: “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!” He concluded with haunting words of rejection: “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate; for I say unto you, ye shall not see me henceforth, until ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” According to St. John Chrysostom, this points to the future day of His Second Coming.