The Lamentation Of Jesus.

THE LAMENTATION OF JESUS.

Matthew 23:34-39.

1. Context. Matthew 23:13-33.

Jesus spares not to warn those who are on the path to ‘the damnation of hell’ (cf. Matthew 23:33), using such expressions as ‘woe unto you’ (eight times), ‘hypocrites’ (seven times), ‘blind guides’ or ‘fools and blind’ (five times), ‘ye serpents, (ye) generation of vipers’ (once).

2. Text. Matthew 23:34-39.

“Wherefore,” begins Matthew 23:34-36 - literally, ‘Because of this.’ ‘Because’ you are in such a state of woe, ‘Because’ you are on the road to hell, “behold I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes.” However, you will kill these too, so that “all the righteous blood shed upon the earth” may be filled up by this generation.

There seems to be an inevitability about this, but Jesus is still reaching out the olive branch. The nation still had as much as “a generation” (c. 40 years) to repent. The Jewish mission would continue after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven, at least as long as the Temple still stood. No-one may complain about any lack of ‘long-suffering’ on the part of God (cf. 2 Peter 3:9)!

This has been a hard chapter to read, but God did not give up on Israel, even then. Neither has He given up on us. Jesus longs to gather to Himself both those teachers thus reproved, and their followers: but they “would not” (Matthew 23:37). It is all a matter of the will: “I will,” says Jesus, “but you will not.”

So, with tears in His eyes, Jesus’ final word to the Pharisees, and to Jerusalem, is, “Behold your house is left unto you desolate” (Matthew 23:38; cf. Matthew 24:2). That is, “Till ye shall say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’” (Matthew 23:39). There are still promises for Israel, and for us, soon to be fulfilled in these end times (cf. Romans 11:12; Romans 11:15; Romans 11:26).