Matthew 23:37-39

Posted by DJL on Nov 14, 2014 in Daily Bread | 0 comments

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

And all of a sudden the tone changes. No more anger or accusations, just grief, and sadness, and lament.

This not only seems more in character with the Jesus Matthew has told us about throughout the rest of his gospel, but it also may help explain some of the anger in the preceding passage. Anger, as I understand it, is always a secondary reaction, a defensive reaction to fear, hurt, pain, grief, and more. And so perhaps the anger reflects Jesus’ (and, more likely, Matthew’s) pain and hurt and grief over rejection by those they love.

This doesn’t make us any less responsible for taking care with all of these passages, but it does help us understand how when we are under duress we are not always at our best and we need to give voice to, and deal with, our underlying emotions lest they get the best of us.

Just one more thought: whatever else is going on in this chapter, we certainly see and hear and feel in this brief passage God’s tremendous love for God’s people, as the God to whom Jesus witnesses wants in this moment nothing more than to draw a wayward city and people into a motherly embrace of love, like a hen gathering her brood. That’s an image for God and God’s love that I think is worth reflecting on.

Prayer: Dear God, remind us always of your great love for us, especially during those times when we are hurt or afraid that we might avoid responding in anger. In Jesus’ name, Amen.