Meaning of Matthew 23:37

This verse is Jesus' lament over Jerusalem, expressing his profound sorrow and unfulfilled desire to protect and nurture its people, whom he likens to vulnerable chicks. Despite the city's persistent rejection of God's messengers—the prophets and ultimately himself—Jesus' heart yearned to gather them under his protective care, mirroring the maternal instinct of a hen shielding her young. This unwillingness on Jerusalem's part to accept his offer of salvation ultimately led to its tragic destruction, highlighting a central theme of divine love meeting human rebellion.

Context and Background

Jesus speaks these words in Jerusalem during his final week, specifically in the context of his denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-36). He has just concluded a series of "woes" directed at their hypocrisy and their burdening of the people with religious laws. In this immediate aftermath, his focus shifts from the corrupt leadership to the city itself, recognizing that its fate is inextricably linked to its continued rejection of God's will and messengers. The historical backdrop includes Jerusalem's long history of both faithfulness and unfaithfulness to God, marked by periods of prophetic warning and subsequent judgment.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Love and Compassion: The image of the hen gathering her chicks is a powerful metaphor for God's tender, protective, and unconditional love. Jesus, as the embodiment of God's love, expresses a deep desire for the well-being of his people.
• Rejection and Rebellion: The verse starkly contrasts God's persistent offer of salvation with Jerusalem's stubborn refusal. The phrase "you were not willing" underscores the human element of choice and the consequences of persistent disobedience.
• Prophetic Fulfillment and Judgment: Jesus' lament acknowledges the historical pattern of Jerusalem killing prophets. This foreshadows his own impending death and the ultimate judgment that will fall upon the city for its rejection of God's final messenger.
• Unfulfilled Longing: Jesus' desire to "gather" them signifies a missed opportunity for redemption and peace, a poignant expression of what could have been had Jerusalem responded differently.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This verse offers a profound insight into the nature of God's heart. It demonstrates that God's love is not merely abstract but is deeply personal and actively seeks the welfare of humanity. For believers, it calls for a reflection on their own willingness to be gathered and protected by God, to submit to His will, and to embrace His protective love. It also serves as a solemn reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's grace and the importance of heeding His messengers and His truth.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Matthew 23:37 echoes the overarching narrative of God's covenantal relationship with Israel, characterized by His faithfulness and their frequent unfaithfulness. It connects to the Old Testament prophecies that foretold both judgment and restoration for Jerusalem and its people. Jesus' lament here can be seen as the climactic expression of God's sorrow over His people's persistent sin, a sorrow that is ultimately resolved through His sacrificial death and resurrection, offering a new way for all who are willing to be gathered.

Analogies

• Parental Care: The hen and her chicks is a universal image of parental protection, where the parent risks their own safety to shield their vulnerable young. This highlights the depth of Jesus' protective intent.
• Gardener and Unresponsive Plant: One could imagine a devoted gardener tending to a plant, offering water and sunlight, only for the plant to continually wither and refuse to grow. The gardener's sorrow would be immense.
• Shepherd and Wandering Sheep: Similar to the shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, Jesus desires to gather and protect His flock, but the sheep's own will can lead them astray.

Relation to Other Verses

• Luke 13:34: This verse is nearly identical to Luke 13:34, indicating its significance and the solemnity with which Jesus delivered this lament.
• John 1:11: "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him." This verse directly speaks to the rejection Jesus faced, which is the core of his lament in Matthew 23:37.
• Deuteronomy 32:11: The imagery of an eagle stirring its nest and carrying its young on its wings is found in Deuteronomy, offering a parallel to the protective imagery used by Jesus.
• Isaiah 5:1-7: This passage describes Israel as a vineyard that produced wild grapes, leading to judgment, which resonates with Jerusalem's failure to bear the fruit of righteousness.