Matthew 23:37 - Exposition

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Pathetic iteration! As he approached the city on another occasion Christ had used the same words ( Luke 13:34 , Luke 13:35 ); he repeats them now as he takes his final farewell He speaks with Divine tenderness, yet with poignant sorrow, knowing that this last appeal will be in vain. It has been remarked that, whereas St. Matthew elsewhere names the capital city, the theocratic centre, Hierosolyma, which is the Greek equivalent, he here calls it Hierousalem, which is Hebrew, as though, while recording the words used by Jesus, he desired to reproduce the actual sound of the Saviour's affecting address. Killest...stonest. Such is thy wont, thy evil practice. So Christ says elsewhere, "It cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem" ( Luke 13:33 ). "Stonest" was particularly appropriate after the reference to Zechariah ( 2 Chronicles 24:20 ). Sent unto thee. The received Greek is, sent unto it or her ( προ Ì ς αὐτη ì ν ), though some manuscripts and the Vulgate give "thee." But the change of persons is not uncommon. Alford quotes Luke 1:45 ; Luke 13:34 ; Revelation 18:24 . How often! Some would confine Christ's allusion to his own mission in Judaea, and the efforts made by him to win disciples; but it surely applies to all the doings and visitations of God towards Israel during the whole course of their history, which showed his gracious desire that all should be saved, if they only had willed with him. He hereby asserts himself as one with the God of the Old Testament. Christ's ministry in Jerusalem and Judaea is mentioned by St. John. Gathered … wings. A tender similitude, which is found in the Old Testament and in classic authors. It implies love, care, and protection. Thus the psalmist prays, "Hide me under the shadow of thy wings;" "In the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge, until these calamities be overpast" ( Psalms 17:8 ; Psalms 57:1 ); comp. Deuteronomy 32:11 ; Isaiah 31:5 , etc. So Euripides, 'Herc. Fur.,' 72—

"The children whom I cherish 'neath my wings,

As a bird cowering o'er her youthful brood."

The metaphor is peculiarly appropriate at the time, when, as Lange puts it, the Roman eagles were hovering near, and there was no hope of safety but under the Lord's wings. And ye would not. Unmoved by warning and chastisement, impenetrable to long suffering love, ungrateful for mercies, the Jews repulsed all efforts for their amendment, and blindly pursued the course of ruin. It was always in their power to turn if they willed, but they wilfully resisted grace, and must suffer accordingly (comp. Isaiah 30:15 ).