How does Luke 13:34 reveal Jesus' compassion for Jerusalem's people? Verse in Focus “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her; how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!” (Luke 13:34) Layers of Compassion in a Single Sentence • Repetition of the city’s name—“Jerusalem, Jerusalem”—signals deep emotion, as seen elsewhere in Scripture when God calls a person twice (Genesis 22:11; Acts 9:4). • “How often I have longed” presents a continuous desire, not a one-time wish. The Greek verb ἠθέλησα (ēthelēsa) points to frequent, deliberate intention. • “Gather your children” shows personal involvement; Jesus does not delegate care but offers His own embrace. • “As a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” employs tender maternal imagery, echoing God’s sheltering picture in Psalm 91:4 and Deuteronomy 32:11. • “But you were unwilling” underscores Jerusalem’s repeated resistance, highlighting that judgment comes from refusal, not lack of divine mercy. A History of Pursuit • Prophets sent again and again: 2 Chronicles 36:15-16. • God’s aching plea through Hosea: Hosea 11:8-9. • Parallel lament on Jesus’ final public day in the temple: Matthew 23:37. The Mother-Hen Picture Explained • Protection—wings shield from predator and storm (Ruth 2:12; Psalm 17:8). • Warmth—chicks thrive only near the hen’s heartbeat. • Identity—under the wings they belong to her; outside, they are vulnerable. • Sacrifice—the hen absorbs danger first, an advance hint of the cross where Jesus takes the blow meant for His people (Isaiah 53:4-5). Compassion Amid Rejection • Love expressed before repentance proves grace is unearned (Romans 5:8). • Lament rather than rage models patient endurance (2 Peter 3:9). • Final offer stands even as the city rejects; the cross will soon open salvation to any who believe (John 1:11-12). Echoes and Reinforcements • Ezekiel 18:23—God “takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” • 1 Timothy 2:4—He “wants all people to be saved.” • Hebrews 13:8—Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday and today and forever,” assuring that this compassionate heart has never changed. Living Response • Receive the shelter: take refuge under His finished work rather than trusting personal merit. • Mirror His heart: show persevering, sacrificial love toward resistant people. • Proclaim the invitation: share the message that even long-rejecting hearts can still find safety under His wings today. |
    |