What does "gather your children together" teach about God's desire for His people? Scripture Focus “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!” (Matthew 23:37) A Tender Image from the Mouth of Jesus • Jesus uses the picture of a mother hen drawing her chicks beneath her wings—warm, close, protected, and nourished. • He speaks not of a one-time impulse but of a continual longing: “how often I have longed.” • The tragedy lies in the response: “but you were unwilling,” spotlighting human resistance, never divine reluctance. What This Teaches About God’s Desire for His People • Parental Protection God wills to shield His own from danger, just as chicks are guarded from predators (Psalm 91:4). • Intimate Fellowship He does not keep His children at arm’s length; He pulls them close to His heart (Isaiah 40:11). • Persistent Pursuit “How often” shows repeated initiatives; the Lord keeps reaching even after rejection (Hosea 11:4). • Inclusive Embrace “Your children” covers the whole city—leaders, outcasts, all generations—revealing a sweeping, non-exclusive love (1 Timothy 2:4). • Voluntary Relationship Divine desire respects human will; He gathers only those who respond (Deuteronomy 30:19). • Saving Compassion Sheltering wings picture deliverance from judgment; God’s heart is rescue, not wrath (2 Peter 3:9). • Covenant Faithfulness Though Jerusalem resists, God remains faithful to His promises, foreshadowing future restoration (Romans 11:26-27). Supporting Scriptures Echoing the Motif • Deuteronomy 32:11 “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest… He spread His wings to catch them.” • Psalm 17:8 “Hide me in the shadow of Your wings.” • Isaiah 31:5 “Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD of Hosts will shield Jerusalem.” • Luke 13:34 Parallel to Matthew 23:37, reaffirming Jesus’ heart. • John 10:28 No one can snatch His sheep from His hand—security under His care. Living in the Shelter of His Wings • Run to, not from, His covering: trust His Word, yield to His call. • Rest in His protection: anxiety shrinks when we remember whose wings shield us. • Reflect His heart: extend the same welcoming, protective love to others, demonstrating the family likeness of children gathered close to their Father. |
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