Mat 23:39 | KingComments | STEP | It touches the Lord’s that this privileged city has so turned away from Him. What an effort He has made to take care of and protect all its inhabitants. He has done so “the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings”. All the love of His heart goes out to them, but Jerusalem has not listened. The children of Jerusalem did not want it. The heart of Jerusalem, the temple, was first His house, that is, God’s house. He calls it here “your house”, that is, the home of the religious leaders who have taken it. He had left ( ) and no longer lived there. The house is empty and will remain empty and will be left to them desolate. God cuts the bond with His people because they reject their Messiah. Therefore the city will not see her Messiah anymore. He withdraws into heaven. But not forever. There is an “until”. God will restore the broken connection with His people. The Messiah will come back. When they see Him then, they will acknowledge Him whom they now so scornfully reject ( ). The faithful remnant will welcome Him with the words: “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord” ( ). These words are the introduction to the next two chapters in which the Lord Jesus speaks about this coming and all that goes with it.

‏ Matthew 23:39

Judgment on Jerusalem, Until...

It touches the Lord’s that this privileged city has so turned away from Him. What an effort He has made to take care of and protect all its inhabitants. He has done so “the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings”. All the love of His heart goes out to them, but Jerusalem has not listened. The children of Jerusalem did not want it.

The heart of Jerusalem, the temple, was first His house, that is, God’s house. He calls it here “your house”, that is, the home of the religious leaders who have taken it. He had left (Eze 9:3 ; Eze 10:3-4 ; 18 ; 19 ; Eze 11:22-23) and no longer lived there. The house is empty and will remain empty and will be left to them desolate.

God cuts the bond with His people because they reject their Messiah. Therefore the city will not see her Messiah anymore. He withdraws into heaven. But not forever. There is an “until”. God will restore the broken connection with His people. The Messiah will come back. When they see Him then, they will acknowledge Him whom they now so scornfully reject (Zec 12:10).

The faithful remnant will welcome Him with the words: “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord” (Psa 118:26). These words are the introduction to the next two chapters in which the Lord Jesus speaks about this coming and all that goes with it.