1689. The Compassionate Christ

The Compassionate Christ

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the Prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not!"

(Mat_23:37).

In following the terrific denunciation which the Lord Jesus gave against the hypocrisy of the scribes and of the Pharisees, we have stood almost aghast with amazement.

We have been impressed with the absolute truth of every word that was spoken.

We have known that the scribes and Pharisees deserved it all, but we have marveled that One so loving as Christ could have uttered such things.

It is therefore necessary that, in closing this study, we view for a moment, the real inner heart of Christ, as He denounced the leaven of the Pharisees.

1. We Have a Cry of Disappointment

"O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not!" (Mat_23:37).

We have before us a weeping Saviour–He loved Jerusalem, He spoke the intensity of His yearning when He told how His hands had been held out toward her.

He did not deny her guilt, but He yearned for her repentance.

He said: "How oft would I!"

He added: "But ye would not."

The result was, Christ could not.

2. A Cry of Distress

"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" (Mat_23:38).

The Lord Jesus Christ was clearly aware of what lay ahead of Israel.

After He had departed out of the Temple, He pointed toward its buildings and said:

"See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (Mat_24:2).

Following these words of Israel's desolation, the Lord plainly outlined the course of her sorrows.

He spoke of the wars, the famines and the pestilences.

He spoke of the false prophet, and of iniquity that would abound.

He spoke of the abomination and desolation told by Daniel the Prophet.

He spoke of the great tribulation.

In all of these things, the Lord Jesus Christ expressed His distress over Israel's coming desolation.

3. A Cry of Deliverance

"Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Mat_23:39).

The Lord Jesus Christ looked beyond the desolation, and prophesied the time when the Son of Man would come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

He told how Israel should be restored from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to the other; how she should put forth her branches, even as the fig tree when its branch is yet tender, putteth forth its leaves.

Thank God, the people who have so long refused the Son of God, shall by and by, receive Him.

He who was dead, shall be made alive.

He who was lost, shall be found.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR