JESUS' SORROW FOR JERUSALEM

Passage: Luke 13:31-35

Key verse: 34

NIV

Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem(A)(B)

31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod(C) wants to kill you.”

32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’(D) 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet(E) can die outside Jerusalem!

34 “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,(F) and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate.(G) I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’[a]”(H)

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 13:35 Psalm 118:26
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Lament over Jerusalem

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from (A)here, for (B)Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day (C)I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless, (D)I (E)must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that (F)a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34 (G)O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that (H)kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! (I)How often would I have (J)gathered (K)your children together (L)as a hen gathers her brood (M)under her wings, and (N)you were not willing! 35 Behold, (O)your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, (P)‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. In any case I must keep on going (31-33) As Jesus drew nearer to Jerusalem, he received a message that Herod wanted to kill him. Some Pharisees advised him to escape. The threat of death did not change Jesus' plans. He considered his messianic mission more important than his physical life. He would continue healing people and casting out demons. He did not fear Herod, for he knew that life and death are in God's hands--not in the hands of the Herods of the world. He knew that he would die at the time and in the place of God's choosing. 2. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! (34-35) Jesus loved the people of Israel even though, time after time, they had rejected God's love and God's saving grace. He loved them with the shepherd heart of God, with the heart of the father who loved his prodigal son. He could not force them to accept God's love; he could only keep on loving them with a broken heart. (34) He wept over them because it was Jerusalem, not Jesus, who was in imminent danger (35). Jesus knew his life-giving sacrifice would end in glory.

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust you and not fear people. Teach me your shepherd heart and life-giving spirit.

One Word: Jesus longs to gather his rebellious children