Archive for 31. March 2009

If You Were Willing

Hello:  Today we conclude the 23rd chapter of Matthew. Our text for today is as follows:

Matthew 23:34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation. 37 ”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 not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Our text today flows out of yesterday’s story.   We have been discussing the eight woes that Jesus pronounced upon the Pharisees.   Today, Jesus describes the coming punishment that the Pharisees would see in their generation and at the same time he expresses how he longed to have gathered their children together as an hen gathers her chicks under her wings but they were not willing.    This text is amazing to me because through all the rebuke that the Lord has issued towards the Pharisees He still expresses how he desired to be their Savior yet they were not willing.    

This closes our chapter and tomorrow we begin Chapter 24.  Again, we are studying the last week of the life of Jesus leading up to our Easter Sunday.   I am amazed at how our study has coincided with the season of the church.   This Sunday will be Psalm Sunday which we discussed on last week and then of course Easter. I’ll see you on tomorrow as we continue our journey of the things that Jesus did on his last week on earth.

Be encouraged! God Bless!!!!!!! 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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