ACC ~ Matthew 23 v37 - 39

OVERVIEW:

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! This is the exclamation of one who at the same time pities, bemoans and greatly loves his beloved. It is like a woman who is much beloved yet who has despised the one who loved her. Now on the point of her punishment, just as the punishment is about to be inflicted, he pleads for her. With what warmth is his affection expressed, as a mother for her brood. This is the language of one who loves earnestly. Jesus is poignantly appealing to the city in relation to the judgment that is to come. He is not merely warning them concerning their past follies. He is now speaking of the future day of his second coming (CHRYSOSTOM). Foreseeing the tribulations and bloodshed to come, he grieves not so much for the saints to be murdered, since he knew the glory prepared for them after death, but for those who were to receive evil in this life and even worse in the life to come (INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW). The whole economy of salvation was focused on gathering his people into one, under his protection, symbolized by the wings. Yet they could not bear to remain under his protection and scattered themselves instead (APOLLINARIS). It is only Christ, the Son of the Father, who can come “in the name of the Lord” (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA).

23:37 | As a Hen Gathers Her Brood

O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM

CHRYSOSTOM: Then he directs his speech at the city, yet with the intention of correcting his hearers. He says, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!” Why the repetition? This is the speech of one who at the same time pities, bemoans and greatly loves this city. The emotive quality is like a woman who is much beloved and forever loved, yet who had despised the one who loved her. Now on the point of her punishment, just as the punishment is about to be inflicted, he pleads for her. The prophets also had similar words when they said, “Turn to me, and she did not return.” [1]

Then having called her, he tells also her bloodstained deeds, she who has been “killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you would not!” In this way Jesus is also pleading his own case. But even with all this you have turned me aside. Yet I have not withdrawn my great affection toward you. It was my desire often to draw you to myself, but you would not.

Jerusalem is defeating itself by its sins. Yet what affection remains. With what warmth is his affection expressed, as a mother for her brood. Everywhere in the prophets is this same image of the wings, both in the song of Moses [2] and in the Psalms, [3] indicating his great protection and care.

“But you would not,” he says, so “behold, your house is forsaken and desolate,” stripped of the protection which comes from me.

It surely was this same one who had been protecting the city, and holding it together and preserving it, who had found it necessary to chasten his beloved. So now a punishment is appointed, one that brings exceeding dread and implies the entire overthrow of the city. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 74.3. [4]

[1] Jer 3:7.

[2] Deut 32:11.

[3] E.g., Ps 91:4.

[4] PG 58:682; NPNF 1 10:447.

FOR WHOM WAS THE LORD GRIEVING?

INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW: The whole future is before the gaze of the Lord, for he foresaw the fall of Jerusalem and the wound which was to be inflicted upon its people by the Roman Empire. It was on account of these things that he raised his mournful lamentation, crying, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem.” He was thinking of the blood that flowed from the bodies of his saints, soon to be shed yet again. Nevertheless the Lord was not grieving over the suffering sustained by these holy ones, for he knew what kind of glory he had prepared for them after death. Instead, he was mourning the destruction of those who were to receive evil in this life and even worse in the life to come. HOMILY 46. [1]

[1] PG 56:894.

ARDENT CARE FOR HER BROOD

APOLLINARIS: He was soon to rain calamitous blows on Jerusalem because of its bloodthirsty nature. For that very reason Jesus accuses it of possessing a murderous disposition. For he says it kills the prophets and stones the ones sent to it. So often [the city] could have obtained mercy, but it does not desire it. How many times he demonstrated this, on many occasions and to many descendants, as when he brought back the people from captivity. But through their sins they continually scattered themselves. By speaking of wings and shelter Jesus teaches in a way appropriate for God and illustrates the meaning of Moses’ words through a human comparison. “He spread his wings and welcomed them.” [1] And David: “But the children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” [2] For when Satan scattered them on one side into idolatry and on the other into a love for pleasure, he sent prophets to them. Then through himself he came that he might gather them together “into one.” But they could not bear to remain under his protection. “For I,” he says, “like a loving hen always held you to draw you to myself, but you had no desire for this. You scattered yourself through your constant sinning and drew away from God.” But this is a prolific hen who has many children. She ardently loves and cares for her children and willingly gives herself for them. FRAGMENT 121. [3]

[1] Deut 32:11.

[2] Ps 36:7 (35:8 LXX).

[3] MKGK 241.

23:38-39 | A Forsaken and Desolate House

YOU WILL NOT SEE ME AGAIN

CHRYSOSTOM: “For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ” This is the language of one that loves earnestly. He is poignantly appealing to them in relation to the judgment that is to come. He is not merely warning them concerning their past follies. He is now speaking of the future day of his second coming.

So did this occur? Did they not see him from that time? He was speaking of the time up to his crucifixion.

They had been continually accusing him of being a foe to God. He can do nothing now but show them who he is, as Son of the Father, in full accord with the Father’s will. He indicates himself to be the very one expected by the prophets. This is why he uses the same words as did the prophets. In this way he intimated both his resurrection and his second coming. He made all this plain even to the utterly unbelieving but even more surely to all who would worship him. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 74.3. [1]

[1] PG 58:683; NPNF 1 10:447-48.

THE VISION OF FAITH

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: That which has been spoken possesses an interpretation that comes through the vision of faith. For when “the fullness of the nations come in” [1] and they believe in Christ, then the Jews who believe after these things see the beauty of the divine nature of Christ. They behold the Father in the Son and declare him to be the Redeemer proclaimed through the prophets, whom the prophets previously mentioned as coming in the name of the Lord. For the other prophets did not come in the name of the Lord. For they were saying, “The Lord says these things” [2] and “I am the servant of the Lord, and I worship the God of heaven.” [3] FRAGMENT 264. [4]

[1] Rom 11:25.

[2] Jer 14:15.

[3] Jon 1:9.

[4] HE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST | MATTHEW 14:1-12