Commentaries:
People's Commentary (NT)
Matthew 23:37
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets. The intense
feeling that spoke in this utterance comes out first in the redoubling
of the word Jerusalem; next in the picture of the sins of the city
which he draws--a city so wicked that it was not content with rejecting
the messengers of God, but even slew them. I know of nothing more
touching than this apostrophe.
How often would I have gathered thy children. Not only had the city
been warned again and again by the prophets, but the Lord had visited
it at least six or seven times, and had for months taught in its
streets. Nor did his solicitude end with the cross. His long suffering,
patience and love are shown by his charge in the commission to the
apostles: "To preach repentance and remission in his name among all
nations, 'beginning at Jerusalem'" (Luke 24:47).
Ye would not! "Would not" explains the cause of the rejection of
the gospel. It is not because God in Christ is not ready: he "would
gather" them. It is not because men cannot come, but because they will
not come. Christ wished that salvation of Jerusalem; his will was for
them to be saved: he sought to influence their wills to make a choice
of salvation, but they "would not". So God still "is not willing that
any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9),
but there are many "who will not come to Christ that they might have
life" (John 5:40). While God wills the salvation of men, he does not
destroy free agency by coercing the human will, but says: "Whosoever
will, let him come" (Revelation 22:17).
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Matthew 23:1
Matthew 23:37
Luke 13:34-35
Romans 10:21
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