Matthew 23:37
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that kills the prophets, and stones them which are sent unto thee, how often I would have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”
What of Today’s Verse…
Our Lord’s ministry began with an octave of Blessedness, but it ended with a sevenfold woe, which He pronounced on the religious leaders of His time. He did not threaten, but pronounced the inevitable outworking of their evil ways.
Men often quote the punishment that follows sin as indicating some harsh or vindictive sentiment on the part of the Divine Being. They do not understand that, whereas human sentences are often arbitrary, God’s judgments are natural, i.e. they are the inevitable result of wrong-doing. The penalty is part of the constitution of the universe. The final judgment of the great White Throne will only announce the penalty which man’s sin has produced.
God is merciful as well as just, but if a man will tamper with explosives, He does not save his face or limbs. Our Lord was not animated by personal invective when He pronounced the terrible judgments of this chapter. There were tears of sorrow in His voice as He said; this temple is no longer My Father’s House, but “your house which is left unto you desolate.”
We read of the “Wrath of the Lamb,” but it is the counterpart of Love; not vindictive wrath, but the bitterness of disappointed Love! Notice the gleam of light at the end of this chapter. Jesus seemed to hear the welcome which would be accorded to Him in that day when He shall finally appear to vindicate and save His brethren according to the flesh (Mat_23:39).
Let us Pray:
O Lord, make us, we implore Thee, so to love Thee that Thou mayest be to us a Fire of Love, purifying and not destroying. Amen.
Words of Wisdom
Contribution
I am love in action, contributing to the well-being of others.
God’s love expresses through me to bless others. I perceive the people with whom I interact as the children of God they truly are. I look for opportunities to be of help, to appreciate and to make a positive contribution.
I find many opportunities to give from my heart. I extend a wave and a warm smile to a neighbour, call or e-mail a friend or relative, or give time and attention to someone in need.
I look beyond the outer persona of those who seem unfriendly or impolite and behold their true essence. For all those I meet or think of today, I say a silent blessing: I behold the Christ in you. I visualize you whole, happy, prosperous and peaceful.
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God”–1 John 4:7
