Devotion on Matthew 23:37 (NIV)
“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, and you were not willing.”
1. A History of Resistance
Throughout Scripture, God’s messengers faced hostility. Prophets like Zechariah were stoned (2 Chronicles 24:20–21), Jeremiah was thrown into a pit (Jeremiah 38:6), and Isaiah was likely sawn in half (Hebrews 11:37, tradition says). Jesus’ lament in this verse echoes centuries of heartbreak over a people who rejected the very ones sent to save them. Jerusalem—meant to shine with God’s presence—became a place where truth was silenced.
2. Divine Longing: A Heart of Compassion
Jesus’ words are not of condemnation but of deep, divine sorrow. He compares Himself to a mother hen longing to gather her chicks—a picture of warmth, protection, and tender love. This is God’s heart: not one of distant judgment but of sacrificial longing. His wings are extended, just as in Deuteronomy 32:11–12, where He is described as an eagle sheltering His young. Even in our rebellion, His desire remains to draw us near.
3. The Tragedy of Rejection
“But you were not willing.” These five words capture the tension of divine love and human freedom. God does not force Himself on anyone. Like the rich young ruler (Mark 10:22), we often walk away—not because God is unloving, but because our hearts are unwilling to surrender. Rejection is not about a lack of opportunity—it’s about a refusal to receive.
4. Why Do We Reject Those Who Love Us?
At its root, rebellion is the desire to live life on our own terms. We want to be the judge and decider of what’s right or wrong, echoing the original sin of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:5). We resist care and love when it seems to demand surrender. Like the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–13), we think freedom is found outside the Father’s house—until we realize it’s not.
5. The Folly of Self-Rule
What’s wrong with deciding how we want to live? Simply put: our knowledge is limited. Proverbs 14:12 warns, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” We don’t see the full picture, we underestimate the consequences of sin, and we often choose the easy path without realizing the cost. True freedom isn’t the absence of authority—it’s trusting the One who knows what’s best for us.
6. The Solution: A New Heart
God doesn’t just want behavior change; He wants to transform us from within. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you” (Ezekiel 36:26). Our stone hearts must be replaced by hearts that beat with God’s love and truth. This is the rebirth Jesus spoke of in John 3:3—a surrender that leads to transformation. It’s not about self-reform, but Spirit-led renewal (Titus 3:5).
Application Questions
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Reflect: Where have I resisted God’s care, insisting on my own way?
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Identify: What parts of my life am I trying to control, rather than surrendering to Jesus?
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Act: What step can I take this week to trust His wisdom over mine and let Him gather me under His wings?
A Short Prayer
Father, forgive my pride and stubbornness. Too often I’ve chosen independence over intimacy with You. Thank You for loving me even when I resist You. Replace my heart of stone with a heart that trusts and follows You. Gather me under Your wings, and teach me the joy of true surrender. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This devotion invites us to see God not as a distant ruler but as a loving Father whose arms are always open. The question isn’t whether He wants us—but whether we are willing to come.
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p.s. This post is the integration by ChatGPT and DeepSeek from my prompt:
Improve and complete the devotion on Matthew 23:37 NIV
“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, and you were not willing.
#1 The history of Jews shown they killed and stone God's prophets many times.
#2 Jesus want to care for and protect them.
#3 They rejected His offer.
#4 Why do we reject those who love and want to care for us?
There is only a simple reason --- we want to decide for ourselves how we want to live our lives. This is the sin of Adam and Eve, wanting to be the judge and decider of right and wrong.
#5 What is wrong with that(deciding how I want to live)?
The key is that our knowledge is limited. We don't know how things and lives work, what are the right and wrongs that are good for us. We want to take the easy way out and don't want the bad consequences that come with them. Such is not possible.
#6 What then is the solution?
A change of heart inside. Replace our rebellious stone heart with a rebirth of God's heart in us.
Application Questions:
A Short Prayer:
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