NOTE: I apologize for laying out for about a month without a new RTS. I had surgery about a month ago to remove a baseball sizes malignate tumor. The doctor says that they got it all, but that will remain to be seen. I would appreciate your prayers.
KJV - Luke 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
NIV - Luke 19:41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
It is tough being a parent. All a parent really wants is the best for their child. You just want them to be healthy and happy and to progress into responsible, God fearing adults. Unfortunately though, as they get older, they begin to make decisions on their own that we, as parents, gradually lose influence over them. At least once in their lives, a child will make a terrible error in judgement and all a parent can do is weep and then try to help pick up the pieces.
That is the scene for our text today. Jesus, looking over the city of Jerusalem, weeps over what it had become. Jesus had no more influence or control over the behavior of those....his people, than do parents and their children. God over the generations tried and tried and tried and tried, but he simply could not convice the people to repent and live according to his will. Let’s look at a similar passage in Matthew that gives a bit more information.
Matthew 23:34-37 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: (35) That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. (36) Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. (37) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
What beautiful imagery Jesus uses to convey his message. Like a mother hen would gather her chicks under her wings for their protection at the site of danger, Jesus likewise would and ultimately does make the supreme sacrifice to save his people. God sent prophets, teachers and wise men to call them back. However, the people either dismissed them or killed them so that they may continue their selfish, obstinate lives. Often times still believing that they were right with God. Just look at the behaviors of the Pharisees of Jesus time.
Matthew 23:23-29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (24) Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. (25) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. (26) Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. (27) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. (28) Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (29) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous..... (33) Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
The Jews during Jesus time gave the appearance that they were HIGHLY religious, but Jesus said clearly they were far from it. In fact, he asks the rhetorical question.. “How can you escape the damnation of Hell”? It’s NOT about the “Optics” but more about the heart and the actions of men. But it was not new with the contemporaries of Jesus.
KJV - Genesis 6:5-6 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (6) And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
NIV - Genesis 6:5-6 The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. (6) The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
This behavior of rebelling against God or simply ignoring God is heart breaking to him. God has not gotten over it over the last 2,000 years. Our similar behaviors continues to cause God to grieve, just like a parent witnessing the implosion of a child due to their own bad behaviors.
The question is: Do you please God or do you cause him to greive over your destructive, rebellious or apathetic behavior or actions?
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Reflecting His SON,
Dennis Hogan
Minister, North Hardin Church of Christ
1804 Sam Stewart Dr.
Radcliff, KY 40160
Questions, comments or further explanation? Contact me at: dennis.hogan@icloud.com
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