Matthew 23:34-39

Weeping over the city of Jerusalem Matthew 23:34-39: God had done much to lead the Jews religiously. He sent prophets, wise men and scribes. The Jews rejected God's way and God's men. "Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city." (Matthew 23:34) They now stood guilty before the Creator. "That on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar." (Matthew 23:35)

Jesus did not give up on the Jews. He looked at them with love, mercy, compassion, and a desire that they would repent of their sins and live godly for Christ Jesus. He compassionately lamented the fact that Jerusalem had rejected God. He wept and said, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!..." (Matthew 23:37-38)