Matthew 23:34-39 – The yearning of God for us to do His work

As a nation, Israel had been building up her guilt. They had repeatedly refused to heed the warning of danger that God had sent to them through His prophets. They not only rejected the prophets, one after another, they even had them stoned to death. The parable of the wicked tenants (Matthew 21:33-46), and the parable of the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:1-14), had already revealed their stubborn refusal to acknowledge the warning of God. And in Jesus’ strongly worded charges recorded in verses 24-36, He again re-enforced His warnings of their guilt. Then, besides Israel’s guilt, there was also the guilt of the human race. In verse 35, Jesus traced the blood-guilt to the killing of Abel, the first victim of murder, killed by Cain his own brother (Genesis 4).

The nation of Israel was called to be God’s witness to the world, but they had failed in their responsibility. Instead of being a light to the world they adopted the ways of the world. God had repeatedly sent His prophets to warn them, but they not only rejected His warnings but also killed His messengers. Now God had sent His Son, the ultimate messenger, but they were about to do to Him what they did to all the prophets before Him. Verse 36 tells us that all the built up guilt of Israel and of the nations will find its ultimate expression in that generation - the generation that refused the message of Jesus Himself and sent Him to His death.   

The lament in verse 37 was a cry of the heart of God. Using the illustration of a mother hen who would collect all her chicks under her wings in times of danger, God had made many attempts to draw Israel back to Himself. But they had repeatedly refused and rejected His call to return to Him and to their task. Soon their house, the Temple where they would worship God and connect with Him, would be destroyed and left desolate. They would find themselves estranged from God. And if they want to experience a relationship with Him again, it must be through the acceptance of Jesus, their Messiah. It must be in their turning to trust and believe in Jesus. It could only happen when they would once again say to Him, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

The graciousness of God is without measure. Through Christ, He yearns longingly for us. He wants us to come under His protective hedge. Like His desire for Israel, He also wants us to be responsible to the call to make Him known. Israel had failed Him. What about us? We must be God’s true light and salt to our world that is lost to sin. Let’s do it responsibly!