Matthew 23:37-39 Sorrowful Wrath

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. “Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! “For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’" [Matthew 23:37-39 NASB]

Jesus told them, "From now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" In fact, this was Jesus' last visit to the temple. He continued His teaching on the mount of Olives, and in the upper room where he held Passover. The next time Jesus steps on the temple mount, it will be at His return when He will be hailed by all as King.

Jesus has just pronounced His scathing eight woes against the scribes and Pharisees. Throughout His ministry, when dealing with all manner of sinners, Jesus has shown Himself to be loving and compassionate. With the hypocrites, Jesus shows Himself to be a God of judgment and wrath. Yet even in His wrath, He is sorrowful, wanting them all to be saved, though He knows that they are not willing to be.

Of all things, I believe it saddens God whenever anyone refuses the salvation that He so freely offers, but choose instead to mock the gospel, and the righteous standards contained within the scriptures.

"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” ...But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." [2 Peter 3:3-9 NASB]

Whenever I read the news, I realize that the America I grew up in is not the same America I live in today. We are generally moving from valuing godliness to valuing perversion and licentiousness. Not only do men and women openly sin, but they take pride in their sin, and encourage others to join with them.

God is openly opposed and mocked in all levels of government. We used to start each day of public school with a prayer. Now teachers are forbidden by law to pray with a student, and even students are opposed if they gather to pray for themselves.

There is a growing animosity towards the gospel. Businesses are being targeted by local governments because the owner is a Christian. Atheists choose to go to a Christian owned business and insist that the owner perform a service that will violate his conscience. If he complies, the atheists win by forcing the Christian to violate his principles. If he doesn't comply, they take him to court to destroy his business.

Of course there are a number of churches that meet no opposition of any kind. They preach a social message that ignores the gospel of salvation and instead teach that men are noble and full of potential. They use terms like "self-realization" or "self-actualization". Emphasis on "self". They ignore scriptures that say, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," [Romans 3:23 NASB] Or Jesus' words, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." [Matthew 16:24 NASB]

Instead of putting our self first, we should be considering others first. "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;" [Philippians 2:3 NASB]

We need to pray for our nation. We need to repent on its behalf.

Heavenly Father, we have strayed far from You. We are traveling down a road that leads to destruction. We have become a sinful and rebellious nation. Lord, please have mercy on us. Forgive us of our sinful ways, and lead us into righteousness. Turn us around, so that we become a people dedicated to You. I pray that Your Spirit will move among the people, and also through our leaders in government, drawing them to You. We give you thanks and praise. In Jesus name.