Luke 13:34

(Hom. 75. in Matt.) For the twice repeated word betokens compassion or very great love. For the Lord speaks, if we may say it, as a lover would to his mistress who despised him, and was therefore about to be punished.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children, as a hen her chickens!" And Jerusalem is, when interpreted, "a vision of peace." He therefore shows prophetically, that those who peacefully contemplate sacred things are in manifold ways trained to their calling. What then? He "would," and could not. How often, and where? Twice; by the prophets, and by the advent. The expression, then, "How often," shows wisdom to be manifold; every mode of quantity and quality, it by all means saves some, both in time and in eternity.

But because they said unto Him, Depart from hence, for Herod seeks to kill thee, speaking in Galilee where Herod reigned, He shows that not in Galilee, but in Jerusalem it had been fore-ordained that He should suffer. Hence it follows, For it can not be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. When thou hearest, It can not be (or it is not fitting) that a prophet should perish out of Jerusalem, think not that any violent constraint was imposed upon the Jews, but He says this seasonably with reference to their eager desire after blood; just as if any one seeing a most savage robber, should say, the road on which this robber lurks can not be without bloodshed to travellers. So also no where else but in the abode of robbers must the Lord of the prophets perish. For accustomed to the blood of His prophets, they will also kill the Lord; as it follows, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, etc. After he manifested the sublimity of the divine disposition in the redemption of the human race, here secondly he manifests it in the reprobation of the rebellious people. And first he indicates the rebellion, then the hardening, and thirdly the abandonment. First, …

(Severus.) But the repetition of the name also shows the rebuke to be severe. For she who knew God, how does she persecute God's ministers?

Now He who aptly had called Herod a fox, who was plotting His death, compares Himself to a bird, for foxes are ever lying in wait for birds.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Jerusalem does not refer to the stones and buildings …

In calling upon Jerusalem, He addresses not the stones and buildings of the city, but the dwellers therein, and He weeps over it with the affection of a father.

By the repetition of the name, the Lord shows what strong love He has for them. For He also calls out to the adulterous synagogue, as if He were some lover despised by his beloved. The Lord also declares His love for mankind, saying that …

4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Tidings brought to Christ of the death of some Galileans lately, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices,

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-run:39w-of-58

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets,....

Let us learn from these verses — how entirely our times are in God's hands. Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us this lesson by His reply to those who bade Him to depart, because Herod would kill Him. He said, "I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow." His time was not yet come for leaving the world. His work was not yet finished. Until that time came — it was not in the power of Herod to hurt Him. Until that work was finished — no weapon forged against Him could prosper.

Let us learn from these verses — how entirely our times are in God's hands. Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us this lesson by His reply to those who bade Him to depart, because Herod would kill Him. He said, "I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow." His time was not yet come for leaving the world. His work was not yet finished. Until that time came — it was not in the power of Herod to hurt Him. Until that work was finished — no weapon forged against Him could prosper. There is something in our Lord's words which demands the attention of all true Christians. There is a frame of mind exhibited to us, which we should do well to copy. Our Lord, no doubt, spoke with a prophetic foresight of coming things. He knew the time of His own death, and He knew that this time was not yet come. Foreknowledge like this, of course, is not granted to believers in the present day. But still there is a lesson here which we ought not to overlook. We ought, in a certain measure, to aim at having the same mind which was in Christ Jesus. We ought to seek to possess a spirit of calm, unshaken confidence about things to come. We should study to have a heart "not afraid of evil tidings," but quiet, steady, and trusting in the Lord. (Psalm 112:7.) The subject is a delicate one, but one which concerns our happiness so much — that it deserves solemn consideration. We are not intended to be idle fatalists, like the Muslims — or cold, unfeeling statues, like the Stoics . We are not to neglect the use of means, or to omit all prudent provision for the unseen future. To neglect means is fanaticism — and not faith. But still, when we have done all — we should remember, that though duties are ours — events are God's! We should therefore endeavor to leave things to come in God's hands, and not to be over-anxious about health, or family, or money or plans.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem - See the note on Mat 23:37-39 (note), where the metaphor of the hen is illustrated from the Greek Anthology.

See the notes at Mat 23:37-39. From the message which Jesus sent to Herod we may learn: 1. That our lives are safe in the hands of God, and that wicked people can do no more to injure us than he shall permit. Compare Joh 19:11. 2. That we “should” go on fearlessly in doing our duty, and especially if we are doing good. We should not regard the threats of people. God is to be obeyed; and even if obedience should involve us in difficulty and trials, still we should not hesitate to commit our cause to God and go forward. 3. We should be on our guard against crafty and unprincipled people. They often “profess” to seek our good when they are only plotting our ruin. Even those professedly coming from our enemies to caution us are often also our enemies, and are secretly plotting our ruin or endeavoring to prevent our doing good. 4. We see here the nature of religion. It shrinks at nothing which is duty. It goes forward trusting in God. It comes out boldly and faces the world. And, 5. How beautiful and consistent is the example of Christ! How “wise” was he to detect the arts of his foes! how “fearless” in going forward, in spite of all their machinations, to do what God had appointed for him to do!