“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” (Matt. 23:37).
Matthew 23:37 is one of the most emotionally raw moments in the Gospels. Standing in the shadow of the temple during His final week of public ministry, Jesus moved from a strong condemnation of religious hypocrisy to a brokenhearted lament over Jerusalem.
Why was Jesus brokenhearted? Because the city He loved had resisted the very One who came to gather, protect, and redeem them.
To feel the weight of this verse, we need to remember what came before it. Throughout Matthew 23, Jesus pronounced woes upon the scribes and Pharisees, exposing their pride, spiritual blindness, and hypocrisy. He accused them of closing the kingdom of Heaven to others and following in the footsteps of those who had rejected and killed God’s messengers.
Yet after that rebuke, Jesus did not gloat. He grieved. The repeated cry, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” reveals deep sorrow and tender affection. Jesus knew the consequences of their persistent rebellion. He knew destruction was coming, and His heart broke over their refusal to come to Him.
The picture Jesus used is powerful. He compared Himself to a hen gathering her chicks under her wings. It is an image of protection, tenderness, and sacrifice. A mother hen will gather her young beneath her body when danger comes, placing herself between the threat and her chicks. Scripture often uses this kind of image to describe refuge under the wings of the Lord.
But the tragedy of the verse is found in the final words: “and ye would not!” The Savior’s wings were open, but the people were unwilling. He offered refuge, but they refused. He offered life, but they chose rebellion.
That same warning still speaks today. Matthew 23:37 is not only a historical lament over Jerusalem; it is also a call for us to examine our own hearts. Where are we resisting the gathering hand of God? Where are we seeking shelter in our own strength, plans, possessions, or self-sufficiency instead of resting in Him?
Jesus’ lament reminds us that the barrier to God’s peace and protection is not His unwillingness to give it, but often our unwillingness to receive it. His invitation remains open. His wings are still outstretched. The question is whether we will keep standing in the storm or come to Him while we can.
From Our Missionaries
Ebenezer, West Little Rock: Ruben Isturiz writes, “Every week in ministry is different, often bringing new challenges and opportunities to see God’s grace at work.
“This week, we would like to ask you to pray for Francisco Ramirez, the father of one of our church members. Francisco was involved in an accident in San Antonio, Texas. Our sister Elizabeth traveled there on Wednesday to be with him and the family during this difficult time. We are thankful she had the opportunity to share the gospel with him, and Francisco placed his faith in Christ. His condition has been unstable, with periods of improvement followed by setbacks, so we ask you to continue praying for both his physical recovery and spiritual growth.
“We also had a special reason to celebrate as a family this week. On Saturday, our daughter Zuly turned 20. We enjoyed a simple birthday celebration at a bowling alley with family and several friends from Ebenezer. I thank God for her life and for the young woman He is shaping her to be. I can now officially say we no longer have any teenagers at home! Please pray for her during the summer and for her return to college in August.
“In the ministry, we continue moving forward with our Discovery Bible Study groups. We are grateful for the opportunities these groups provide to study God’s Word and share the gospel throughout our community. Please pray that these groups will continue to grow and multiply.
“We are also continuing our sermon series through the book of Romans. Next Sunday, we will take a break from the series as we host a special Father’s Day event. This will be a great opportunity to invite people from our Oikos map and strengthen relationships with families in our community. Please pray that the Lord will use this event to open doors for gospel conversations.
“Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and faithful support of this mission work. We are grateful to have you as ministry partners and co-laborers in what God is doing here in Little Rock. To God be all the glory!”
Faith Chapel, Flippin: Johnny Shew writes, “We had a great week at Faith Chapel! After a record-setting worship attendance and wrapping up our first VBS last week, our numbers were a little lower than normal. Some were traveling, and some were out sick, but we still had a wonderful time of worship. One of our first-time visitors from last week brought another visitor this week, and both said they would be back. Praise God!
“Since our building and playground are complete and we are somewhat settled in, we are now beginning the process of figuring out how and when we will organize as a church. We understand this is a process, and we do not have a timeline or date in mind yet. We want to make sure we cover all the details, but we will keep you posted on our progress as we enter the final stage of our mission — becoming a church.
“We thank you all for the support you have given us. I can’t begin to name everyone who has helped us, but God knows, and we pray He blesses you richly for your contributions. Most of all, we thank you for your prayers that have gotten us this far. Please continue to pray that the Lord will lead and guide us in His will as we take this next step.”
Faith Journey, Benton: Bryan Clay writes, “This week, my wife and I were blessed to get away for a much-needed vacation. As we traveled through places like Sedona, Ariz., and headed toward the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park in Utah, we were reminded of just how amazing our God is. Seeing the beauty of His creation has been nothing short of amazing!
“While we were away, Bob Ward filled in at Faith Journey. Bro. Bob has been a longtime friend and mentor of mine, and we were thankful to hear that everyone had a great time of worship and fellowship. It is always a blessing to know God’s work continues even when we are away and that He has faithful people serving wherever He calls them.
“We are grateful for this time of rest and are looking forward to being back with our Faith Journey family next week!”
Misión Gracia Soberana (Sovereign Grace), NWA:Roberto Marcelletti writes, “Greetings, brothers and sisters in Christ, from Northwest Arkansas.
“It has already been a month since we moved to the location of our mother church, Cornerstone. In general, the change has been good. Ronny and his family, Silvia and her children, and Sister Sofy and her family have not returned since we moved, but we continue to stay in contact with them so we do not lose those relationships.
“This week, we had to suspend our home groups because of various situations, including the illnesses of Sister Ángeles and Nani, as well as the rain.
“We have begun praying for our first Father’s Day event in this new location. This week, we will begin making invitations so we can have a good number of guests. I also invited Daniel again, the young man who made a delivery to our apartment. I ask you to pray for him. He promised to visit us with his girlfriend next weekend.
“The Lord, in His grace, has spoken to us these last two Sundays about being witnesses in the midst of difficulties. We must take advantage of this opportunity to make ourselves known in our new community.”
Epic Life, Pea Ridge: Jake McCandless writes, “This week, our Garfield Circle did not meet, and our Woodbridge Circle gathering was smaller and shorter than usual. However, it may have been one of our most connected weeks. With three members of Epic Life facing major health issues and surgeries, much of the week was spent checking on one another, visiting, and providing care. It was a good reminder that the relationships being built through our circles extend far beyond scheduled gatherings.
“We closed out the week with our worship service. Attendance was lower than we would have hoped, but the evening was powerful. Our worship leaders continue to do an incredible job, and I continued working through what I believe God has been doing in terms of spiritual growth at Epic Life through what I have been calling Lived Discipleship. We also began using the phrase ‘Faith for Real Life’ in some of our public communication, which seemed to connect well.
“My message focused on James 1:14-15 and the reality that ‘the heart reaches.’ We explored how desire shapes so much of human behavior and how discipleship must address not only what we do, but what we are reaching for.
“The highlight of the evening came after the message during a mini-Connection Circle and Discovery Bible Study. After 29 years of preaching ministry, I still love preaching. But some of the most powerful moments of spiritual growth I have witnessed happen when I step back and facilitate discovery in God’s Word. Every time we do it, I’m reminded why these circles remain at the heart of what we’re trying to build at Epic Life.”
