Love, Betrayal, and Grace that Overcomes (Matthew 23:37-39).Sunday November 9, 2025
Mat 23:37-39
Main issue: Jesus’ closing statement in the court of the temple, His temple, after His entrance into Jerusalem on the donkey and two days teaching and revealing Himself in the temple court, through miracles and the praise of children and the open condemnation of the leaders, reveals His love for Jerusalem and that His protection of her that was conditioned on her faith in Him. He had tried to gather her many times but she was unwilling.
Jesus was much like the prophet Jeremiah in the temple court, announcing woes to Israel and prophesying her doom.
Jer 7:1-2 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 "Stand in the gate of the Lord's house and proclaim there this word and say, 'Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the Lord!'"
Jer 7:11-15 "Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it," declares the Lord.
12 "But go now to My place which was in Shiloh, where I made My name dwell at the first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel. 13 "And now, because you have done all these things," declares the Lord, "and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you but you did not answer, 14 therefore, I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to the place which I gave you and your fathers, as I did to Shiloh. 15 "I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brothers, all the offspring of Ephraim.
God’s judgment is real and final.
God will also fulfill His promise to Israel and Christ will return.
God protects His own.
Psa 91:1-4 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" 3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
Nothing, not even your worst failure can separate you from the love of God.
Rom 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
As Christ states: the conditions of life are based on choice, and this holds for all, believer and unbeliever.
Rom 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
The believer becomes obsessed with evangelism, appealing to others with the only condition of salvation, which is faith in Christ as the only Savior.
Rom 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness…
Jesus loved Jerusalem and had wanted to gather her like a hen gathers her chicks.
What was she like: kills and stones. Welcome signs.
So why does He love her? (Deu 7:8).
How often had He as God forgiven and restored and gave to her?
Does He refer to her history or to His earthly ministry?
How often I wanted to gather her children …
This tender image is in Ruth and multiple times in the Psalms.
Rut 2:12 stated by Boaz - kinsman Redeemer.
Psalms: Psa 17:8; Psa 36:7; Psa 57:1 (David on the run in the wilderness, angels around him like Elisha vision); Psa 61:4; Psa 63:7; Psa 91:4 - Psa 36:7
Jerusalem’s future depends on God’s faithfulness and her faith.
It depends on God’s faithfulness: Zec 12:10; Hos 5:15-6:3; Rom 11:11; Rom 11:25-26.
Prophecy of their repentance: Hos 5:15; Jer 3:12; Isa 53:1-9
Jerusalem’s future depends on the faithfulness of God, and yes their repentance; Paul states after 3 chapters of God’s dealings with Israel and the church age: Rom 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
Promise of judgment - Your house will be left to you desolate.
Desolate: Jer 12:7; Jer 22:5.
Principle: Any person or group or place is only of value if the Lord dwells there. All believers are the temple of the living God. Our churches, homes, relationships, are only valuable with the Lord’s presence.
The next occupant of the rebuilt temple will be the abomination of desolation, Mat 24:15
He will return to her.
Paul and Matthew see hope.
Paul diagnosed the problem: Israel misunderstood God’s righteousness thinking it was based on works.
Matthew showed the symptoms: They were hypocrites who were blind, holding to their traditions and rejecting God and devotion to His Law.
Conclusion: The whole story is in Psa 118
Psa 118 “His steadfast love endures forever” stated 5 times.
Psa 118:2 Oh let Israel say, "His lovingkindness is everlasting."
Psa 118:26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord; We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. |