Reformed Interpretation of Matthew 23:37-38

In Matthew 23:37-38, Jesus laments over Jerusalem, stating, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate" (ESV). This passage concludes a series of "woes" pronounced against the scribes and Pharisees, highlighting their hypocrisy and rejection of God's messengers ^[5].

The literary context of these verses is crucial. Jesus has just delivered a scathing indictment of the religious leaders, accusing them of misperceiving God's will and leading people astray ^[5]. He compares their actions to those who murdered prophets in the past, culminating in a prophecy of further persecution of God's servants ^[5]. Immediately following this lament, Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple (Matthew 24:1-2), linking the desolation of Jerusalem to its rejection of Him.

The phrase "as a hen gathers her brood under her wings" is a powerful image of protective care ^[8]. This imagery is found elsewhere in the Old Testament, such as in Deuteronomy 32:11, Ruth 2:12, and various Psalms (e.g., Psalm 17:8, 36:7, 57:1, 61:4, 91:4) ^[8]. The "Treasury of Scripture Knowledge" cross-references Psalm 17:8 with Matthew 23:37, further emphasizing this theme of divine protection ^[2]. Jesus expresses a deep longing for Jerusalem to repent and receive God's grace, despite the severe judgment he has just pronounced ^[8].

The core of the lament lies in the phrase "and you were not willing!" This highlights the human element of resistance to God's gracious invitation. The subsequent declaration, "your house is left to you desolate," signifies a profound judgment. The Geneva Bible of 1599 renders this as, "Beholde, your habitation shalbe left vnto you desolate" ^[1]. This desolation refers to the impending destruction of Jerusalem and its temple, a consequence of their rejection of Jesus ^[4].

Reformed theology, as exemplified by Charles Hodge, often emphasizes the sovereignty of God alongside human responsibility. While Hodge's Systematic Theology does not directly address Matthew 23:37-38, his broader discussions on divine decrees and human agency provide a framework for understanding such passages. For instance, in discussing the Lord's Supper, Hodge notes that while God offers grace, individuals must examine themselves and possess faith, repentance, and new obedience to worthily partake ^[3]. This implies a necessary human response to divine overtures. Similarly, in the context of prophecy, Hodge distinguishes between the "silent progress of the Gospel" and specific, future events, suggesting that while God's plan unfolds, there are distinct moments of judgment and fulfillment ^[4]. The desolation of Jerusalem, in this view, is a specific, historical judgment resulting from a specific, historical rejection.

Augustine, a significant figure in patristic thought, also grappled with the interpretation of scripture, particularly when multiple meanings seemed possible. He argued that if an interpretation aligns with other scriptural truths, it is acceptable, even if the author's original intent remains undiscovered ^[6]. While not directly on Matthew 23:37-38, Augustine's approach to interpreting difficult passages, such as those concerning the consistency of Gospel accounts of Jesus' crucifixion, demonstrates a careful consideration of how different biblical narratives contribute to a unified truth ^[7]. The lament over Jerusalem, for Augustine, would likely fit within the broader narrative of God's justice and mercy, and the consequences of rejecting divine truth.

The passage functions as a poignant expression of divine sorrow over human recalcitrance, culminating in a declaration of impending judgment. It underscores the tension between God's desire to gather and protect His people and their unwillingness to be gathered, leading to the inevitable consequence of desolation.

Sources

Matthew “Matthew 23:38 (Geneva1599) — Beholde, your habitation shalbe left vnto you desolate,”
OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Ps.17.8 → Matt.23.37 (confidence: 10 votes)”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 68: this sacrament demands should exist in the heart, without producing supreme love and gratitude to Christ, and the fixed purpose to forsake all sin and to live devoted to his service. Our Church, therefore, teaches that it is required of them who would worthily partake of the Lord’s Supper, that they examine themselves, of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body, of their faith to feed upon Him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience. It is, however, not to be inferred from this that a man must be assured that he is a true believe”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 86: full accomplishment; or that they are now being fulfilled in the silent progress of the Gospel. They include the past and the present, but much remains to be accomplished in the future more in accordance with their literal meaning. (2.) The character of the predictions in the New Testament does not admit of their being made to refer to any spiritual coming of Christ or to the constant progress of his Church. They evidently refer to a single event; to an event in the future, not now in progress; an event which shall attract the attention o”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 23:13: 23:13-36 Matthew collected seven statements of what sorrow awaits you (literally woe to you), drawing upon similar Old Testament listings (Isa 5:8-23; Hab 2:6-20), and he arranged them to climax in the murder of the prophets. 23:13 What sorrow awaits you: A stark warning of judgment from God. • Hypocrites! In English, hypocrisy describes a contradiction between reality and appearance. But in biblical usage, hypocrisy is misperceiving God’s will, leading people astray, and thus incurring God’s judgment. Coupled with this is often a desire for prestige and power (”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 27.--ONE PASSAGE SUSCEPTIBLE OF VARIOUS INTERPRETATIONS.: 38. When, again, not some one interpretation, but two or more interpretations are put upon the same words of Scripture, even though the meaning the writer intended remain undiscovered, there is no danger if it can be shown from other passages of Scripture that any of the interpretations put on the words is in harmony with the truth. And if a man in searching the Scriptures endeavors to get at the intention of the author through whom the Holy Spirit spoke, whether he succee”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. XV.--OF THE CONSISTENCY OF THE ACCOUNTS GIVEN BY MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE ON THE SUBJECT OF THE PARTIES WHO INSULTED THE LORD.: 52. Matthew goes on in the following strain: "And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross."[1] Mark's statement agrees with this almost to the letter. Then Matthew continues thus: "Likewise also the chief priests, mocking Him, with the scribes and elders, said”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 23:37: 23:37 Despite the severe judgment Jesus had just leveled against Israel (23:29-36), he truly longed for them to repent and receive God’s grace. • as a hen: An image of protective care (see also Deut 32:11; Ruth 2:12; Pss 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 91:4).”

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