Sermons on Matthew 23:37

Matthew 23:37 Interpretation:

Divine Yearning: The Call to Embrace God's Protection (Spurgeon Sermon Series) offers a deeply Christological interpretation of Matthew 23:37, emphasizing that the lament is not merely the words of a man but of the God-man, Christ, who has eternally longed to gather Jerusalem. Spurgeon insists that only one who is both divine and human could claim to have repeatedly sought to gather Jerusalem’s children across centuries, thus rooting the verse in the pre-existence and ongoing compassion of Christ. He draws out the metaphor of the hen gathering her chicks, exploring its connotations of safety, comfort, love, and growth, and marvels at the humility of God in choosing such a homely image. Spurgeon’s interpretation is unique in its insistence on the dual nature of Christ as essential to understanding the passage, and in his detailed, multi-faceted exploration of the hen metaphor as a window into the heart of God.

Understanding Rejection: Grace, Election, and Responsibility (MLJTrust) interprets Matthew 23:37 as the climactic expression of God’s persistent, gracious initiative toward Israel, and humanity’s stubborn refusal. The sermon highlights the repeated, almost parental, outreach of God (“all day long I have stretched forth my hands”), culminating in Christ’s lament over Jerusalem. The preacher draws a parallel between the language of “gathering” and the motif of God’s outstretched hands, emphasizing the tragedy of human resistance. The interpretation is notable for its linguistic analysis of the Greek terms for “disobedient” and “gainsaying,” which are unpacked as “non-persuasive” (unwilling to be persuaded) and “contradictory” (actively speaking against), deepening the sense of willful rejection. The sermon also uniquely frames the passage as a convergence of divine election and human responsibility, holding both in tension.

Defining Discipleship: Courage, Compassion, and Community (Hope on “Hope Master Calendar” the Beach Church) interprets Matthew 23:37 primarily through the lens of Jesus’ compassion, focusing on the maternal hen metaphor. The preacher draws a vivid analogy between Jesus’ longing to gather Jerusalem and a mother hen’s sacrificial protection of her chicks, even to the point of death. This is illustrated with a farmyard story where a hen dies in a fire, saving her chicks beneath her wings—a direct, emotive parallel to Christ’s sacrificial love. The interpretation is distinct in its application of the metaphor to the church’s call to compassion and protection, and in its use of a contemporary, rural illustration to make the ancient image tangible and emotionally resonant.

Finding Refuge Under His Wings: Christ's Protective Love (SermonIndex.net) offers a vivid and unique interpretation of Matthew 23:37 by focusing on the typology of Jesus as a mother hen. The preacher draws on his own experience as a shepherd to explain how animals, particularly hens, issue a distinct call to their young when danger is near, gathering them under their wings for protection. He emphasizes that Jesus, in using this metaphor, reveals his heart as one who sees dangers we do not and calls us to safety, even being willing to fight to the death for us. The sermon further explores the resistance of Jerusalem as a tragic unwillingness to be gathered, likening it to people today who resist God's truth and protection, preferring their own religious constructs. This analogy is extended to critique the crafting of alternate religious systems and the human tendency to cherry-pick scripture, ultimately missing the nurturing and protective intent of Christ’s call.

The Divine Nurturing: Embracing the Role of Mothers (SermonIndex.net) provides a distinctive interpretation by highlighting the maternal imagery in Matthew 23:37, noting that Jesus uses a female metaphor—likening himself to a mother hen—to express his desire to gather and protect Jerusalem. The preacher connects this to the broader biblical theme of God’s nurturing, mother-like care, referencing the original Greek word for “gather” and “brood” (as in Genesis 1:2 for the Holy Spirit), and argues that Jesus’ use of maternal language is intentional and theologically significant. He further suggests that, just as a mother hen would retrieve a wandering chick, Jesus persistently seeks to bring back those who stray, countering any image of God or Christ as harsh or unfeeling.

Embracing Love: Courage in the Face of Fear (Christ Church UCC Des Plaines) interprets Matthew 23:37 as a depiction of Jesus’ unwavering, compassionate yearning to gather and embrace all people, even those who resist or turn away. The preacher uses the image of Jesus’ outstretched arms as an invitation to experience a love that is stronger than fear, rejection, or death, and likens the gathering of Jerusalem’s children to the warm, enveloping embrace of a loving community. This interpretation is applied pastorally, urging listeners to see Christ’s longing as a call to courage, acceptance, and inclusion, especially for those marginalized or afraid.

Finding Refuge: Trusting God's Protection and Presence (SermonIndex.net) offers a vivid and unique interpretation of Matthew 23:37 by drawing a direct analogy between Jesus’ longing to gather Jerusalem and the instinctive behavior of a mother hen protecting her chicks from danger. The preacher shares a personal childhood memory of observing hens, emphasizing how, at the first sign of a vulture, the hen would call her chicks and shield them under her wings, taking the brunt of any attack herself. This analogy is used to highlight the depth of Christ’s protective love and the tragedy of human unwillingness to accept it. The sermon also notes the repeated use of the phrase “how often” in the Greek, underscoring the persistent, ongoing desire of Jesus to gather and protect, not just a one-time offer. The preacher further connects this to the present, suggesting that Jesus’ longing is not only for ancient Jerusalem but for families, churches, and individuals today, making the passage a living invitation rather than a historical lament.

Shining Light: Embracing the True Jesus (SermonIndex.net) provides a distinctive interpretation by focusing on the spiritual blindness and self-made barriers that prevent people from receiving Christ’s offer in Matthew 23:37. The preacher frames the passage as a warning against constructing religious or personal “walls” that keep Jesus out, even while maintaining the outward forms of faith. The sermon explores the original Greek meaning of “blessed” (makarios), explaining that it involves desiring what God wants for us, not what we want for ourselves, and speaking well of all that God brings into our lives. The preacher also draws a parallel between the refusal of Jerusalem and the modern tendency to create a “homemade Jesus” who does not “shine in the dark”—a Jesus of our own making who cannot provide true refuge or light in times of crisis. This interpretation is further enriched by the preacher’s insistence that the real Jesus, the one who longs to gather us, is the only one who can give light and strength in darkness.

Embodying the Love of the Good Shepherd (First United Methodist of Madisonville, TN) interprets Matthew 23:37 through the lens of the Good Shepherd motif, connecting Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem to the prophetic rebuke of Israel’s failed shepherds in Ezekiel 34. The preacher uses the metaphor of a mother bird shielding her chicks from wildfire, even at the cost of her own life, to illustrate the sacrificial nature of Christ’s love as expressed in the passage. This analogy is not only vivid but also ties together the themes of protection, self-sacrifice, and the pain of rejected love. The preacher sees Jesus’ words as both a lament and a call to embody the same self-giving, seeking love toward others, especially the lost and marginalized.

Matthew 23:37 Theological Themes:

Divine Yearning: The Call to Embrace God's Protection (Spurgeon Sermon Series) introduces the theme of the condescension of God, who likens Himself to a hen, and explores the multifaceted blessings found “under His wings”—fellowship, safety, comfort, love, and spiritual growth. Spurgeon’s treatment is unique in its insistence that the metaphor reveals not only God’s protection but also His nurturing, cherishing, and sanctifying work. He also stresses the dual reality that while salvation is entirely of grace, the ruin of man is entirely self-caused (“I would, but ye would not”), thus holding together divine sovereignty and human responsibility in a practical, not merely theoretical, way.

Understanding Rejection: Grace, Election, and Responsibility (MLJTrust) presents a nuanced theological theme: the interplay of divine election and human responsibility. The sermon asserts that while salvation is wholly of God’s initiative and grace, damnation is wholly the result of human willful rejection. The preacher’s analysis of the Greek terms for “disobedient” and “gainsaying” adds a new facet, showing that the heart of unbelief is not mere ignorance but an active, stubborn refusal to be persuaded and a spirit of contradiction. This theme is further developed by connecting the lament of Jesus in Matthew 23:37 to the broader biblical motif of God’s persistent, gracious outreach and humanity’s culpable resistance.

Defining Discipleship: Courage, Compassion, and Community (Hope on “Hope Master Calendar” the Beach Church) adds a fresh application by connecting the maternal imagery of Matthew 23:37 to the church’s mission of compassion. The preacher uniquely applies the sacrificial love of the hen to the call for Christians to embody Christ’s compassion, even to the point of self-sacrifice, in their relationships and community life.

Finding Refuge Under His Wings: Christ's Protective Love (SermonIndex.net) introduces the theme of spiritual resistance as a form of self-destruction, arguing that the refusal to be gathered under Christ’s wings leaves individuals defenseless and spiritually desolate. The sermon uniquely frames the rejection of Jesus’ protective call as not merely a failure of faith but as an active crafting of alternate religious systems that ultimately collapse in crisis. The preacher also develops the idea that true blessedness comes from embracing the hard truths God sends through his messengers, not just the comforting ones, and that willingness to be reproved is essential for spiritual safety and intimacy with Christ.

The Divine Nurturing: Embracing the Role of Mothers (SermonIndex.net) presents the unusual theological theme of the maternal character of God and Christ, arguing that both the Father and the Son (and even the Holy Spirit) are depicted in scripture with motherly attributes. The preacher insists that this is not accidental but a deliberate revelation of God’s nurturing, protective, and persistent love, challenging listeners to reshape their mental images of God to include these maternal qualities. He further applies this to the Christian life, suggesting that discipleship involves a willingness to be gathered, protected, and even corrected by this motherly Christ.

Embracing Love: Courage in the Face of Fear (Christ Church UCC Des Plaines) adds a fresh facet by applying Matthew 23:37 to the experience of marginalized groups, emphasizing that Jesus’ longing to gather is especially relevant for those who have been excluded or harmed by religious communities. The preacher frames the passage as a call to radical inclusion and courage, suggesting that the church is to embody the same open-armed, nonjudgmental embrace that Jesus offers, and that resisting this love is to resist the very thing that gives life.

Finding Refuge: Trusting God's Protection and Presence (SermonIndex.net) introduces the theme of divine protection as contingent upon human willingness to embrace humility and reconciliation. The preacher asserts that the reason Jesus cannot gather and protect is not due to a lack of divine desire, but because people refuse “the things which make for peace”—namely, humility, brokenness, and reconciliation. This adds a new facet to the theology of divine shelter: it is not automatic but requires a responsive, humble heart, and the willingness to be gathered.

Shining Light: Embracing the True Jesus (SermonIndex.net) presents a nuanced theological theme of spiritual vision and openness. The preacher argues that the refusal to be gathered by Jesus is rooted in a preference for darkness and self-made religion, which ultimately leads to spiritual blindness. The sermon’s exploration of “blessed” as wanting what God wants, and the necessity of opening the “gates” of one’s heart, reframes the passage as a call to radical surrender and receptivity to God’s indwelling presence, rather than mere external religiosity.

Embodying the Love of the Good Shepherd (First United Methodist of Madisonville, TN) highlights the dual aspects of God’s shepherding love: sacrificial protection and active seeking of the lost. The preacher draws out the implication that Jesus’ lament is not only about rejected protection but also about the failure of religious leaders to seek and restore the scattered. This theme is applied to the church’s mission, urging believers to embody both the sacrificial and seeking dimensions of Christ’s love in their own relationships and outreach.

Matthew 23:37 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Divine Yearning: The Call to Embrace God's Protection (Spurgeon Sermon Series) provides historical context by referencing the centuries-long history of Jerusalem’s rejection of the prophets, and the eventual destruction of the city by the Romans. Spurgeon details the internal strife, famine, and ultimate ruin that befell Jerusalem, drawing on the historical account of Josephus to illustrate the dire consequences of rejecting Christ’s protective call. He also situates the maternal hen metaphor within the agrarian context of Jesus’ audience, making the image both accessible and poignant for his listeners.

Understanding Rejection: Grace, Election, and Responsibility (MLJTrust) offers contextual insight by connecting Jesus’ lament in Matthew 23:37 to the broader narrative of Israel’s history as recounted in the Old Testament and in Jewish tradition. The preacher references the repeated sending of prophets, the persistent disobedience of Israel, and the motif of God’s “outstretched hands” as a culturally resonant image of invitation and embrace. He also situates the passage within the context of first-century Jewish expectations and the tragic irony of Jerusalem’s self-assuredness in its religious status, despite its rejection of God’s messengers.

Finding Refuge Under His Wings: Christ's Protective Love (SermonIndex.net) provides detailed historical context by explaining that Jesus’ audience would have been intimately familiar with the behavior of hens and their protective instincts, unlike modern urban listeners. The preacher notes that the metaphor would have resonated deeply with first-century hearers, who understood the urgency and sacrificial nature of a hen’s protection against predators. He also situates Jesus’ lament within the broader context of Jerusalem’s history of rejecting prophets and the impending destruction that would follow their continued resistance.

The Divine Nurturing: Embracing the Role of Mothers (SermonIndex.net) offers a linguistic and cultural insight by referencing the original Greek word for “brooding” in Genesis 1:2 and connecting it to the maternal imagery Jesus uses in Matthew 23:37. The preacher explains that the concept of brooding, both in the Old Testament and in Jesus’ metaphor, would have been understood as a nurturing, life-giving, and protective action, reinforcing the maternal character of God throughout scripture.

Embodying the Love of the Good Shepherd (First United Methodist of Madisonville, TN) provides historical context by linking Jesus’ words in Matthew 23:37 to the prophetic tradition of Ezekiel 34, where the “shepherds of Israel” (kings, prophets, judges, and religious leaders) are rebuked for their failure to care for and seek the lost sheep. The preacher explains that Jesus’ use of the hen metaphor and his lament over Jerusalem would have resonated with his audience as a direct critique of the religious leadership’s neglect and self-interest, echoing the “woes” pronounced by Ezekiel centuries earlier. This connection situates Jesus’ lament within a broader narrative of failed leadership and divine longing for restoration.

Matthew 23:37 Cross-References in the Bible:

Divine Yearning: The Call to Embrace God's Protection (Spurgeon Sermon Series) references several biblical passages to expand on Matthew 23:37. Psalm 91:4 (“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust”) is used to reinforce the protective aspect of the hen metaphor. Spurgeon also alludes to the story of God’s repeated calls to Israel through the prophets, as well as to the destruction of Jerusalem as prophesied and fulfilled, drawing on both Old and New Testament texts. He references the “destroying angel” motif from Exodus to illustrate the peril of being outside God’s protection, and the “wings” imagery from the Psalms to underscore the blessings of refuge in God.

Understanding Rejection: Grace, Election, and Responsibility (MLJTrust) weaves together a tapestry of biblical cross-references to support and expand the meaning of Matthew 23:37. The preacher cites Romans 10:21 (“All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people”) as a direct parallel, and draws on Isaiah 65:2, John 3:17-19, John 5:39-40 (“Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life”), Matthew 11:25-27, Matthew 22:14 (“Many are called, but few are chosen”), and the parable of the wicked husbandmen in Matthew 21. He also references Hebrews 3:12-19 and Psalm 91:4, among others, to show the continuity of God’s gracious initiative and human resistance throughout Scripture. Each reference is used to reinforce the dual themes of divine election and human responsibility, and to situate Jesus’ lament within the larger biblical narrative of God’s persistent, loving outreach.

Defining Discipleship: Courage, Compassion, and Community (Hope on “Hope Master Calendar” the Beach Church) references Ephesians 4:32 (“be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you”) to connect the compassion of Jesus in Matthew 23:37 to the ethical call for Christians to embody that same compassion. The preacher also alludes to Malachi 3 and other passages about God’s protective and nurturing character, though these are more tangentially related to the main metaphor.

Finding Refuge Under His Wings: Christ's Protective Love (SermonIndex.net) references Psalm 91, where Moses uses the same imagery of being sheltered under God’s wings, and connects it to the Passover narrative in Exodus, where obedience to God’s instructions brings protection from destruction. The sermon also draws on Isaiah 55 to illustrate God’s invitation to receive life and mercy freely, and on Matthew 23:5-7 and 23:27-34 to expose the religious leaders’ self-deception and hypocrisy, showing how their resistance to truth parallels Jerusalem’s unwillingness to be gathered. Additionally, the preacher cites Paul’s warning in 2 Corinthians about accepting “another Jesus” and the danger of crafting a false image of Christ.

The Divine Nurturing: Embracing the Role of Mothers (SermonIndex.net) cross-references Isaiah 49:15 to highlight God’s mother-like compassion, Genesis 1:2 to discuss the Holy Spirit’s brooding, and John 14:15-16 to connect the Holy Spirit as “Helper” to the feminine role of helper in Genesis 2. The preacher also references Proverbs 31 to emphasize the value of mothers and their influence, and Genesis 3 to discuss the naming of Eve as “mother of all living,” further reinforcing the maternal theme.

Embracing Love: Courage in the Face of Fear (Christ Church UCC Des Plaines) alludes to the crucifixion as the ultimate demonstration of Christ’s love, referencing the cross as the intersection where all are gathered and accepted. The preacher also implicitly references the broader biblical theme of God’s persistent love for the wayward, though without citing specific passages beyond Matthew 23:37.

Finding Refuge: Trusting God's Protection and Presence (SermonIndex.net) references several passages to expand on Matthew 23:37. The preacher cites Luke 19:41, the parallel account of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, to emphasize the depth of Christ’s sorrow and the missed opportunity for peace. John 17 is referenced to highlight Jesus’ prayer for unity (“that they may be one”), connecting the desire to gather with the call for reconciliation. Psalm 91 is repeatedly invoked as a promise of divine protection for those who “dwell in the secret place,” reinforcing the hen-and-chicks imagery. Exodus 33 is used to illustrate the concept of God providing a “cleft in the rock” as a place of refuge, paralleling the shelter offered under the hen’s wings. 2 Corinthians 5 is mentioned to stress the ministry of reconciliation, and Psalm 46 is cited to affirm God as a refuge in times of trouble. The preacher also references 1 Peter 5, where believers are urged to cast their anxieties on God and warned of the adversary’s schemes, tying this to the need for refuge under God’s wings.

Shining Light: Embracing the True Jesus (SermonIndex.net) draws on John 1:11 (“He came to his own, and his own did not receive him”) and John 3:19 (“men loved darkness rather than light”) to explain the spiritual dynamics behind Jerusalem’s rejection of Jesus. The sermon also references Psalm 33:10-12 to underscore God’s sovereignty over nations, Psalm 24:7-10 to illustrate the call to “open the gates” to the King of Glory, and Psalm 118 (especially verses 13-26) to connect David’s experience of deliverance and blessing with the phrase “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 is cited as a “game-changing prayer” for national and personal repentance. Matthew 25 is referenced to warn of the danger of having a “Jesus” who does not shine in the dark, and Luke 15 is alluded to in the context of seeking the lost. The preacher also discusses the original Greek meaning of “blessed” (makarios) in Matthew 23:39, providing a linguistic and theological bridge between the Old and New Testament usages.

Embodying the Love of the Good Shepherd (First United Methodist of Madisonville, TN) cross-references Ezekiel 34 to frame Jesus’ lament as a prophetic rebuke of failed leadership. The preacher also connects Matthew 23:37 to Luke 15 (the parable of the lost sheep), using it to illustrate the seeking nature of God’s love. John 10 is the primary text, with the Good Shepherd discourse providing the interpretive lens for understanding Jesus’ lament. Psalm 23 is read as a closing prayer, reinforcing the shepherding imagery and the promise of divine presence and care.

Matthew 23:37 Christian References outside the Bible:

Divine Yearning: The Call to Embrace God's Protection (Spurgeon Sermon Series) explicitly references the Jewish historian Josephus to provide a detailed account of the destruction of Jerusalem, using his historical narrative to illustrate the fulfillment of Jesus’ warning and the dire consequences of rejecting God’s protective call. Spurgeon also alludes to the experiences of Christian exiles and martyrs, though these are not named sources, to reinforce the theme of finding fellowship and comfort “under God’s wings.”

Understanding Rejection: Grace, Election, and Responsibility (MLJTrust) references the lexicon of Grimm to provide a nuanced understanding of the Greek term for “disobedient,” highlighting its meaning as “non-persuasive” or “unwilling to be persuaded.” The preacher also draws on the writings of the reformer John Wycliffe (Wickliffe) for a translation of “heart is waxed gross,” and alludes to the sermons of Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones himself as a source of ongoing theological reflection on election and responsibility.

Finding Refuge Under His Wings: Christ's Protective Love (SermonIndex.net) explicitly references the teaching ministry of Pastor Tim Delina, crediting him with unlocking the “biblical worldview” for the congregation and emphasizing the importance of receiving correction from faithful preachers. The sermon also mentions Paul’s warning to the Corinthians about “another Jesus,” though this is a biblical reference, and critiques unnamed preachers who have failed morally despite their public ministries, using them as cautionary examples of resisting truth.

Matthew 23:37 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Defining Discipleship: Courage, Compassion, and Community (Hope on “Hope Master Calendar” the Beach Church) uses a vivid secular illustration to bring the hen metaphor of Matthew 23:37 to life. The preacher recounts a story of a barn fire in which a mother hen is found dead, her body charred, but when lifted, live chicks are discovered beneath her wings. This contemporary farmyard image powerfully illustrates the sacrificial, protective love of Christ, making the ancient metaphor immediate and emotionally impactful for a modern audience. The story is used to draw a direct parallel between the hen’s self-giving love and Jesus’ willingness to die so that others might live, and serves as a call for Christians to embody similar compassion and self-sacrifice in their own lives.

Finding Refuge Under His Wings: Christ's Protective Love (SermonIndex.net) uses a personal, real-life illustration involving a couple in the congregation who requested prayer for an adulterous relationship, highlighting the disconnect between sitting under biblical teaching and actually receiving it. The preacher also shares a story about his wife confronting him about bitterness, demonstrating the importance of being open to correction. These stories serve as analogies for the broader theme of resisting or accepting God’s truth and the consequences of each posture.

Embodying the Love of the Good Shepherd (First United Methodist of Madisonville, TN) uses a detailed secular illustration of a wildfire rescue to illuminate Matthew 23:37. The preacher recounts a story of firefighters discovering the charred body of a bird at the base of a tree after a wildfire; when they move the carcass, several live chicks emerge, having been shielded from the flames by their mother’s sacrificial act. This vivid image is directly linked to Jesus’ metaphor of the hen gathering her chicks, powerfully conveying the self-giving, protective love of Christ and the costliness of such love in the face of danger. The story serves as a modern, tangible analogy for the sacrificial nature of Jesus’ longing to gather and protect, making the biblical metaphor accessible and emotionally resonant for the congregation.