Jesus weeps over Jerusalem Matt. 23:37-39 Luke 19:41-44

Matt. 23: 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! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Luke 19:41-44 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

Jesus is called the Man of Sorrows! Isa. 53:3 “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

3 Specific Times that Jesus Wept! The New Testament records three instances when He wept: 1. At the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35); 2. When He prayed (Hebrews 5:7); 3. At the sight of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41- 44) What made Jesus weep over Jerusalem?

Heb. 5:6-10 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

What made Jesus weep over Jerusalem?

I. He Wept over their False Belief They had Moses and the prophets. (Luke 16:29) “Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.” · They had failed to comprehend the message of the Old Testament about Him. (John 5:45-47)

John 5: Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Does Jesus see any false beliefs in our city and community? 1. Different plans of salvation (Acts 2:38) BUT YE WOULD NOT” You could know the true way of salvation, BUT YE WOULD NOT” 2. Different ways to worship (John 4:23) You could know the true worship of God, BUT YE WOULD NOT 3. Spiritual blindness (Matthew 13:14-15) You could have seen the truth, BUT YE WOULD NOT BUT YE WOULD NOT

Matt. 13: And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

II. He Wept over their Lack of Commitment Jesus had told them the high demands of following Him. (Luke 9:23-25, 57-62) ·

Luke 9: And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Luke 9: And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

What does our Saviour See in Our Area 1. Division among those who claim to be His followers (John 17:20-21) UNITY was possible, BUT YE WOULD NOT 2. Unattended assemblies, empty buildings, and unsupported works (Hebrews 10:25, I Corinthians 15:58) You could have attended, BUT YE WOULD NOT 3. Members with little or no self-discipline (I Corinthians 9:27) You could have lived right, BUT YE WOULD NOT

III. Jesus Wept over Lost Souls Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

What does Jesus see when He looks at our city?, BUT YE WOULD NOT! Lk. 15:3-7 He sees lost sheep that have wandered away. You could have found them, BUT YE WOULD NOT! Lk. 15:3-7 BUT YE WOULD NOT. He sees lost coins that don’t know they are lost. Lk. 15:8-10 They could have been located, BUT YE WOULD NOT Go searching for them. He sees lost sons who have rebelled against God and turned away from His Word. Lk. 15:11-32 BUT YE WOULD NOT. Lost, brethren in the Lord…and you could have brought them back home, BUT YE WOULD NOT. James 5:19-20 James 5:19-20

Crying,shedding tears for the lost… We need to shed more tears for the lost. (Psalm 126:5-6) 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. It is only now that we can show concern. One day we won’t be able. (John 9:4) BUT YOU WOULD NOT!

IV. Jesus Wept Because of Impending Judgment Jesus knew what was going to happen in about thirty-five years. The Roman army would turn Jerusalem into a blood bath and kill vast multitudes of Jews.

What does Jesus know about this town? BUT YE WOULD NOT He will open up the cemetery. (John 5:28-29)The unprepared could have been prepared, BUT YE WOULD NOT He will destroy every building: church, school, house... (II Peter 3:10-12) Your treasure could have been laid up for you in Heaven, BUT YE WOULD NOT Yours was on the earth that will be burned up He will judge the entire world. (Matthew 25:31-33) You could have been placed on the RIGHT BUT YE WOULD NOT Side, and heard, come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world….BUT YE WOULD NOT

2 Pet. 3: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

It’s Up To US Now! 1. Jesus did the dying for us. Rom. 5:8,9 2. Jesus gave us the way that leads to Heaven. John 14:6 3. Jesus invites us. Matt. 11:28-30 It’s up to us!. What will we do with it? but so many will not… Let us prepare ourselves so that we will rejoice when Jesus comes. (II Timothy 4:8) but so many will not…

You Be willing… You say Yes to the Lord, Don’t be like those people who say “I will Not!.,” Rather, say “ I will!”