Judgment and Lament

Setting and Overview
After Jesus concludes the “Seven Woes,” he then gives his concluding thoughts and then turns to a lament over Jerusalem. The judgment that awaits those who reject Jesus is described in uncompromising terms, yet we also see in it a powerful description of the love of God and how Jesus demonstrates that compassionate love and patience even as he is rejected. As uncomfortable as the passage can be to study and consider, it is also a powerful passage from which we can learn much about God’s mercy and love in light of His justice.

Exposition
Verse 33 can serve as a conclusion to the seventh woe, but it also connects with verses 34 through 36. Jesus used similar language to John the Baptist (Matthew 3:7) and to what he used himself earlier (Matthew 12:34.) Calling someone a snake or viper not only highlighted their dangerousness, but also the sneaky and hidden aspect of the danger they posed. This also connects them with the physical and spiritual ancestors who also rejected and killed God’s messengers. While Jesus himself is the only way that any of us can escape being condemned to hell (Colossian 2:14), as Jesus poses the question to the experts and Pharisees, he is not as much asking where they will find grace, but rather whether or not they recognize that they need grace. Because they don’t, he further declares that he will send men who will carry God’s word in different forms, even though they will kill and persecute those messengers. This opposition does not thwart God’s plans, but rather confirms them, as the opposition demonstrates their guilt and their spiritual alignment with all who persecuted righteous figures in the Old Testament (II Chronicles 24:20-22.) While Jesus is addressing the leaders specifically, the crowds will also follow in their footsteps and share in their guilt (Matthew 27:20-25.) All of this is despite God’s repeated patience and granting opportunities for repentance (Matthew 21:33-39.)
Jesus then speaks the final words that he will speak to the crowds in Matthew. He laments over Jerusalem, which served a unique role in salvation history, and yet which also served as a location of much opposition to God. Despite that opposition and rejection, Jesus still longed to shelter the people of Israel (Deuteronomy 32:11, Psalm 17:8, 36:7, 91:4) with a compassion that was demonstrated through the Gospels (Matthew 9:35-38, 14:14, Mark 10:21, Luke 19:41-44) and which identifies him with Yahweh (Ezekiel 18:30-32.) The people still reject him, though, and so Jesus warns that the time has come for God to depart from Israel (I Kings 9:6-9, Jeremiah 12:1-10, Ezekiel 8-11.) From that point further, they will not see him again, but they will one day pronounce upon him the words of Psalm 118:26, whether in joyful adoration or reluctant confession (Philippians 2:9-11.)

Examination and Application
The recitation of Psalm 118:26 is a beautiful reminder of the continuity of Scripture, from Old Testament worship to Palm Sunday, to greeting Jesus at the Parousia. As Jesus reveals that those who are opposing him will one day confess it, however, is a reminder of the urgency with which we need to share the Gospel with the lost. We will one day all bow our knees to Christ, but some will do so as those who face just eternal punishment for their sins. We should give thanks that Christ became sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God through no merit of our own (II Corinthians 5:21) and as we rejoice in such grace, we also have an obligation and opportunity that share our hope with others in need of the same grace (Romans 10:14-15.)