Gathering You As Chicks: A Mother's Wish

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus laments over Jerusalem and its history of rejecting God's prophets and its people's refusal to believe and repent. He uses the poignant imagery of a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wings to describe his desire to protect and guide the spiritually lost children of Jerusalem. This metaphor, found in Matthew 23:37, highlights Jesus' unwavering love and willingness to embrace and shelter those who turn away from him. It reflects God's relentless love and mercy, even in the face of disobedience and rejection.

Jesus' grief over Israel's rejection of God's prophets

In Matthew 23:37, Jesus laments over Jerusalem, expressing his grief and longing to gather the children of Jerusalem under his protection, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. This metaphor conveys Jesus' protective and nurturing nature towards God's people, even in the face of their disobedience and rejection of God's prophets.

Jesus' words, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing" (Matthew 23:37), highlight his sorrow over Israel's history of rejecting God's prophets and their refusal to repent. He grieves for the spiritually lost children of Jerusalem, whom he desires to shelter, guide, and defend, just as a mother hen protects her vulnerable hatchlings.

The imagery of a hen gathering her chicks is also found in the prophet Isaiah's words: "The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will hover over Jerusalem and protect it like a bird protecting its nest. He will defend and save the city; he will pass over it and rescue it" (Isaiah 31:5). This reinforces the idea that God's protective love for His people is unwavering, even when they stray.

The passage also serves as a reminder of the importance of heeding the prophets' messages and remaining faithful to God. By rejecting God's prophets, Jerusalem has missed out on the guidance, protection, and blessings that God desires to bestow upon them. Jesus' words are a warning against spiritual waywardness and a call to turn back to God.

The protective nature of God

The imagery of a hen gathering her chicks under her wings is a powerful symbol of God's protective nature. Just as a mother hen shields her vulnerable chicks from danger, God longs to shelter and defend those who turn to Him. This protective instinct is also reflected in Isaiah 49:14–16, where God assures that He will never forget or abandon His people, comparing His love to that of a mother who cannot forget her nursing child.

The theme of God's protective nature is further reinforced in Isaiah 31:5, where God is described as hovering over Jerusalem to protect it, much like a bird safeguarding its nest. Similarly, in Deuteronomy 32:11, God is likened to an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over them, carrying them safely on her pinions. These biblical references underscore God's unwavering commitment to safeguarding those who seek refuge in Him.

In addition to the protective nature of God, the verse in Matthew also highlights God's sorrow over Israel's rejection of His prophets and their refusal to repent. Despite their disobedience, God's love for His people remains steadfast, and He continues to extend an invitation to return to Him. This aspect of God's character reveals His patience, grace, and willingness to forgive, even in the face of rebellion and disbelief.

God's mercy and forgiveness

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus laments over Jerusalem's history of rejecting God's prophets and the people's refusal to believe and repent. He grieves over the spiritually lost children of Jerusalem, expressing His desire to shelter and protect them. This metaphor evokes a mother hen's protective instincts, reflecting God's relentless love and mercy.

The phrase "how often I have wanted to gather your children" emphasizes God's persistent desire to embrace and guide those who are misguided. This sentiment is echoed in Lamentations 3:22–23, which declares the unfailing love and mercies of the Lord, renewed each morning. Similarly, Romans 8:38 assures believers that nothing can separate them from God's love.

The image of a hen gathering her chicks also symbolizes God's protective nature. Isaiah 31:5 portrays God as the Lord of Heaven's Armies, promising to defend Jerusalem like a bird protecting its nest. Deuteronomy 32:11, in the Song of Moses, compares God's rescue of His people to an eagle tending to her chicks. These passages highlight God's fierce protectiveness and willingness to save those who turn to Him.

Additionally, Isaiah 49:14–16 speaks of God's unwavering love, assuring that He will never forget or abandon His people. The depth of God's love is further emphasized in Ephesians 3:18–19, where the apostle Paul prays for believers to comprehend the vastness of Christ's love. Despite our sins and shortcomings, God's mercy and forgiveness remain constant, inviting us to repent and find refuge in His loving embrace.

The importance of repentance

The metaphor of a hen gathering her chicks is a powerful one, evoking a mother hen's protective and nurturing nature towards her vulnerable young. In the context of Jesus' words in Matthew 23:37, this image takes on a deeper significance, emphasizing the importance of repentance and our relationship with God.

Jesus' statement, "How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me" (Matthew 23:37), highlights His unwavering desire to embrace and protect Jerusalem's children, despite their waywardness and their leaders' disobedience. This sentiment is echoed in Isaiah 49:14–16, where God's unfailing love and protection are compared to a mother's fierce devotion to her children.

Furthermore, repentance is not just a one-time act but a continuous process of turning back to God. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus' public ministry ends with these words, reminding us that our relationship with God is an ongoing journey. We must continually choose to repent and return to Him, just as the baby chicks must continually choose to seek their mother's protection.

Finally, the image of the hen and her chicks also speaks to God's relentless love and mercy. No matter how deeply we stray into sin and disobedience, God's love remains constant, and He is always ready to welcome us back, just as a mother hen never stops loving and wanting her chicks, even when they wander away. This is beautifully expressed in Lamentations 3:22–23, "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning."

The role of Jesus as a saviour

Jesus' words in Matthew 23:37 reveal his compassionate nature and willingness to forgive. Even in the face of rejection and disobedience, he extends an invitation to repentance and a promise of shelter and safety. This passage reflects the belief that God's love is unconditional and ever-present, always ready to embrace those who turn to Him.

The imagery of a hen gathering her chicks also symbolizes Jesus' protective nature. Just as a mother hen shields her chicks from danger, Jesus offers protection and defence to those who seek refuge in Him. This protective aspect of Jesus' character is further emphasized in Isaiah 49:14-16, where God assures that He will never forget or abandon His people.

Moreover, Jesus' words in Matthew 23:37 highlight the contrast between Jerusalem's rejection of God's prophets and Jesus' unwavering love and mercy. While Jerusalem is described as a "city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers" (Matthew 23:37), Jesus, in His role as saviour, yearns to gather and shelter those who are spiritually lost. This passage underscores the idea that salvation is available to all, regardless of their past actions or disobedience.

The theme of Jesus as a protective and compassionate saviour is reinforced in other biblical passages. For instance, Isaiah 31:5 echoes the sentiment of God's protective nature, comparing Him to a bird shielding its nest. Similarly, Deuteronomy 32:11 portrays God as an eagle rousing her chicks and hovering over them protectively. These passages, alongside Jesus' words in Matthew, emphasize the constancy of God's love and His desire to gather and safeguard those who turn to Him.

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