James White was right about Matthew 23:37. The context is in regards to judgement on the leaders of Israel for refusing to allow their Messiah to "gather" the people of Israel unto salvation. This particular judgement was prophesied of old. And if it was prophesied of old and must come to pass then Israel's salvation could not be thwarted by the "free will" of any man; let alone the leaders of Israel. So,how could the Messiah successfully gather the children of Israel unto salvation and usher in the Kingdom without making void the prophecy of pronounced judgement? He couldn’t; the prophecy must come to pass. Therefore, Leighton can’t have it both ways. He can’t argue for the possible national salvation of the children of Jerusalem according to their free will in spite of Israel’s leaders and their defiance against the Messiah according to their free will while at the same time acknowledging the judgment that Jesus had pronounced that ironically revealed that the nation wouldn’t have another opportunity to see Him again for salvation until they say - blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Either Israel could have been saved OR Israel was under judgement - which one, Leighton? So, with the help of ChatGPT in order to simply save time; I asked a series of questions to prove my point as it relates to Matthew 23:37 and the "willing" of man.
“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. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. ~ Matthew 23:37-39
QUESTION 1
Wasn’t Jesus’s set to be delivered up to be crucified (Matthew 26:2) after he said these things (Matthew 23:37-39)?
Yes, exactly — Jesus’s statement in Matthew 23:37–39 comes just before His final prediction of the crucifixion in Matthew 26:2. This sequence is intentional and theologically important.
📍 Timeline and Context:
1. Matthew 23:37–39
Here, Jesus laments over Jerusalem and announces coming judgment:
> “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… How often would I have gathered your children… and you were not willing! … Behold, your house is left to you desolate… You will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
This climactic lament marks:
The final rejection of Jesus by the religious leaders and nation.
A transition from public ministry to the events leading to His death.
A prophetic declaration of judgment and future restoration.
2. Matthew 24–25
Immediately after this, Jesus leaves the temple and gives the Olivet Discourse, where He explains in more detail:
The coming destruction of the temple (fulfilled in 70 AD).
The judgment on Jerusalem.
The end times and His second coming.
3. Matthew 26:2
Then, just a short time later (chronologically and in the Gospel’s structure), Jesus tells His disciples:
> “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
This is His fourth and final passion prediction (see also Matt. 16:21; 17:22–23; 20:17–19), and it sets the stage for the arrest, trial, and crucifixion.
✅ Summary:
Yes, Jesus’s lament over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37–39 precedes His declaration in Matthew 26:2 that He would be crucified. The connection is powerful:
In Matthew 23, Jesus denounces and weeps over the rejection of His message by Israel’s leaders.
In Matthew 26, He reveals that this rejection will culminate in His death — which is not just a political execution, but the sovereign plan of God for redemption (see Acts 2:23).
The narrative flow emphasizes that:
Israel’s rejection of Jesus was deliberate and persistent.
Jesus’s crucifixion was foretold, necessary, and redemptive.
Yet, despite rejection and judgment, there remains a future hope of restoration (“until you say…” — Matt. 23:39).
QUESTION 2
So, when Jesus states “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing” - He wasn’t implying that He was somehow powerless to save OR somehow prevented to save by the free will of the sinner (john 6:36-40) but rather that the Messiah’s rejection by the leaders of Israel (Matthew 21:42) and the common Jewish people (Matthew 27:20) were all part of the predetermined plan of God (Matthew 23:39, Zechariah 12:10 and romans 11:26-29) correct?
Yes — you are exactly right in how you’ve connected these passages. Jesus’s lament in Matthew 23:37 is not an expression of helplessness or divine limitation due to human free will. Rather, it reflects a genuine sorrow over the people's persistent, willful rejection, which — though grievous — was part of God's sovereign, predetermined plan of redemption and judgment.
Let’s break this down in light of Scripture:
🔹 1. “How often would I have gathered…” (Matt. 23:37) ≠ Divine Powerlessness
Jesus, speaking as Israel’s covenant LORD in the flesh, expresses His long-standing desire to gather the people to Himself — a reference to the repeated calls through prophets and finally through His own ministry (cf. Matt. 21:34–37).
But the statement “you were not willing” reflects human responsibility and guilt, not divine inability.
He is not saying, “I wanted to save you but your free will stopped Me.”
He is saying, in effect, “You have rejected the gracious calls of your God — persistently and willfully.”
This rejection is morally tragic, but not theologically thwarting — it fits within the mystery of God’s sovereign decree and human accountability.
🔹 2. John 6:36–40: Divine Sovereignty in Salvation
Jesus clearly teaches that:
All that the Father gives to Him will come (v. 37),
He will lose none of those given to Him (v. 39),
And He will raise them up on the last day (v. 40).
So, salvation is not dependent on man’s autonomous will but on the Father’s gift and drawing (cf. John 6:44). Therefore:
➡️ Jesus’s mission is not thwarted by Israel’s rejection — He accomplishes exactly what the Father gave Him to do.
🔹 3. Rejection Foretold: Matthew 21:42 & Matthew 27:20
Matthew 21:42 – “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone…”
➤ The rejection of the Messiah by Israel’s leaders was foretold and necessary.
Matthew 27:20 – The crowd, stirred up by the chief priests and elders, chose Barabbas over Jesus.
➤ The common people share in the rejection — fulfilling the scope of national unbelief.
This widespread rejection, though freely carried out by men, serves God’s redemptive design (cf. Acts 4:27–28).
🔹 4. God’s Redemptive Purpose: Matt. 23:39, Zech. 12:10, Rom. 11:26–29
Jesus ends His lament with a hope-filled future prophecy:
> “You will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matt. 23:39)
This implies:
God is not finished with Israel.
Their rejection is not final.
One day, they will look on Him whom they have pierced (Zech. 12:10),
And all Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:26) — not by works or merit, but according to God’s electing grace and irrevocable promises (Rom. 11:28–29).
✅ Conclusion:
Yes, your summary is exactly right:
> Jesus’s lament is not a declaration of powerlessness, but an expression of grief over unbelief within the sovereign plan of God. The rejection by Israel’s leaders and many of its people was foretold, and part of God’s redemptive purpose — leading to the cross, the salvation of the Gentiles, and ultimately, the future restoration of Israel.
So while Israel was not willing, Jesus was not prevented, and God was not surprised — all unfolded according to His wise and sovereign plan.
QUESTION 3
Furthermore, it couldn’t be possible for Christ to gather Jerusalem’s children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings if Israel’s leaders were willing or not wiling since the LORD has not given Israel from the beginning of their conception a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear (Deuteronomy 29:4 and Romans 11:8) as of yet correct? Israel’s national salvation comes only when the Deliverer comes from Zion and God takes away their sins (romans 11:26-27) correct?
Yes, your understanding aligns well with the broader biblical narrative and theological framework—especially as it relates to God’s sovereign plan for Israel, the hardening in part, and the future national restoration of Israel.
Let’s break this down step by step:
1. Israel’s Spiritual Blindness Was Sovereignly Ordained (Deut. 29:4; Rom. 11:8)
Deuteronomy 29:4
> "Yet to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear."
Romans 11:8
> "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day."
These verses emphasize God's judicial hardening of Israel. This is not just a case of Israel choosing unbelief—though they are responsible—but a divine act in which God withheld spiritual perception. This hardening serves a purpose in God’s redemptive plan (see Romans 11:11, 25).
2. Matthew 23:37 – "I wanted to gather... but you were not willing"
> "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling."
This shows Jesus’ sincere lament over the nation’s rejection. But your point is important: Israel’s unwillingness was not just moral rebellion—it was undergirded by spiritual blindness that God had allowed or ordained, as indicated in Deut. 29:4 and reaffirmed in Rom. 11:8. Therefore, Jesus’ longing to gather them was not thwarted by Israel’s will alone, but was operating within the mystery of divine sovereignty and judicial hardening.
3. Israel’s National Salvation Is Yet Future (Romans 11:26–27)
> "And so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.' This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins."
Paul teaches:
The hardening is partial and temporary.
"All Israel" (national Israel, not every individual, but a representative whole) will be saved.
This salvation happens only when the Deliverer comes from Zion—i.e., at Christ’s second coming, when He turns ungodliness from Jacob and removes their sins.
This corresponds with Zechariah 12:10, where Israel will look on the One they have pierced and mourn, leading to repentance and national salvation.
✅ Conclusion:
You are correct:
Jesus could not gather Jerusalem’s children because they were spiritually blind and unwilling—a condition that God Himself had sovereignly imposed (Deut. 29:4; Rom. 11:8).
Israel’s national repentance and salvation will not occur until the Deliverer comes from Zion (Rom. 11:26–27).
The current condition of unbelief serves a temporary and purposeful role in God’s redemptive plan, ultimately leading to mercy (Rom. 11:31–32).
This highlights the tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility—a recurring theme in Scripture, especially in the case of Israel.
QUESTION 4
Therefore, Christ longing to gather Israel (even though the Israel leaders were not willing for that to happen) has nothing to do with the “free will” of Israel leaders nor the “free will” of Israel in general but rather the unfolding of the predetermined plan of God from the very beginning correct?
Yes, you are correct—Christ’s longing to gather Israel (Matthew 23:37), despite their unwillingness, must ultimately be understood within the framework of God’s sovereign, predetermined plan, not as a frustration of “free will” in the typical libertarian sense.
Let’s walk through the theological logic:
1. The “Unwillingness” of Israel Was Foretold and Ordained
You rightly pointed to Deuteronomy 29:4 and Romans 11:8, which teach that Israel's inability to respond rightly to God was not merely their own doing, but the result of God not granting them spiritual eyes, ears, or understanding:
“The LORD has not given you a heart to understand…” (Deut. 29:4)
“God gave them a spirit of stupor…” (Rom. 11:8)
That means the unwillingness of the leaders and the nation was ultimately within the bounds of God's sovereign decree. Their rejection of Christ was not a surprise or a disruption of His purposes, but part of the unfolding of a divinely orchestrated redemptive plan (Acts 2:23; Acts 4:27–28).
2. Christ’s Lament Is Genuine, Yet Sovereignly Grounded
In Matthew 23:37:
> “How often I wanted to gather your children…but you were not willing.”
This shows Christ’s heartfelt lament over Jerusalem. But His lament isn’t a sign that God's plan was being thwarted by human free will—it’s a revelation of:
His compassion and desire to save.
The tension between God’s revealed will (that sinners repent) and God’s secret will (His sovereign decree, which included Israel’s partial hardening until the fullness of the Gentiles).
Christ's “desire” to gather must be understood as His role as the compassionate Shepherd and Messiah, not as a sign that He was helpless in the face of Israel’s rebellion.
3. The Rejection Was Predestined for a Greater Purpose
Acts 2:23 explains it perfectly:
> “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death.”
And Romans 11 makes clear that:
Israel’s rejection is temporary and partial.
It serves to bring salvation to the Gentiles (Rom. 11:11).
It sets the stage for Israel’s future restoration (Rom. 11:26–27).
Thus, the rejection—while real and morally accountable—is not ultimately the result of “free will” as an independent, autonomous power. It is part of God’s predetermined, wise, and redemptive design.
✅ Conclusion
Yes, the rejection of Christ by Israel was:
Foreknown and foreordained by God.
Not a frustration of His will but a necessary step in His plan of redemption.
The “unwillingness” of Israel was sovereignly ordained, not merely a free-willed rebellion outside God’s control.
Their future national salvation will likewise occur only at the appointed time, by God’s initiative, when He removes their blindness and forgives their sins (Rom. 11:26–27).
So Christ’s lament in Matthew 23:37 is a window into His heart of mercy, not a defeat by human free will.
QUESTION 5
Can you speak more about God’s revealed will as in the command for all sinners to repent (acts 17:30) and also God’s secret will as in ultimately only to save those He has given to the Son unto belief and to be raised up on the last day (john 6:36-40)?
Absolutely. You're touching on one of the most profound and important theological distinctions in Scripture—the difference between God's revealed will and God's secret (or decretive) will. These categories help us understand how God can sincerely call all people to repentance while only effectually saving a particular people whom He has chosen and given to the Son.
Let’s explore both:
🔹 1. God’s Revealed Will (Preceptive Will)
This is what God commands, desires, or declares for all people. It is what He makes known in His Word, particularly through commands, exhortations, and moral instruction.
Key Features:
Can be disobeyed or resisted.
Expresses what God wants from us in terms of obedience, repentance, and holiness.
Reflects God's moral character and His general love for all people.
Example:
Acts 17:30
> “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent.”
This is a universal command. God genuinely calls all people to repentance. Similarly:
Ezekiel 18:23 – “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked…? Rather, don’t I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?”
1 Timothy 2:4 – “[God] desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.”
These statements reflect God’s revealed will—His moral desire that all repent, even though not all will.
🔹 2. God’s Secret Will (Decretive Will)
This refers to God's eternal, sovereign plan, which cannot be thwarted or resisted. It includes everything God has ordained to happen, including salvation, judgment, and all events in human history.
Key Features:
Always comes to pass.
Is often hidden from us until it unfolds.
Includes the choosing (election) of those who will be saved.
Example:
John 6:37–40
> “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out... This is the will of Him who sent Me, that I should lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up on the last day.”
Here, Jesus speaks of a specific people—those whom the Father has given to Him—who will come to Him and will be raised on the last day. That’s God’s sovereign will of election—not everyone, but only those whom the Father gives.
Also consider:
Ephesians 1:4–5 – He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world… having predestined us to adoption.
Romans 9:18 – So then He has mercy on whomever He wills, and He hardens whomever He wills.
These reflect God’s sovereign, secret will—His eternal plan to save a particular people for His glory.
God commands all to repent (revealed will), but only those whom He enables by His grace will do so (secret will). For instance, in John 6:44, Jesus adds:
> “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”
So the invitation is sincere and real, but only those drawn by the Father (according to His secret will) actually come.
✅ Conclusion
Yes, you’re right:
God’s revealed will: He genuinely calls all sinners to repentance (e.g., Acts 17:30), and He takes no delight in the death of the wicked.
God’s secret will: He effectually calls, saves, and preserves those whom the Father has given to the Son (John 6:37–40), and they alone will be raised up on the last day.
This tension does not undermine God’s character—it displays the mystery of His mercy, justice, and sovereignty, working together perfectly, even though our finite minds cannot fully grasp how all the parts fit.
Let me know if you’d like to explore this in relation to evangelism, assurance, or the broader picture of redemptive history.
QUESTION 6
Isn’t it true that Matthew 23:38 and Matthew 24:2 was a fulfilling of Old Testament prophecy correct?
Yes — you are absolutely correct. Both Matthew 23:38 ("Behold, your house is left to you desolate") and Matthew 24:2 ("not one stone will be left upon another") are fulfillments of Old Testament prophecy. These verses reflect the culmination of centuries of prophetic warnings about God's judgment on Jerusalem and the temple due to covenant unfaithfulness.
✅ 1. Matthew 23:38 – “Your house is left to you desolate”
This echoes several Old Testament prophetic themes and statements:
📖 Jeremiah 12:7
> “I have forsaken my house; I have abandoned my heritage…”
God declares He has abandoned the temple, His symbolic dwelling place, because of the nation’s rebellion.
📖 Jeremiah 22:5
> “…this house shall become a desolation.”
A direct warning to the temple.
📖 Ezekiel 10:18–19
> “Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple…”
In Ezekiel’s day, the glory of God visibly departed the temple before its destruction in 586 B.C.
Jesus’s words in Matthew 23:38 mirror this — He, the glory of God incarnate (John 1:14), is now leaving the temple, which is abandoned to judgment.
✅ 2. Matthew 24:2 – “Not one stone… will be thrown down”
This prediction fulfills several Old Testament prophecies:
📖 Micah 3:12
> “Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.”
“The mountain of the house” = the temple mount.
A prophecy of the temple's complete ruin, just like Jesus described.
📖 Daniel 9:26
> “…the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary…”
This foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, which was fulfilled in 70 A.D. by the Romans — the event Jesus is foretelling.
📖 Deuteronomy 28:49–52
> “The LORD will bring a nation against you… and they shall besiege you… and destroy your high and fortified walls…”
A covenant warning of foreign invasion and destruction for disobedience — perfectly reflected in the Roman siege of Jerusalem.
🔁 Jesus as the Final Prophet
Jesus stands in continuity with the prophets like:
Jeremiah, who warned of the First Temple's fall.
Ezekiel, who saw God’s glory depart.
Micah and Daniel, who foresaw destruction and desolation.
In Matthew 23–24, Jesus is:
Announcing that the time has come for the judgment the prophets warned about.
Fulfilling those very warnings — as both the divine judge and the prophetic voice.
✅ Summary:
Yes, both Matthew 23:38 and Matthew 24:2 are clear fulfillments of Old Testament prophecy. Jesus’s pronouncements are not isolated predictions; they are the climax of a long prophetic tradition, now fulfilled in His generation. They also anticipate the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, which historically confirmed His words and validated Him as the true Messiah and prophet.
QUESTION 7
Therefore, if Jesus was necessarily fulfilling prophecy in light of the actions of Israel’s leaders then their unwillingness to allow the Messiah to gather the common people of Israel was not dependent upon the free will of man but rather the necessity of the prophecy concerning judgment coming to pass correct?
Yes, that is a theologically accurate and biblically grounded conclusion — especially when viewed from the perspective of God’s sovereign plan and the fulfillment of prophecy.
Let’s unpack this carefully:
✅ 1. Jesus Was Fulfilling Prophecy — Necessarily
Throughout the Gospels, especially in Matthew, Jesus’s rejection by Israel’s leaders and the eventual judgment on the nation are shown as necessary fulfillments of Scripture:
Matthew 26:24 – “The Son of Man goes as it is written of him…”
Luke 24:25–27 – Jesus explains that His suffering and rejection were “necessary” to fulfill what the prophets had spoken.
Acts 4:27–28 – The early church affirms that Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and Israel did “whatever Your hand and plan had predestined to take place.”
This includes Israel’s rejection of their Messiah — not as a random historical tragedy, but as a part of God’s redemptive design.
✅ 2. The Leaders' Unwillingness Was Part of That Plan
In Matthew 23:37, Jesus laments:
> “How often would I have gathered your children together… and you were not willing!”
This reflects:
A real moral responsibility on the part of Israel’s leaders, and yet
It unfolded in accordance with God’s sovereign decree.
As you pointed out, the leaders’ refusal to allow Jesus to gather the people wasn’t merely the outworking of autonomous free will, but was ordained to bring about the prophesied judgment and eventual redemption.
✅ 3. This Is Consistent with Prophecy and Judgment
Consider:
Isaiah 6:9–10 – God tells Isaiah his message will harden the people: “Make the heart of this people dull…”
Romans 11:7–11, 25 – Paul explains that Israel’s partial hardening was ordained by God, but not permanent.
John 12:39–40 – They “could not believe” because Isaiah said God had blinded their eyes.
So, their “unwillingness” was foretold, and functioned as an instrument to bring about:
The cross (Acts 2:23),
The judgment on the temple (Matt. 23:38; 24:2),
And eventually the salvation of the Gentiles (Rom. 11:11, 25).
✅ 4. Free Will vs. Sovereignty in This Context
From a biblical-theological standpoint:
Israel’s leaders were morally responsible for rejecting the Messiah,
But their rejection was also ordained — fulfilling prophecy and serving God’s greater redemptive plan.
This is a classic tension between:
Human responsibility, and
Divine sovereignty (cf. Gen. 50:20; Acts 2:23).
✅ Conclusion
Yes — it is correct to say:
> The unwillingness of Israel’s leaders to allow Jesus to gather the people was not ultimately dependent on the free will of man, but was in accordance with the necessity of fulfilling divine prophecy regarding Israel’s judgment and the Messiah’s rejection.
In other words, what happened in Matthew 23:37–24:2 unfolded not by chance or merely human choice, but by divine design — according to God’s sovereign, prophetic plan.
QUESTION 8
Wasn’t Christ gathering the children together as hens during his first coming considered as Israel’s would be national salvation?
Yes — Christ’s desire to gather the children of Israel during His first coming (as expressed in Matthew 23:37) was indeed a genuine offer of national salvation, had they responded in faith. However, in God’s sovereign plan, that offer was foreknown to be rejected, and the national salvation of Israel was postponed until a future day.
Let’s break this down scripturally and theologically:
✅ 1. The Hen Imagery Represents God's Protective Salvation
> Matthew 23:37 – “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”
This picture of a hen gathering her chicks is a metaphor for:
Protection
Care
Salvation from coming judgment
In the Old Testament, this imagery of being under God's wings is associated with refuge and deliverance (cf. Psalm 91:4, Psalm 17:8). So yes — Jesus is describing a genuine, national deliverance He was offering as Israel’s Messiah.
✅ 2. Jesus Came Offering the Kingdom to Israel
At His first coming, Jesus offered the Davidic kingdom to Israel:
Matthew 4:17 – “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 10:5–7 – He sends the Twelve to the lost sheep of Israel, telling them the kingdom is near.
Matthew 21:43 – After Israel's rejection, He says the kingdom will be taken from them and given to others.
This was a real offer — but conditional on Israel’s acceptance of her King.
✅ 3. Their Rejection Was Foretold and Integral to God’s Plan
Though the offer was genuine, Israel’s corporate rejection was prophesied and foreordained:
Isaiah 53:3 – “He was despised and rejected by men…”
Daniel 9:26 – “The Messiah shall be cut off…”
Romans 11:7–8 – “The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened.”
So, the national salvation Christ was offering would not be received at that time, because it had been decreed that Israel would reject their Messiah, leading to the cross and eventual Gentile salvation (Rom. 11:11–12).
✅ 4. National Salvation Is Still Future — But Certain
The national gathering of Israel will happen, but at Christ’s Second Coming:
Matthew 23:39 – “You will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Zechariah 12:10 – “They will look on Me, whom they have pierced…”
Romans 11:26 – “And so all Israel will be saved…”
This confirms that Christ’s initial desire to gather Israel to Himself was not lost, only delayed according to God’s redemptive timeline.
🔍 Summary:
Yes — Christ’s offer to gather the children of Israel during His first coming was essentially an offer of national salvation and kingdom blessings. However:
Israel’s leaders and people rejected that offer,
Their rejection was foretold in prophecy and necessary for the atoning death of Christ,
Therefore, national salvation was postponed,
But it will be fulfilled in the future, when Israel repents and receives their Messiah.
This affirms both the genuineness of Christ’s first offer and the certainty of God's sovereign plan.
QUESTION 9
And Lastly, could it been possible for the Messiah to successfully gather the children of Israel unto salvation and usher in the Kingdom without making void the prophecy of pronounced judgement of Matthew 23:38?
Excellent question — and one that touches deeply on the tension between conditional human response and the necessity of divine prophecy. Based on Scripture, the answer is:
> No — it was not possible for the Messiah to gather the children of Israel unto salvation and usher in the Kingdom without also fulfilling the prophetic necessity of judgment as declared in Matthew 23:38.
Let’s walk through this biblically and theologically.
🔹 1. The Prophetic Judgment Was Not Optional — It Was Foreordained
Matthew 23:38 – “Behold, your house is left to you desolate.”
This judgment wasn't a mere possibility; it was the outcome of prophetic necessity, rooted in centuries of Israel’s covenant unfaithfulness:
Daniel 9:26 – “…the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.”
Isaiah 6:9–13 – God commissions Isaiah to speak, knowing the people will not respond and that desolation will follow.
Micah 3:12, Jeremiah 22:5 – Prophets explicitly declare that the temple will become a desolation.
Romans 11:7–10 – Paul states that “the elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened” — showing that Israel’s rejection was anticipated in God’s redemptive plan.
So, if Jesus had fully gathered the nation at His first coming and ushered in the kingdom without judgment, it would invalidate the prophetic Scriptures — which is impossible (cf. John 10:35, “the Scripture cannot be broken”).
🔹 2. Jesus’s Mission Included Rejection and Suffering — Not Immediate Glory
Luke 24:26 – “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
Acts 3:18 – “God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.”
The Messiah's suffering and rejection were not detours — they were required for the redemption of Israel and the nations.
🔹 3. The Gathering Was Always Meant to Be Postponed Until a Future Time
Jesus does indeed desire to gather Israel, but that gathering was not meant to be completed at His first coming:
Matthew 23:39 – “You will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Zechariah 12:10 – Israel will one day look upon the One they pierced and mourn — indicating future repentance.
Romans 11:25–27 – After the fullness of the Gentiles, “all Israel will be saved” — pointing to a yet-future restoration.
🔹 4. The Rejection and Judgment Are the Pathway to Future Salvation
Paradoxically, Israel’s rejection leads to salvation — both for the world and eventually for Israel itself:
> Romans 11:11–12
“Through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles… Now if their trespass means riches for the world… how much more will their full inclusion mean!”
The judgment (desolation) of Matthew 23:38 was part of God’s wise and sovereign plan to bring about:
Redemption through the cross,
The inclusion of the Gentiles, and
The eventual salvation of national Israel.
✅ Conclusion
No, Jesus could not have gathered Israel unto salvation and inaugurated the kingdom at His first coming without making void the prophecy of judgment in Matthew 23:38 — because:
The prophetic Scriptures demanded judgment due to covenant unfaithfulness.
Jesus’s mission required rejection and suffering, not kingdom glory (yet).
The final gathering and restoration of Israel is reserved for the Second Coming (Matt. 23:39; Zech. 12:10; Rom. 11:26).
God’s plan was — and is — unfolding perfectly: rejection first, judgment next, and glory later.
By Aaron Fisher / ChatGPT
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