As I read through this chapter, as I have many times before, I began to focus on how Jesus was criticizing the religious leaders of his day for their hypocrisy; how he seemed so fed up with what he saw from these supposedly pious men. However, as I finished the chapter, I realized something. I realized the reason he was so angry and spoke so harshly against those men.l
Jesus was mourning and filled with indignation for how Jerusalem was behaving. He stated that he had often wanted to take care of and nurture this city, but they had been led astray, ostensibly by the very Pharisees that he had been riling against. He was troubled and desperately wanting Jerusalem to turn away from this hypocritical road they had traveled. I believe Jesus is being very clear that he wants us to turn to his example.
Brad Hoff
