THEY DIDN’T KNOW!

THEY DIDN’T KNOW!

Luke 19:41-44

41 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.

1. They knew not the means of peace!

Jesus, still on the colt of an ass, tops the hill overlooking Jerusalem and weeps audibly over it. The city whose name means “he shall see peace or prosperity” did not know they were about to reject the Prince of Peace. The light had shined in darkness and the darkness had failed to lay hold on it. Now it is hid from their eyes.

Jerusalem had squandered their period of probation. The Jews, specifically, had failed to recognize and receive their Messiah and now salvation would be offered to the Gentiles. For whosoever shall, now, call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Rom 11:11-12

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

2. They knew not the Man of Peace!

John 14:27

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Luke 23:34

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

3. They knew not the coming end of peace!

Josephus gives a very particular account of the building of this wall, which he says was effected in three days, though it was not less than thirty-nine furlongs in circumference; and that, when this wall and trench were completed, the Jews were so enclosed on every side that no person could escape out of the city, and no provision could be brought in, so that they were reduced to the most terrible distress by the famine which ensued. The whole account is well worth the reader's attention. See Josephus, War, book 5 chapter 12 sections 1, 2, 3. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary.)

Do we know the origin and means of peace? Are we acquainted with the Man of Peace? Do we know how fragile peace is in our time? Does our ignorance make Jesus weep?

Dear Lord, heal my ignorance and give me peace! AMEN