Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
What it says
Jesus laments Jerusalem as the city that kills prophets and stones those sent to her, and he speaks of his desire to gather her children like chicks under a hen’s wings.
What it is doing
This verse voices repeated longing meeting refusal.
In context
37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! 38Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”