Luke 19:41

Jesus predicts Jerusalem’s destruction

41 As Jesus came to the city and observed it, he wept over it.

Luke 19:41 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 19:41

And when he was come near, he beheld city
Of Jerusalem; being now nearer, and in a situation to take a full view of it, he lift up his eyes, and looking wistfully on it, and beholding the grandeur and magnificence of it, the number of the houses, and the stately structures in it, and knowing what calamities, in a few years, would come upon it; with which being affected, as man, he looked upon it,

and wept over it;
touched with a tender concern for it, his natural passions moved, and tears fell plentifully from his eyes. This must be understood of Christ merely as man, and is a proof of the truth of his human nature, which had all the natural properties, and even the infirmities of it; and as affected with the temporal ruin of Jerusalem, and as concerned for its temporal welfare; and is not to be improved either against his proper deity, or the doctrines of distinguishing grace, relating to the spiritual and eternal salvation of God's elect; things that are foreign from the sense of this passage: some ancient Christians, and orthodox too, thinking that this was not so agreeable to Christ, but reflected some weakness and dishonour upon him, expunged this clause concerning his weeping; but we have another instance besides this; see ( John 11:35 ) and even the Jews themselves cannot think this to be unsuitable to the Messiah, when they represent the Shekinah, and God himself weeping over the destruction of the temple ^F16; and it is particularly ^F17 said by them of the Messiah, that he shall weep over the wicked among the Jews, according to ( Isaiah 53:5 ) and they encourage persons to mourn over Jerusalem: they say ^F18 whoever does any business on the ninth of Ab, (the day that city was destroyed,) and does not mourn over Jerusalem, shall not see its joy; but whoever does mourn over it, shall see its joy, according to ( Isaiah 66:10 ) ^F19.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Zohar in Gen. fol. 114. 4. & in Exod. fol. 76. 1. T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 3. 2. Prafat Echa Rabbati, fol. 89. 4.
F17 Zohar in Exod. fol. 85. 2.
F18 T. Bab. Taanith, fol. 30. 2.
F19 T. Bab Bathra, fol. 60. 2. & Caphtor, fol. 118. 2.

Luke 19:41 In-Context

39 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, scold your disciples! Tell them to stop!"

40 He answered, "I tell you, if they were silent, the stones would shout."

41 As Jesus came to the city and observed it, he wept over it.

42 He said, "If only you knew on this of all days the things that lead to peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes.

43 The time will come when your enemies will build fortifications around you, encircle you, and attack you from all sides.