“Stop Persecuting The Prophets And Return To The Lord!”

“Stop Persecuting The Prophets And Return To The Lord!”
Some Bible versions subtitile Matthew 23 “Seven Woes.” Apart from the third woe which begins with, “Woe to you, blind guides!” (Mtt. 23:16), the other six begins with, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!…” (Mtt. 23:13, 15, 23, 25, 27 & 29). The chapter opens by Jesus saying “to the crowds and his disciples” that they must obey the teachers of the law and the Pharisees because they sit in Moses’ seat, but they should not do what they do, “for they do not practice what they preach” (1-3). Before the concluding verse before our text for today, Jesus called the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, “You snakes! You brood of vipers!…” (v33).
It is likely that the two groups he calls hypocrites are the ones he is talking about as those who will mastermind the killing and crucifying of some of the prophets, wisemen and teachers sent to them. While some will be flogged and pursued from town to town. (As it turned out, they were the ones who subsequently plotted Jesus’ death, stoned Stephen, exiled John to Patmos, flogged the apostles and persecuted them from town to town)!
Having said these, Jesus lamented over Jerusalem “who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing…”
Some feminist theologians have argued that biblical patriarchy, enforced by African patriarchy highlights the masculine qualities of God like, “Mighty man in battle”, “Lion of Judah” etc, while undermining his femenine qualities such as a hen that gathers her chicks under her wings, etc.
Tenderness, kindness, compassion, caring, protection, are great qualities of a hen. A hen puts up a fierce fight against a kite that wanted to pick her chick. A hen scatters the ground foraging for food and when it is found she calls the children to come and eat. A hen shouts on a chick that is struggling to swallow an insect too big for it. A hen alerts the chicks to hide when she senses the presence of a kite. Above all when it is cold weather or sleeping time the hen stretches all her muscles so as to cover all the chicks under her wings. What a sacrifice of love!
Such love as God and Jesus Christ constantly wants to do for us, but we chose always to go the wrong way!
The compassionate God who in his great mercy poured out his grace upon us is still patiently waiting for whoever makes an about turn. God is waiting to hear a shout out, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Mtt.23:34-39).
Let us stop persecuting the prophets, wise ones and teachers! Let us stop pursuing them from town to town! Let us not be the cause of innocent blood being spilled.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, blessed are you who come in the name of the Lord. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!