How many times have we witnessed through the media, following an act of terror or natural disaster, the weeping and wailing of those that have been in the midst of the tragedy and survived. Images of grown men and women with gaping mouths and faces drenched in tears of anguish from the devastation and death that they have witnessed.
Fifteen years ago many of us watched in disbelief and wept with broken hearts as terror struck our land. There “were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda on the United States on the morning of September 11, 2001. The attacks killed 2,996 people and injured over 6,000 others.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks)
In the Old Testament we read in 2 Sam. 1:17-27 of David leading the nation of Israel in mourning over the death of Saul and Jonathan. Even though Saul sought to kill David, David was broken over the king’s death, and the death of his best friend Jonathan. We know the book of Lamentations reveals the deep grief and brokenness of the prophet Jeremiah over the destruction of Jerusalem because of her sin and failure to repent and return to God.
Upon the completion of His message regarding the hypocritical religious leaders, and their complete rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, knowing of their impending judgment, we discover Jesus weeping, lamenting because of their refusal to believe. Do not ever think for one moment that our Lord nds great joy in the divine judgment that will befall those that reject Him as the only way of salvation.
Today, we will discover THE COMPASSION FOR THE HYPOCRITES from the heart of Jesus in Matthew 23:37-39