Jesus quotes the Prophets.

Luke 19:41-44 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

Keywords: Jerusalem, wept

Jerusalem is sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam because God chose the location for His divine kingship and His vice-regents.[1]

Weeping is an outward indication of grief. Mourning was also displayed publicly by wearing sackcloth. Sackcloth was made from either camel or goat hair and was either worn under the clothes, sat, or lain upon.[2]

Jesus approached Jerusalem with a forward understanding of the people’s thoughts. He knew they did not completely understand the reason for his coming. He quotes Isaiah 29:3, Jeremiah 6:6, Ezekiel 4:2, and Ezekiel 26:8.

I will encamp against you on all sides; I will encircle you with towers and set up my siege works against you. - Isaiah 29:3 NIV

This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Cut down the trees and build siege ramps against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; it is filled with oppression. - Jeremiah 6:6 NIV

Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it. - Ezekiel 4:2 NIV

He will ravage your settlements on the mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works against you, build a ramp up to your walls and raise his shields against you. - Ezekiel 26:8 NIV

The leaders and teachers of the law would understand what Jesus was quoting three of the prophets. Some scholars believe this took place in A.D. 70 when the Romans took over Jerusalem.

In the same manner that Jesus looked at the Old Testament prophets to confirm the prophets were called by God, so should we in current times. We should read the Old Testament prophets as part of our daily walk with God. Jesus came imitating the Father and we are to imitate Christ. Please join me in a daily reading of the Prophets.

Bibliography

Drakeford, John W. and E. Ray Clendenen. “Grief and Mourning.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 681. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament, edited by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, 199-265. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 1984.

Tan, Randall K. J. and Brian T. Stachowski. “Jerusalem.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 873-878. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

[1] Randall K. J. Tan and Brian T. Stachowski, “Jerusalem,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 873-878. [2] John W. Drakeford and E. Ray Clendenen, “Grief And Mourning,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 681.