In contrast to the woes earlier in the chapter (vv. 13-29), verse 37 represents a true lament. That Jesus wishes to gather his people under his wings recalls the image of God sheltering his people under his wings (as in Ex 19:4; Deut 32:11; Ps 17:8; 36:7; 63:7; 91:4; 1 Enoch 39:7). But as often in the case of God in the Old Testament, Jesus' love for Jerusalem here gives way to the brokenhearted pain of their rejection. God also weeps over his judgment of Israel (for example, Jer 8:21-22; 9:1, 10). Israel had killed (Jer 26:20-23; here especially 2 Chron 25:16) and persecuted (Is 30:10; Amos 2:12) the prophets God had sent; Jewish tradition amplified prophetic martyrology further (Manson 1979:126-27), as did Christian tradition (the interpolation in Sib. Or. 2.248). After A.D. 70, Jewish prayers also confessed that Israel's sins had brought on the calamity of exile.

This passage reminds us that God does not forget his promises to his people. For Luke, Jesus' grief and his promise that they will see him later (Lk 13:34-35) precedes, hence is fulfilled in, the triumphal entry (19:41); Matthew places it among the woes of coming judgment, but in so doing transforms this into a promise of future hope (compare Mt 10:23; Glasson 1963:96-98; Aune 1983:176). Israel's restoration was a major theme of the biblical prophets and reappeared at least occasionally in early Christianity (Rom 11:26), though the emphasis of early Christian apologetic came to focus on the Gentile mission.

In this context, the impending judgment Jesus promises for the climactic shedding of his blood is the "desolation" of their house—the temple's destruction. To this theme the discussion quickly turns (24:1-3, 15).