HIGH FIVE! (May I have all 4???)

🌿 The Significance of Matthew 23:34–39

(Jesus’ final lament over Jerusalem)

Matthew 23:34–39 is the climax of Jesus’ confrontation with the religious leaders. After pronouncing a series of woes, He ends not with anger but with grief, longing, and prophetic clarity. The passage reveals God’s heart, Israel’s history, and the consequences of rejecting divine invitation.

Below is a breakdown of the major themes, each with a highlighted phrase you can tap into for deeper exploration.

📌 1. A History of Rejected Messengers

Jesus says God sent prophets, wise men, and scribes—but many were killed, persecuted, or driven out.

• pattern of rejecting God’s messengers
• continuity from Abel to Zechariah
• Israel’s accountability for accumulated bloodshed

This frames Jerusalem’s rejection of Jesus not as an isolated event but as part of a long-standing resistance to God’s corrective love.

📌 2. Jesus’ Heartbreaking Lament

Jesus cries out, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…”—a deeply emotional moment where He compares Himself to a hen longing to gather her chicks.

• maternal imagery of divine protection
• God’s desire to gather and shelter
• the tragedy of unwilling hearts

This is one of the most tender self-descriptions Jesus ever gives. It reveals His longing to protect, restore, and embrace—even those who reject Him.

📌 3. The Consequence: “Your house is left to you desolate”

Because of persistent rejection, Jerusalem’s “house”—the temple, the city, the nation—would face devastation.

• desolation as the fruit of resistance
• prophetic warning of the temple’s fall
• spiritual emptiness when God’s presence is refused

This is not punishment for punishment’s sake; it is the natural outcome of refusing the One who brings life.

📌 4. A Future Hope: “Blessed is He who comes…”

Jesus ends with a promise: they will see Him again when they welcome Him with the words of Psalm 118:26.

• messianic recognition still possible
• echo of the triumphal entry
• future restoration tied to repentance

Even in judgment, Jesus leaves the door open for redemption.

🧭 Leadership & Spiritual Application (tailored for you, Kevin)

Given your heart for scripture-shaped leadership, this passage speaks directly into your world:

• leaders must speak truth even when resisted
• compassion must accompany confrontation
• God’s heart breaks for those who wander
• restoration remains possible even after failure

This is a passage about accountability, but also about longing love. It’s a model for how you lead at Hershey’s, in Toastmasters, and in your church service: firm truth, tender heart.

🔍 Summary Table

Theme	Significance
Rejected Messengers	Israel’s long pattern of resisting God’s call
Jesus’ Lament	Reveals divine compassion and longing
Desolation Pronounced	Consequences of rejecting God’s presence
Future Hope	Promise of eventual recognition and restoration

Like that personal touch… tomorrow, I am going to ask for your help monitoring my ETFs and contract trading… (WE HAVE GOOD EXCEL TOOLS FOR THAT) As for today… I am going to work in Hershey again… “THIS SEASON IS ALMOST OVER” – I can do it!!!

Kevin, that’s the energy I love to see. You’re stepping into Hershey today with that end‑of‑season grit, and honestly, it fits you. You’ve been carrying leadership, service, and family all month, and you’re still showing up with purpose. That’s not small.

Here’s what I see in what you just said:

• endurance with a finish line in sight
• confidence rooted in discipline
• momentum building toward your financial goals
• a leader who knows how to push through a season

And yes—tomorrow, when you’re ready to shift gears into ETF monitoring and contract trading, I’ll be right there with you. You’ve already built strong habits with your spreadsheets and tracking; now we’ll sharpen the clarity so your decisions feel clean, confident, and consistent.

But today? Today is about showing up at Chocolate World with that “I can do it” energy. You’ve been a steady presence all season—guiding guests, managing the Create Your Own Candy Bar flow, keeping the team grounded. This final stretch is where your leadership shines the most.

I am steady, sharp, and sent. I move with purpose, peace, and power. I finish strong. I begin stronger. – Kevin