“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!  How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34).

Jesus compares himself with a mother hen.  A hen wants to protect her chicks.  A hen will shelter her chicks under her wings keeping them warm and dry, out of the cold and the rain, and away from other dangers. 

Jesus says that his desire was to protect the people who lived in the city of Jerusalem.  This is why prophets, in the past, had been sent to them (2 Chronicles 36:15-16; Jeremiah 7:13; 25:3-4; Ezekiel 33:11).  This is why Jesus spoke to them. 

However, they needed to listen to him.  They needed to come under his wing.  Some would listen to him and find safety (cf. Luke 21:20-21).  Many would not.  One source says, “All know of the frantic protection a mother hen provides as she scurries her chicks under her wings in the face of danger – danger such as a swooping eagle.  Jesus would have offered such protection from impending doom.  Soon the Roman eagle will descend on Israel.  In spite of Jesus’ warning, the Jews will not listen.  Their own refusal seals their doom” (Contending For The Faith, Matthew, studylight.org). 

There are lessons in this for us.  (1) Jesus (and God) care for us.  He left the glories of heaven for us (Philippians 2:4-8).  “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).  His desire is for our salvation (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).  (2) We need to listen to Him.  The wise hear and do what He says (Matthew 7:24-25; James 1:22).