³⁷ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,^(A) how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,^(B) and you were not willing. ³⁸ Look, your house is left to you desolate.^{(C) 39} For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’^[a]”^(D)

¹¹ Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know,^(A) and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.^{(B) 12} I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

³⁹ You study^[a] the Scriptures^(A) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.^(B) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,^{(C) 40} yet you refuse to come to me^(D) to have life.

³ For I could wish that I myself^(A) were cursed^(B) and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people,^(C) those of my own race,^{(D) 4} the people of Israel.^(E) Theirs is the adoption to sonship;^(F) theirs the divine glory,^(G) the covenants,^(H) the receiving of the law,^(I) the temple worship^(J) and the promises.^{(K) 5} Theirs are the patriarchs,^(L) and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah,^(M) who is God over all,^(N) forever praised!^[a](O) Amen.

God’s Sovereign Choice

⁶ It is not as though God’s word^(P) had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.^(Q)