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.”

Here Jesus predicted that Jerusalem would be destroyed. His prediction has four parts: 1) That their spiritual eyes would be darkened or blinded so they could not see. 2) “The days will come upon you” refers to days of judgment. 3) Your conquerors will a) build an embankment against you, b) encircle you, and c) hem you in, 4) They will dash you to the ground you and your children and they will not leave one stone upon another.

In reading about the fulfillment of this prophecy mainly at neverthirsty.org (which quotes Josephus, the Roman historian), and in other places, it states this was fulfilled around 70 AD.

So a question comes to mind: Why was God’s judgment upon Israel? It is because they not only rejected the Messiah in their midst, but they also tortured and killed him. Jesus warns the people about their response to him in Mark 12:1-11, in the parable of the vineyard. The story goes like this: A man planted a vineyard, built a wine press, and a watchtower. He then rented it to tenants. At harvest time he sends a servant to collect some of the fruit. The tenants severely beat him. He sends other servants who were either severely beaten or killed. Finally, he sent his son, thinking, “They will respect him”. But the tenants plotted, saying, “If we kill the son the inheritance will be ours.” So they killed him. ““What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬) (The tenants represent the prophets of old and the son, Jesus).

And so this parable and the following prophecy here in Luke 19 came true. In 70 AD, the Romans encircled the city and they cut off any supplies from reaching it. Jerusalem was built on two hills and was surrounded by deep ravines and valleys on three sides. To the north it was protected by a series of three walls. Siege works were put in place, so the Jews could not attack the Romans, as they were too far away from the wall. The Roman army built siege engines and threw rocks, and shot arrows and darts into the city. The Romans eventually broke through the first and second walls. The Jewish people were, at this time, starving. They would try to escape the city to find food, but the Romans would find them, torture them, and kill them, crucifying them in front of the city. As the third wall came down, they rushed the city and found many people who had starved to death and others who were starving. They took 97,000 captive, and 1.4 million city inhabitants, Jews, were killed.

Jesus foresaw this, and wept and prophesied about it, because he knew the hearts of these people who currently praised him would turn on him to crucify him a short time later! And he knew God would judge their unbelief!

Takeaways are:
1) God does judge the unrighteous.
2) We must pay attention and listen to the servants he sends us.
3) Jesus had forward-seeing eyes. He did not get wrapped up in the empty praise of men. He saw past this to their heart of unbelief!

Lord, it is so sad to see some of my friends and family members reject you by not fully surrendering to your Son, Jesus. I know you will judge these actions. Help me to see past praise and persecution to your long-term plans. Give me good spiritual vision!