Does Matthew 23:37 Teach the Well-Meant Offer?
Rev. Angus Stewart exegetically defends the Reformed doctrine of unconditional election against the well-meant offer position by carefully analyzing Matthew 23:37. Stewart argues that Christ's lament over Jerusalem distinguishes between the hardened religious leaders and the common people they led, thereby refuting the claim that this text teaches God's universal desire to save all people. This resource directly addresses a central debate in Reformed theology regarding God's grace and human responsibility.
Rev. Angus Stewart O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matt. 23:37). (I) This text has been abused by Pelagians, Semi-Pelagians, Arminians and Well-Meant Offer men to teach that God desires to save all the people of Jerusalem (and, by extension, everybody in the world) but many of them perish. “See,” the...