Jesus was addressing the Jewish people, represented collectively by Jerusalem.
The verse itself names Jerusalem and speaks of 'thy children' who were unwilling to be gathered. Les Feldick teaches that everything in Christ's earthly ministry was directed primarily to the Jew under the Old Testament covenants, not to the world or the church.
Matthew 23:37 — This verse directly names Jerusalem and speaks of her children, showing Jesus was speaking to the Jewish people.
Matthew 23:37 records Jesus' own words: '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!' The verse is a direct address to the city of Jerusalem. The pronouns 'thy children' and 'ye' make clear that the audience is the Jewish people dwelling in that city. The verse also identifies Jerusalem as the one who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, describing the nation's historical response to God's messengers.
Les Feldick teaches that Christ's earthly ministry contains 'nothing of the church' and 'no church language' — it is Christ dealing 'under the law with the Jew' (Clip 0). He says everything in Christ's earthly ministry was 'directed primarily... to the Jew under the covenant promises of the Old Testament,' and that every Jew Jesus dealt with was still a law-keeping Jew with the Temple still in operation (Clip 5). In the same way, Jesus' lament over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37 fits this Jewish focus: the city and its children are the nation of Israel, not the world and not the church. Les also points to Jesus' instructions in Matthew 10 that His disciples were to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Clip 1), and he connects Jesus' warnings over Jerusalem in Luke 21 to the Jews and the coming 70 A.D. destruction (Clips 2, 6).
Based on Les Feldick's teaching, no. He says there is 'nothing of the church' and 'no church language' in Christ's earthly ministry; it is all Christ 'dealing under the law with the Jew' (Clip 0). He also emphasizes that Jesus' ministry was 'directed primarily... to the Jew under the covenant promises of the Old Testament' (Clip 5). So Matthew 23:37 belongs to that Jewish setting.
In the verse itself, Jesus addresses the city by name and speaks of 'thy children.' The description of Jerusalem as the one 'that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee' points to the city as the collective representative of the Jewish people. Les's larger teaching reinforces this: every part of Christ's earthly ministry was primarily directed to Israel, and the Jewish people were still under the law while the Temple was functioning (Clip 5).
Les points out that in Matthew 10, Jesus told the Twelve, 'You're to have nothing to do with Gentiles. Go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel' (Clip 1). This shows the exclusive Jewish orientation of Jesus' earthly ministry, which is the same context in which He later laments over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37. Les also notes Jesus went to synagogues where Jews, not Gentiles, gathered (Clip 4).
Les does not quote Matthew 23:37 in connection with 70 A.D., but he does teach that Jesus' warnings over Jerusalem in Luke 21 were spoken to Jews and refer to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 A.D. (Clips 2, 6). This reinforces that Jesus' prophetic words in the Gospels concerning Jerusalem are directed to the Jewish people.
Jewish Ministry Under the Law
Les establishes that Christ's earthly ministry contains no church language and is entirely Christ dealing under the law with the Jew, providing the framework for identifying the audience of Matthew 23:37 as Israel.
Mission to the Lost Sheep of Israel
Les references Jesus' instruction that the disciples should go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, reinforcing the Jewish focus of Jesus' earthly ministry.
Jesus Speaking to Jews About Jerusalem
Les says in Luke 21 Jesus is speaking to Jews and describes Jerusalem being trodden down of the Gentiles, a related warning to the Jewish people.
Hagar, Ishmael & The Everlasting God: Genesis 21 Bible Study
He kept them more or less hidden from view. But now, beginning with His dealing with Israel, everything becomes prophetic, and God tells it before it happens. And then, after the crucifixion, and we get in here after the book of Acts has begun, again the Lord Jesus, even before He's crucified, foretold that within just a little while the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed.
Jesus Teaching in Jewish Synagogues
Les highlights that Jesus went to synagogues where Jews, not Gentiles, were, showing that the audience of His teaching was Jewish.
Primarily to the Jew Under the Covenants
Les says everything in Christ's earthly ministry was directed primarily to the Jew under the Old Testament covenants, while every Jew was still law-keeping and the Temple was operating.
Luke 21 Speaks to Jews About 70 A.D.
Les explains Jesus' words in Luke 21 were spoken to Jews and describe the 70 A.D. destruction, showing Jerusalem's judgment was directed at Israel.
What the Bible Really Says About the Times of the Gentiles
But in Luke's gospel, chapter 21, we have Jesus speaking. And he is probably addressing the disciples. No, it's the priests and the scribes and the elders. I'm sorry. But I'd like to have you come down with me to verse 20. Luke 21, verse 20. And Jesus said, When you shall see Jerusalem compassed or encircled with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Matthew 23:37: 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!
This verse directly identifies the audience as Jerusalem and the Jewish people Jesus longed to gather.
Matthew 10:5-6: These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Jesus' own instruction to the Twelve reveals the Jewish focus of His earthly ministry.
Luke 21:24: And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Les uses this related verse to show that Jesus' warnings over Jerusalem were directed to the Jews.
The verse says Jerusalem killed the prophets and stoned those sent to her. Jesus speaks of 'thy children,' so He is describing the Jewish people in that city, not a Gentile audience.
No. Les Feldick teaches that there is no church language in Christ's earthly ministry; Jesus was dealing with the Jew under the law. The verse's address to Jerusalem confirms the audience is Israel.
In the clips provided, Les does not quote Matthew 23:37 itself, but he teaches that Jesus' similar warnings over Jerusalem in Luke 21 were spoken to Jews and refer to the 70 A.D. destruction of Jerusalem.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Rejected Their King — Matthew 23 Explained