My heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it cries out against me: therefore have I hated it.
Read Chapter 12
Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
Because the Lord said of the Jews in Jeremiah: “My inheritance has become to me like a lion,” Paul would not say they were not heirs. But there are heirs without property and those with property, and while the testator lives, those who are mentioned in the will are called heirs, though they are without property.… Just like children, so are the Jews also under a tutor. The law is our tutor. A tutor brings us to the master. Christ is our only master: “Do not say lord and master to yourselves, for one only is your master, the Christ.” - "Letter 69"
Now that the Jews were disinherited, because they rejected Christ, and that we, who are of the Gentiles, were adopted into their place is proved by the Scriptures. Jeremiah thus speaks, “I have forsaken my house. I have given my heritage into the hands of its enemies. My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest. It has given forth its voice against me; therefore have I hated it.” - "Divine Institutes 48"
As the prophet Jeremiah testifies when he speaks such things … “I have forsaken my house, I have given up my heritage into the hand of its enemies. My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest. It has cried out against me, therefore have I hated it.” Since the inheritance is his heavenly kingdom, it is evident that he does not say that he hates the inheritance itself, but the heirs, who have been ungrateful toward him and impious. “My heritage,” he says, “has become to me as a lion,” that is, I have become prey and something to devour to my heirs, who have slaughtered me as a sheep. “It cried out against me,” that is, they have pronounced against me the sentence of death and the cross. For that which he said … that he would make a new testament to the house of Judah, shows that the old testament that was given by Moses was not perfect, but that that which was to be given by Christ would be complete. But it is plain that the house of Judah does not signify the Jews, whom he cast...
It is further related that when Pilate wanted to release him, the whole multitude shouted in uproar: “Crucify him, crucify him.” This was foretold by the prophet Jeremiah, speaking in the person of the Lord: “My inheritance,” he says, “has become to me as lion in the wood. It has cried out against me. Therefore have I hated it.” And therefore, he adds, “I have forsaken my house.” In yet another passage Isaiah says: “Upon whom have you opened your mouth wide, and against whom have you let loose your tongues?” - "Commentary on the Apostles’ Creed 22"
