‘Behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes’ – Christ is speaking as God. This is not an exact quotation from any single Old Testament passage, but the meaning relates to Jeremiah 7:25-26 and 25:4.
Although human beings count on getting away with their sins and assume that because judgment does not follow immediately, that God is indifferent, or has forgotten what they have done and will never punish them, they are greatly mistaken. He keeps account with every individual and with every nation; he forgets nothing. If God delays his judgment of us, we should draw an entirely different conclusion. We should say, ‘I dare not tax the patience of God any further. He has already given me far more opportunities to repent than I deserve, and the very fact that I am still here is a testimony to his grace. He could have judged me at any moment. I will humble myself before him and call on him for mercy. I will ask him to help me turn from my evil ways. Perhaps he will still be gracious towards me.’