“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
vss 30-31 - "The idea is 'like father, like son.'" (Ryrie)
the measure - "I.e., add to the iniquity of your fathers and bring down divine judgment on yourselves." (Ryrie)
and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town - "refers to the apostle (see Matt 10:17, 23)" (Ryrie)
Abel - Genesis 4; Hebrews 11:4
Zechariah the son of Barachiah - some manuscripts omit "the son of Barachiah"
"Zechariah, mentioned as the son of Jehoiada in 2 Chronicles 24:20, probably was the grandson of the priest and Barachias was his actual father." (Walvoord)
"This murder is recorded in 2 Chron 24:20-22. Berechiah was likely the father of Zechariah, whereas the famous Jehoiada was his grandfather. This is not the prophet Zechariah (though his father was also named Berechiah). Since Abel's death is recorded in Genesis, and since 2 Chronicles is the last book in the Hebrew Bible, Christ was saying, in effect, 'from the first to the last murder in the Bible.'" (Ryrie)
kills … and stones (v 37) - tense indicates habitual or characteristic action
this generation - The word "generation" can have many different meanings. Its most common meaning refers to those who are born to their parents, of natural lineage, or descendants. For example, the natural lineage of Jesus Christ is given in Matthew 1:1-17. He was born from this traceable line of descendants.
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham (Matt 1:1).
In this context the natural lineage is the meaning of the word 'generation.' When Jesus Christ spoke to the Pharisees in Matthew 23 and Luke 11, He was speaking to a diverse group of Pharisees. They were not all from the same natural lineage. Many of them were from different parents. This being the case, the most common definition of the word "generation" does not fit in this context.
Sometimes the word "generation" refers to a group of people who live at the same time, such as the "baby boomer" generation. This meaning cannot apply because God's judgment did not fall on the Pharisees that were in His immediate presence when he talked of "this generation." The Pharisees who were there died without experiencing this judgment.
There is another meaning to the word "generation" which helps us understand how the Lord used it in Matthew 23 and Luke 11. Here the word refers to those who belong to a certain group, who are similar in thought and belief, those who are related by way of actions or faith.
God uses the word "generation" in this way many times in Scripture. For example, He has a "generation" of men of faith, men who have been declared righteous. All who are in this generation are related one to another because God has declared them righteous. This generation of the righteous is ongoing and added to daily, as men come to Jesus Christ through faith. This generation spans all of time and is not natural but spiritual.
There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous (Ps 14:5).
Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob (Ps 24:6).
His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed (Ps 112:2).
Jesus Christ used this meaning of the word "generation" when He spoke with the Pharisees. During His conversation, Christ talked about all those who make up the generation of Pharisees beginning with Cain, and not just those in his immediate presence. Christ has the whole spiritual lineage in view, all the Pharisees, from the first to the last. This evil generation is described in Proverbs:
There is a generation that curses its father,
And does not bless its mother.
There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,
Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes!
And their eyelids are lifted up.
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,
And whose fangs are like knives,
To devour the poor from off the earth,
And the needy from among men (Prov 30:11-14).
It is rebellious and murderous, filled with those who are self-righteous, and puffed up with their own goodness. The description of this generation matches the description of the Pharisees by the Lord Jesus Christ. This generation is spiritual and continues to grow even through our day.
http://tis-justme.blogspot.com/2013/09/interesting-tidbit-19.html
house - "The word 'house' could be a reference to the city of Jerusalem, or the Jewish temple in the city, or the Davidic house to which the Jews looked for a successor to David to deliver them and rule over them, or the nation as a whole. In any case, judgment must come." (Pentecost)
desolate = alone
you will not see me again - "I.e., I will no longer teach publicly. " (Ryrie)
until you say - "At the second coming of Christ, Israel will recognize and welcome their rejected Messiah (Zech 12:10)." (Ryrie)
Blessed is He - Psalm 118:26
This address was the last Jesus made in public and this was the last time He went to the temple.
Morgan makes the point that the "woes" of Matthew 23 match up one for one with the blessings (the Beatitudes) in Matthew 5.
"Moses had written long ago in Deuteronomy 30:1-3, 'And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, and shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, wither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.' Moses went on to predict their regathering and their possession of the land (Deuteronomy 30:4-5) In Deuteronomy 30:6, he stated 'And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.' Other references to the same revival in the Old Testament are frequently found. The closing chapters of the prophecies of Isaiah mention again and again the coming revival of Israel, as, for instance, in Isaiah 65:18-25. Jeremiah, in like manner, prophesies Israel’s future restoration in Jeremiah 30:1-11; 31:1-14, 27-37. Zechariah speaks of it in chapter 8, and 12:10; 13:1; 14:9-21. The New Testament picks up similar truth in Romans 11:25-36 and pictures Israel triumphant on Mount Zion in Revelation 14:1-5. While it is tragic that Israel did not know the day of her visitation at the time of the first coming of Christ, the godly remnant of Israel, that awaits His second coming to sit on the throne of David, will experience the blessing of the Lord and receive a new heart and a new spirit, of which Ezekiel spoke in Ezekiel 36:23-28. The tragic note which ends Matthew 23 introduces the great prophecy of the end of the age, recorded in Matthew 24-25 and delivered privately to His disciples. This discourse details the prophecy of the coming kingdom and the time of reward and blessing for those who trust in the Lord." (Walvoord)
the measure - "I.e., add to the iniquity of your fathers and bring down divine judgment on yourselves." (Ryrie)
and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town - "refers to the apostle (see Matt 10:17, 23)" (Ryrie)
Abel - Genesis 4; Hebrews 11:4
Zechariah the son of Barachiah - some manuscripts omit "the son of Barachiah"
"Zechariah, mentioned as the son of Jehoiada in 2 Chronicles 24:20, probably was the grandson of the priest and Barachias was his actual father." (Walvoord)
"This murder is recorded in 2 Chron 24:20-22. Berechiah was likely the father of Zechariah, whereas the famous Jehoiada was his grandfather. This is not the prophet Zechariah (though his father was also named Berechiah). Since Abel's death is recorded in Genesis, and since 2 Chronicles is the last book in the Hebrew Bible, Christ was saying, in effect, 'from the first to the last murder in the Bible.'" (Ryrie)
kills … and stones (v 37) - tense indicates habitual or characteristic action
this generation - The word "generation" can have many different meanings. Its most common meaning refers to those who are born to their parents, of natural lineage, or descendants. For example, the natural lineage of Jesus Christ is given in Matthew 1:1-17. He was born from this traceable line of descendants.
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham (Matt 1:1).
In this context the natural lineage is the meaning of the word 'generation.' When Jesus Christ spoke to the Pharisees in Matthew 23 and Luke 11, He was speaking to a diverse group of Pharisees. They were not all from the same natural lineage. Many of them were from different parents. This being the case, the most common definition of the word "generation" does not fit in this context.
Sometimes the word "generation" refers to a group of people who live at the same time, such as the "baby boomer" generation. This meaning cannot apply because God's judgment did not fall on the Pharisees that were in His immediate presence when he talked of "this generation." The Pharisees who were there died without experiencing this judgment.
There is another meaning to the word "generation" which helps us understand how the Lord used it in Matthew 23 and Luke 11. Here the word refers to those who belong to a certain group, who are similar in thought and belief, those who are related by way of actions or faith.
God uses the word "generation" in this way many times in Scripture. For example, He has a "generation" of men of faith, men who have been declared righteous. All who are in this generation are related one to another because God has declared them righteous. This generation of the righteous is ongoing and added to daily, as men come to Jesus Christ through faith. This generation spans all of time and is not natural but spiritual.
There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous (Ps 14:5).
Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob (Ps 24:6).
His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed (Ps 112:2).
Jesus Christ used this meaning of the word "generation" when He spoke with the Pharisees. During His conversation, Christ talked about all those who make up the generation of Pharisees beginning with Cain, and not just those in his immediate presence. Christ has the whole spiritual lineage in view, all the Pharisees, from the first to the last. This evil generation is described in Proverbs:
There is a generation that curses its father,
And does not bless its mother.
There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,
Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
There is a generation—oh, how lofty are their eyes!
And their eyelids are lifted up.
There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,
And whose fangs are like knives,
To devour the poor from off the earth,
And the needy from among men (Prov 30:11-14).
It is rebellious and murderous, filled with those who are self-righteous, and puffed up with their own goodness. The description of this generation matches the description of the Pharisees by the Lord Jesus Christ. This generation is spiritual and continues to grow even through our day.
http://tis-justme.blogspot.com/2013/09/interesting-tidbit-19.html
house - "The word 'house' could be a reference to the city of Jerusalem, or the Jewish temple in the city, or the Davidic house to which the Jews looked for a successor to David to deliver them and rule over them, or the nation as a whole. In any case, judgment must come." (Pentecost)
desolate = alone
you will not see me again - "I.e., I will no longer teach publicly. " (Ryrie)
until you say - "At the second coming of Christ, Israel will recognize and welcome their rejected Messiah (Zech 12:10)." (Ryrie)
Blessed is He - Psalm 118:26
This address was the last Jesus made in public and this was the last time He went to the temple.
Morgan makes the point that the "woes" of Matthew 23 match up one for one with the blessings (the Beatitudes) in Matthew 5.
"Moses had written long ago in Deuteronomy 30:1-3, 'And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, and shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, wither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.' Moses went on to predict their regathering and their possession of the land (Deuteronomy 30:4-5) In Deuteronomy 30:6, he stated 'And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.' Other references to the same revival in the Old Testament are frequently found. The closing chapters of the prophecies of Isaiah mention again and again the coming revival of Israel, as, for instance, in Isaiah 65:18-25. Jeremiah, in like manner, prophesies Israel’s future restoration in Jeremiah 30:1-11; 31:1-14, 27-37. Zechariah speaks of it in chapter 8, and 12:10; 13:1; 14:9-21. The New Testament picks up similar truth in Romans 11:25-36 and pictures Israel triumphant on Mount Zion in Revelation 14:1-5. While it is tragic that Israel did not know the day of her visitation at the time of the first coming of Christ, the godly remnant of Israel, that awaits His second coming to sit on the throne of David, will experience the blessing of the Lord and receive a new heart and a new spirit, of which Ezekiel spoke in Ezekiel 36:23-28. The tragic note which ends Matthew 23 introduces the great prophecy of the end of the age, recorded in Matthew 24-25 and delivered privately to His disciples. This discourse details the prophecy of the coming kingdom and the time of reward and blessing for those who trust in the Lord." (Walvoord)
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