O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM
Key verse: 37
NIV
29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets(A) and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.(B) 32 Go ahead, then, and complete(C) what your ancestors started!(D)
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers!(E) How will you escape being condemned to hell?(F) 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify;(G) others you will flog in your synagogues(H) and pursue from town to town.(I) 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel(J) to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah,(K) whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.(L) 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.(M)
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,(N) how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,(O) and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.(P) 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’[a]”(Q)
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:39 Psalm 118:26
Cross references
- Matthew 23:29 : Lk 11:47, 48
- Matthew 23:31 : S Mt 5:12
- Matthew 23:32 : 1Th 2:16
- Matthew 23:32 : Eze 20:4
- Matthew 23:33 : Mt 3:7; 12:34
- Matthew 23:33 : S Mt 5:22
- Matthew 23:34 : 2Ch 36:15, 16; Lk 11:49
- Matthew 23:34 : S Mt 10:17
- Matthew 23:34 : Mt 10:23
- Matthew 23:35 : Ge 4:8; Heb 11:4
- Matthew 23:35 : Zec 1:1
- Matthew 23:35 : 2Ch 24:21
- Matthew 23:36 : Mt 10:23; 24:34; Lk 11:50, 51
- Matthew 23:37 : 2Ch 24:21; S Mt 5:12
- Matthew 23:37 : Ps 57:1; 61:4; Isa 31:5
- Matthew 23:38 : 1Ki 9:7, 8; Jer 22:5
- Matthew 23:39 : Ps 118:26; Mt 21:9
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
29 (A)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 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.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are (B)sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 (C)Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, (D)you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to (E)hell? 34 (F)Therefore (G)I send you (H)prophets and wise men and (I)scribes, (J)some of whom you will kill and crucify, and (K)some you will (L)flog in your synagogues and (M)persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all (N)the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous (O)Abel to the blood of (P)Zechariah the son of Barachiah,[a] whom you murdered between (Q)the sanctuary and (R)the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, (S)all these things will come upon this generation.
Lament over Jerusalem
37 (T)“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that (U)kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have (V)gathered (W)your children together (X)as a hen gathers her brood (Y)under her wings, and (Z)you were not willing! 38 See, (AA)your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, (AB)‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 23:35 Some manuscripts omit the son of Barachiah
Cross references
- Matthew 23:29 : Luke 11:47, 48
- Matthew 23:31 : Acts 7:51, 52
- Matthew 23:32 : Gen. 15:16; Dan. 8:23; 1 Thess. 2:15, 16
- Matthew 23:33 : ch. 3:7; 12:34
- Matthew 23:33 : ver. 15
- Matthew 23:34 : For ver. 34-36, [Luke 11:49-51]
- Matthew 23:34 : ch. 10:16
- Matthew 23:34 : See Acts 13:1; 1 Cor. 12:28
- Matthew 23:34 : ch. 13:52
- Matthew 23:34 : See ch. 21:35
- Matthew 23:34 : See ch. 21:35
- Matthew 23:34 : ch. 10:17; Mark 13:9; Luke 21:12; Acts 22:19; 26:11; [Luke 12:11]
- Matthew 23:34 : ch. 10:23
- Matthew 23:35 : Rev. 18:24
- Matthew 23:35 : Gen. 4:4, 8; Heb. 11:4; 1 John 3:12
- Matthew 23:35 : [Zech. 1:1]
- Matthew 23:35 : See Luke 1:9
- Matthew 23:35 : Ex. 40:6; 2 Kgs. 16:14; Ezek. 40:47
- Matthew 23:36 : [ch. 10:23; 16:28; 24:34]
- Matthew 23:37 : For ver. 37-39, see Luke 13:34, 35; [Luke 19:41-44]
- Matthew 23:37 : See ch. 21:35
- Matthew 23:37 : [Ps. 147:2; Prov. 1:24]
- Matthew 23:37 : Luke 23:28
- Matthew 23:37 : [Deut. 32:11, 12]
- Matthew 23:37 : Ruth 2:12
- Matthew 23:37 : John 5:40
- Matthew 23:38 : [Isa. 64:11; Jer. 12:7; 22:5]
- Matthew 23:39 : ch. 21:9; Cited from Ps. 118:26
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The blood of the righteous (29-36)
The Pharisees who rejected Jesus stood in a long tradition of men who persecuted and killed God's servants. All people who don't want to repent are a part of this tradition. Prophets who teach the word of God and call people to repentance, and men and women who challenge the culture of their times by seeking to obey God's word are always targets of persecution, from Abel, the righteous man whom Cain slew, to the prophet Zechariah. This Zechariah is probably the prophet murdered by King Joash (2Ch 24:2
-22) for speaking out against idolatry. It has always been costly for a person to stand on God's side and speak truth.
2. Jesus weeps (37-39)
Jesus came with open arms of love and blessing to God's people. He came to save them from their sins and shelter them in his bosom. How sorry God is when people reject his love! When people reject his love, they must experience his righteous judgment, for Jesus will come again as Judge.
Prayer: Lord, I welcome you into my heart. Fill me with your love and compassion.
One Word: Welcome Jesus, whatever the cost
