Luke 11:51

Luke 11:51, in plain English

From Abel, the very first person murdered, all the way to Zechariah, killed right in the temple -- all that innocent blood will be accounted for. Jesus is saying: history is watching how you respond.

Why it's here

Abel and Zechariah represent the first and last martyrs in the Hebrew Bible. Jesus is saying: the whole story of people killing God's messengers ends here, with you, with Me.

Who's speaking

Jesus names the bookends of biblical history to show the full weight of what's at stake.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus spans the entire Old Testament with two names. From the very first murder to the last prophet killed in the temple, all that blood is pointing to this moment.

The scholarly reading

Jesus spans the entire Old Testament canon from Abel (Genesis 4:8) to Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-21), who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. In the Hebrew Bible's arrangement, this covers the first and last recorded martyrdoms.

Language and setting

Abel's blood cried from the ground (Gen 4:10) and Zechariah's dying words invoked divine judgment (2 Chr 24:22). Together they bookend the Hebrew canon's testimony of righteous suffering. Jesus affirms this generation's culpability.

Voice

Jesus specifies the scope of prophetic blood -- from the first to the last martyr in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Significance

By naming Abel and Zechariah, Jesus encompasses all of biblical history. Every righteous person killed for speaking truth is a witness against those who now reject the Truth incarnate.

49Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’

50As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,

51from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.

52Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

53As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,

Read all of Luke 11 — The disciples ask for a prayer, and Jesus gives them words that have echoed for two thousand years. Then he warns against empty religion.