New Testament · Gospel

Matthew 23:35

Woe to the Hypocrites

And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Matthew 23:35 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Matthew 23:35, in plain English

Jesus says that all the blood of innocent people throughout history, from the first murder of Abel to the last martyr Zechariah, will be on their heads. It's a staggering statement about the weight of what they're doing.

Why it's here

Abel was the first person killed in the Bible, and Zechariah was the last martyr recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus is saying the full weight of history's injustice is coming to a head.

Who's speaking

Jesus speaks with the gravity of someone pronouncing a verdict that has been building for thousands of years.

Where it sits in the story

The scope is breathtaking. Jesus connects what these leaders are about to do to every act of violence against God's people throughout all of history.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

Jesus declares that 'all the righteous blood shed on earth' will come upon this generation, spanning from Abel (Gen 4, the first murder in the Hebrew Bible) to Zechariah son of Berechiah (2 Chr 24:20-22, the last martyr in the Hebrew canon's order). This encompasses the entire sweep of Scripture.

Language and setting

The Hebrew Bible's canonical order places Chronicles last, making Abel-to-Zechariah a merism for all martyrs from first to last. Jesus holds this generation accountable as the culmination of all such persecution.

Voice

Jesus pronounces a comprehensive judgment, connecting past and present persecution into one continuous narrative of guilt.

Significance

Jesus draws a line from the very first murder in Genesis to the very last in Chronicles and says: all of it will be answered for by this generation that rejects the Messiah.

In context

Matthew 23:33–37

33You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape the sentence of hell?

34Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town.

35And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

36Truly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.

37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Read all of Matthew 23 — Seven devastating woes crash down on the religious establishment. Jesus doesn't whisper his critique — he thunders it.

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