Matthew 23:34-36

Jesus Informs Them Of What Their Future Will Be (23:34-36).

Having warned the crowds and the disciples against being like the Scribes and Pharisees in their behaviour, ending with an exhortation to humble themselves and not to exalt themselves (Matthew 23:1), and having totally exposed the inadequacies of the Scribes and Pharisees in the seven woes, ending in an accusation that they are simply like vipers, deceitful and deaf to entreaty, lying in wait for their victims (Matthew 23:13), Jesus now unfolds the future both for the Scribes and Pharisees and their supporters (Matthew 23:34), and for the whole of Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37).

Analysis.

a “Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes” (Matthew 23:34 a).

b “Some of them you will kill and crucify” (Matthew 23:34 b).

c “And some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city” (Matthew 23:34 c).

“That on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous to the blood of Zachariah, son of Barachiah, whom you slew between the sanctuary and the altar” (Matthew 23:35).

“Truly I say to you, All these things will come on this generation” (Matthew 23:36).

Note that in ‘a' Jesus is sending to them messengers of every description, and in the parallel it is for the men of this generation. In ‘b' their response will be to kill and crucify them, and in the parallel they will therefore have to bear the guilt of the blood of all the prophets. Centrally in ‘c' is the fact that they will persecute His messengers.