Matthew 23:34-36 34Therefore I send you prophets and wise people and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town; 35so that upon 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 temple and the altar. 36Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
Based on the core human problem illustrated by the scribes and Pharisees, the prophets God sends are never welcomed. Now, Jesus will be the one sending out prophets, wise people, and scribes. Jesus indicates here that there will special people who do the same ministries as the Jews of being prophets, to foretell and forth tell the good news, of wise people who will guide the church in theological development in the future, and teachers who will study the Scripture and train God’s people through speaking and writing. These new Christian messengers will experience the same treatment as Israel’s prophets. Much of this persecution will come from religious teachers and influencers such as the scribes and Pharisees. Their spiritual blindness would lead to difficult times for believers. No prophet of God has been welcomed over the ages because they bring messages that convict and call people to repent, which they do not want to do.
The religious elites have only themselves to blame for the verdict of judgment and condemnation. No matter what these people do to God’s prophets, God’s purpose will be fulfilled. Jesus gives an A to Z example, Able in Genesis 4 and Zechariah in 2 Chronicles 24:20–21, inclusive of every prophet in between. This was serious business, and the scribes and Pharisees and all who follow in their path must take seriously the warnings God sends them. Between the temple and altar show that the problem is often at the heart of the religious scene. Committing murder in the very presence of God would be the worst form of rebellion and blaspheme. Jesus brings his warning to a close by specifically mentioning that present generation. No one should think that he or she can escape God’s watchful eye.
For older posts, click here.