Luke 11:48 Meaning and Explanation
“Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Their building bears witness that they consent to their fathers' deeds: the fathers killed the prophets, and the sons build the tombs.
What Does Luke 11:48 Mean?
Jesus presses the irony into an indictment. The tomb-building testifies to a grim partnership across generations: they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres -- the fathers ended the prophets' lives, and the sons sealed them underground.
The charge is consent: admiration that does not produce obedience finishes what persecution began, keeping the prophets safely buried. The only true memorial to a prophet is to heed him. The verse asks whether our reverence for the messengers of Scripture extends to doing what they said.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 11:48
What does Luke 11:48 mean?
Their building bears witness that they consent to their fathers' deeds: the fathers killed the prophets, and the sons build the tombs.