Matthew 23:35 Meaning and Explanation
“That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus says the accumulated guilt of shedding righteous blood, from Abel to Zacharias, will fall upon that generation.
What Does Matthew 23:35 Mean?
Jesus spans the whole sweep of Scripture, from Abel, the first righteous man slain, to Zacharias, killed in the temple courts. These mark the beginning and a late point in the long record of the innocent murdered. The generation now rejecting him would bring this long story to its climax.
The weight of so much righteous blood is sobering, yet the principle is just: a generation that knowingly completes a pattern of rejection shares in its guilt. God remembers every life unjustly taken, and none is forgotten before him. The verse testifies to God's care for the righteous who suffer and his certainty of justice. For the hearer, it is a call to step out of that stream of violence and rejection, and into the mercy held out in Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 23:35
What does Matthew 23:35 mean?
Jesus says the accumulated guilt of shedding righteous blood, from Abel to Zacharias, will fall upon that generation.