Matthew 23:36 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

NIV: Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.

NASB: Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

CSB: Truly I tell you, all these things will come on this generation.

NLT: I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation.

KJV: Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

NKJV: Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Jesus has been clearly and harshly pronouncing God's condemnation and coming judgment on Israel's religious leaders: the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:13–32). Most recently, Christ said that God would deliver judgment for all the murders of godly servants from Abel (Genesis 4:4–8) to Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20–22) on these modern leaders of Israel.

In this statement, Jesus takes the pronouncement of judgment even further. This coming judgment of God for these sinful actions and murder will come upon this generation. God's angry retribution for the rejection of Jesus and God's messengers will not be limited to Israel's religious leaders. All of Israel will be judged: both the leaders and those who willingly follow them. Many scholars believe Jesus' prediction of this judgment came to pass, at least in part, during the devastating Roman destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

Matthew 23:13–36 contains seven layers of condemnation, from Jesus, towards the religious leaders of His era. Each of these is introduced with the word "woe," which is an exclamation like "oh!" or "alas!" Pronouncing God's judgment on these men, He repeatedly describes them as "blind" and "hypocrites." Convincing others of their views only adds victims to hell. They follow the letters of manmade law to the tiniest detail but miss the real meaning of Scripture: God's heart for justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Their outer appearance of righteousness hides inner lives full of greed, self-indulgence, hypocrisy, and lawlessness. Those in Jesus' generation will pay for many of the righteous people unjustly killed in the past.

After thoroughly dismantling scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees in debate, Jesus even more thoroughly condemns these religious leaders for their religious hypocrisy. They do all their religious acts and works to be seen and approved of by other people. Jesus pronounces God's judgment on the scribes and Pharisees in a series of seven "woe to you" statements. He repeatedly calls them "blind" and "hypocrites." He concludes with a lament for Jerusalem and her children who rejected His protection. God's judgment is coming.

Matthew 23 concludes Matthew's multi-chapter account of all of Jesus' interactions in the temple during the last week before His arrest and crucifixion. After silencing the religious leaders with parables and brilliant responses (Matthew 21—22), He pronounces God's judgment on the scribes and Pharisees in a series of seven "woe to you" statements. Jesus mourns for the judgment that will come on Jerusalem for her rejection of God. This leads Jesus to leave the temple, sadly remarking on its impending destruction (Matthew 24:1–2). As the disciples ask about this, Jesus begins an extended teaching on the end times in chapter 24.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.

Accessed 9/20/2024 11:18:01 PM