Mat 23:29-37 | TNotes | STEP | 23:29 By building and decorating the tombs for the prophets , the teachers of religious law and Pharisees showed outward solidarity with the prophets, while inwardly they were of the same sinful character as their ancestors who had murdered the prophets.

a23:29►

b23:32►

c1 Thes 2:14-16►

d23:35►

eGen 4:8-11►

f2 Chr 24:15-22►

gMatt 27:25►

h23:37►

i23:29-36►

jDeut 32:11►

kRuth 2:12►

lPss 17:8►

m36:7►

n57:1►

o61:4►

p91:4►

‏ Matthew 23:29-37

23:29 ^a By building and decorating the tombs for the prophets, the teachers of religious law and Pharisees showed outward solidarity with the prophets, while inwardly they were of the same sinful character as their ancestors who had murdered the prophets.
23:32 ^b finish what your ancestors started: By killing God’s Messiah, they would bring to completion Israel’s history of killing God’s messengers (see 1 Thes 2:14-16 ^c).
23:35 ^d The span from Abel (Gen 4:8-11 ^e) to Zechariah (2 Chr 24:15-22 ^f) follows the order of the Hebrew Bible, in which 2 Chronicles is the last book. The implication is that this generation will be guilty of every murder of the righteous in the Old Testament (cp. Matt 27:25 ^g).
23:37 ^h Despite the severe judgment Jesus had just leveled against Israel (23:29-36 ⁱ), he truly longed for them to repent and receive God’s grace.

• as a hen: An image of protective care (see also Deut 32:11 ^j; Ruth 2:12 ^k; Pss 17:8 ^l; 36:7 ^m; 57:1 ⁿ; 61:4 ^o; 91:4 ^p).