Yesterday's reading was a continuation of the "Woes" against the Pharisees and scribes. The passage ended with Jesus asking the religious leader provocatively, "How can you avoid being condemned to hell?" Today's reading picks up with God's attempt to do just that, "Therefore I sent you prophets..." God continually sends us prophets to warn us when we're on the wrong path. The trouble is that the leaders along the wrong path are often committed to that path so they don't want to hear God's correction. That makes being a prophet a dangerous calling.
Jesus gives examples of prophets God has sent but the leaders have rejected and killed. Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom Jesus mentioned is probably really the son of Jehoida, who was killed in the temple for speaking against King Jehoash's idolatry. Jesus also must have John the Baptist in mind, who was also killed for criticizing a leader's sin. And, of course, Jesus is getting closer to the same fate each day.
May God give us ears to hear and hearts to respond,
Sam
Matthew 23:34-39
34Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue 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 son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.
37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 38See, your house is left to you, desolate. 39For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
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