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MATTHEW - Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Matthew
PART 4 - Jesus' Last Ministries in Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1 - 25:46)
B - Christ Rebukes and Warns the Jewish Spiritual Leaders (Matthew 23:1-39) -- The Fifth Collection of the Words of Jesus

11. Jesus’ Prophesy about Jerusalem (Matthew 23:34-36)


MATTHEW 23:34-36
34 Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city; 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.
(Genesis 4:8, 2 Chronicles 24:20-21)

Jesus warned the Jewish leaders saying, "You are a generation of vipers, not likely to escape the damnation of hell." One would think He would continue, "Therefore you shall never have a warning prophet sent to you anymore." But we hear just the opposite: "Therefore I will send you prophets to call you to repentance, or else to leave you inexcusable before God." This promise is introduced with a note of assurance – "indeed". This term makes it clear that Christ will send them. He is declaring that He Himself is Lord, having power to call and commission prophets. Christ sent them as His ambassadors to teach about the condition of the soul. After His resurrection, He fulfilled His promise: "I also send you" (John 20:21).

Jesus revealed that He, in His power, would send, after his death, prophets, messengers, wise men, and scribes to the Jews. He made clear to His followers that his conceited and self-righteous enemies would persecute, scourge, and stone them, and also pursue them from city to city, crucifying some. He who wants to read about the fulfillment of this prophecy should study the book of Acts (or "Acts of the Apostles"). This New Testament book, among others, tells of the hatred and cruelty by the ignorant followers of the Mosaic Law who thought they were serving God when they attacked and killed the followers of Christ (John 16:1-3).

Christ not only told them about their evil and impure works, but also about God's judgment of them because they had shed the blood of the Lord's ministers. This blood cries out to God (Genesis 4:10, Hebrews 12:24), just as the souls of the slain martyrs of the Old Testament await God's just judgment (Revelation 6:9-11).

Today, some church leaders and religious people do not live according to repentance and a changed spirit, but live according to their own standard of righteousness. They strongly reject the ambassadors of Christ who encourage them to renounce false holiness. They need to repent and follow the example of the meek and humble Christ.

PRAYER: Holy Lord, we thank You because Your son spoke frankly and sternly to the self-righteous and poured the eight woes upon them that they might repent. Forgive us our pride and hypocrisy if we behave like them, if we do not truly repent or change by Your holiness. Protect everyone who cries out in repentance and faith in the only Savior from persecution of the narrow-minded, self-righteous leaders that they will not abandon the righteousness of the cross and the grace of salvation. Thank You because You confirm us in the atonement of Jesus in the midst of judgment against those who oppose You and those who are totally indifferent.

QUESTION:

  1. Why did Christ send His servants again to the scholars of His nation?

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