Matthew 23:35-37

23:35 so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, ¹  whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 23:36 I tell you the truth, ²  this generation will be held responsible for all these things! ³ 

Judgment on Israel

23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, ⁴  you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! ⁵  How often I have longed ⁶  to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but ⁷  you would have none of it! ⁸ 

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¹ sn Spelling of this name (Βαραχίου, Baraciou) varies among the English versions: “Barachiah” (RSV, NRSV); “Berechiah” (NASB); “Berachiah” (NIV).

² tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

³ tn Grk “all these things will come on this generation.”

⁴ sn The double use of the city’s name betrays intense emotion.

map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

⁵ tn Although the opening address (“Jerusalem, Jerusalem”) is direct (second person), the remainder of this sentence in the Greek text is third person (“who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her”). The following sentences then revert to second person (“your… you”), so to keep all this consistent in English, the third person pronouns in the present verse were translated as second person (“you who kill… sent to you”).

⁶ sn How often I have longed to gather your children. Jesus, like a lamenting prophet, speaks for God here, who longed to care tenderly for Israel and protect her.

⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

⁸ tn Grk “you were not willing.”