Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’
Parallel translations
- WEB and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
- KJV And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
- BSB And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
- NKJV and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
- NASB and you say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They claim they would never have shared in their fathers' killing of the prophets. It reveals self-deceived presumption about their own righteousness.
Overview
The leaders distanced themselves from their ancestors' guilt, imagining they would have acted differently. Yet their plot against Jesus proved otherwise. This exposes the danger of self-righteous confidence, presuming one stands above past sinners while repeating their very sins against God's messengers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Jer 2:30“I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
- Matt 21:35–36The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another.
- Matt 23:34–35Therefore 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;
- 2 Chr 36:15Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 23:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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