34. Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and
scribes--The I here is emphatic: "I am sending," that is,
"am about to send." In
Lu 11:49
the variation is remarkable: "Therefore also, said the wisdom of God, I
will send them," &c. What precisely is meant by "the wisdom of God"
here, is somewhat difficult to determine. To us it appears to be simply
an announcement of a purpose of the Divine Wisdom, in the high style of
ancient prophecy, to send a last set of messengers whom the people
would reject, and rejecting, would fill up the cup of their iniquity.
But, whereas in Luke it is "I, the Wisdom of God, will send them," in
Matthew it is "I, Jesus, am sending them"; language only befitting the
one sender of all the prophets, the Lord God of Israel now in the
flesh. They are evidently evangelical messengers, but called by the
familiar Jewish names of "prophets, wise men, and scribes," whose
counterparts were the inspired and gifted servants of the Lord Jesus;
for in Luke
(Lu 11:49)
it is "prophets and apostles."
unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the
temple and the altar--As there is no record of any fresh murder
answering to this description, probably the allusion is not to any
recent murder, but to
2Ch 24:20-22,
as the last recorded and most suitable case for illustration.
And as Zacharias' last words were, "The Lord require it," so
they are here warned that of that generation it should be
required.
JFB.
Outline
Jesus reproves the scribes and Pharisees. (1-12)
Crimes of the Pharisees. (13-33)
The guilt of Jerusalem. (34-39)
Painted Illustration of a Pharisee During the time of Jesus
Important Topics for Bible Study
Quick Reference Map
Map of Judea in the Time of Jesus
(Click to Enlarge)
Painted Illustration of a Scribe During the time of Jesus
Painted Illustration of a Rabbi During the time of Jesus
Ancient Customs
Geography
Jerusalem
Judaea
Matthew Resources
The New Testament