Tombs, Vipers and Murder

Monument keepers of the prophets

It was the impression they wanted to leave

They were more concerned with making dead works look pretty than burying a dead work and following the life giving work of Jesus

Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament Final Four Woes (23:23–33)

In this seventh and final woe, Jesus ceases using analogies and moves to describe and indict them for a hypocritical practice of adorning the tombs of prophets and righteous people. Jesus states that the religious leaders assert that they would not have condemned and persecuted the prophets of old.

23:31 Jesus now states that the sentiments of the scribes and Pharisees, summarized in 23:30, are self-condemning because they admit that they are descendants of their ancestors who killed the prophets. Mere descent of course is not enough to condemn the religious leaders, but Jesus will in the next verse point to their actions as confirmation that they act just like their ancestors.

They were stating by their works that they respected the prophets and would have never taken part of the deaths of them but Jesus tells them that they aren’t heirs to the prophets but heirs of those who killed the prophets

It was the impression they wanted to leave

They were at that exact moment planning His murder

What will you do with confrontation by God?

Listen to this list, Are we rjecting the kingdom ourselves and obstructing the entrance of others? Do we have a legalistic approach to church growth, interested in only our own thoughts of who is deserving of the gospel? do we break solemn promises if convienient or if we are under pressure? do we misconstrue God’s revelation by neglecting the central and going for the periphial? do we go after external things and ceremonial precision but remain indifeerent to to the attitude within? Are we walking around as whitewashed tombs full of dead mens bones? living a lie to make an impression?