Mat 23:29-37 | RWP | e4.org | The tombs of the prophets ( τους ταφους των προφητων ). Cf. . They were bearing witness against themselves ( εαυτοις , verse ) to "the murder-taint in your blood" (Allen). "These men who professed to be so distressed at the murdering of the Prophets, were themselves compassing the death of Him who was far greater than any Prophet" (Plummer). There are four monuments called Tombs of the Prophets (Zechariah, Absalom, Jehoshaphat, St. James) at the base of the Mount of Olives. Some of these may have been going up at the very time that Jesus spoke. In this seventh and last woe Jesus addresses the Jewish nation and not merely the Pharisees.

‏ Matthew 23:29-37

The tombs of the prophets ( τους ταφους των προφητων ). Cf. Lu 11:48-52. They were bearing witness against themselves ( εαυτοις, verse 31) to "the murder-taint in your blood" (Allen). "These men who professed to be so distressed at the murdering of the Prophets, were themselves compassing the death of Him who was far greater than any Prophet" (Plummer). There are four monuments called Tombs of the Prophets (Zechariah, Absalom, Jehoshaphat, St. James) at the base of the Mount of Olives. Some of these may have been going up at the very time that Jesus spoke. In this seventh and last woe Jesus addresses the Jewish nation and not merely the Pharisees.

Fill ye up ( πληρωσατε ). The keenest irony in this command has been softened in some MSS. to the future indicative ( πληρωσετε ). "Fill up the measure of your fathers; crown their misdeeds by killing the prophet God has sent to you. Do at last what has long been in your hearts. The hour is come" (Bruce).

Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers ( οφεις γεννηματα εχιδνων ). These blistering words come as a climax and remind one of the Baptist (3:17) and of the time when the Pharisees accused Jesus of being in league with Beelzebub (12:34). They cut to the bone like whip-cords.

How shall ye escape ( πως φυγητε ). Deliberate subjunctive. There is a curse in the Talmud somewhat like this: "Woe to the house of Annas! Woe to their serpent-like hissings."

Zachariah son of Barachiah ( Ζαχαριου υιου Βαραχιου ). Broadus gives well the various alternatives in understanding and explaining the presence of "son of Barachiah" here which is not in Lu 11:51. The usual explanation is that the reference is to Zachariah the son of Jehoiada the priest who was slain in the court of the temple (2Ch 24:20ff.). How the words, "son of Barachiah," got into Matthew we do not know. A half-dozen possibilities can be suggested. In the case of Abel a reckoning for the shedding of his blood was foretold (Ge 4:10) and the same thing was true of the slaying of Zachariah (2Ch 24:22).

How often would I have gathered ( ποσακις ηθελησα επισυναγειν ). More exactly, how often did I long to gather to myself (double compound infinitive). The same verb ( επισυναγε ) is used of the hen with the compound preposition υποκατω. Everyone has seen the hen quickly get together the chicks under her wings in the time of danger. These words naturally suggest previous visits to Jerusalem made plain by John's Gospel.