Matthew 23:34

Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses the Jerusalem religious leaders in the wake of his condemnation of them as a "brood of vipers." He declares his own action of dispatching prophets, wise men, and teachers to them as a direct consequence of their impending rejection.

The words — διὰ τοῦτο (dia touto) literally means "because of this," anchoring the statement to the preceding judgment oracle. ἀποστέλλω (apostellō) translates as "I am sending," marking the speaker's deliberate initiation of the mission.

The thread — The sending motif echoes the commission in Matthew 10:16 where Jesus similarly declares "Behold, I am sending you out." The theme of prophetic rejection and persecution continues in Matthew 23:35 with the warning that righteous blood will fall upon the present generation.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that God's historical dispatch of messengers directly triggers the very persecution it foretells. It requires the reader to acknowledge the continuity of divine initiative and human resistance without softening the stated outcome.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

Cross-references

Matthew 10:16 Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Matthew 13:52 Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
Colossians 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
Matthew 10:23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Matthew 23:34 Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town.
Luke 11:49 Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’
Acts 13:1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
2 Chronicles 36:15 Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place.
Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,