Matthew 23:33–36 (ESV) — 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
NOTE: When Jesus says, I send you, he is placing himself as God. He is sending his disciples out (whom he categorizes in three groups), and they (Jewish leaders) will kill … crucify … flog … and persecute. The phrase "this generation" is literally the generation hearing Jesus speak. In this case, the destruction of Israel and the temple (a million Jews according to Josephus) occurs 40 years later. They have heard and seen the Son of God in their physical presence, and they crucify him. Most of the disciples and many more in the first century will also die or be persecuted because of the Jews. Even though the early church is all Jewish at first and only transitioning to Gentile over the 40 year period, it is blinded Jewish leaders, vipers, who will attack his church. The majority of the opposition to Paul is Jewish leaders, and later idol-makers.
PONDER:
- Whose side am I really on? The world's side with their distorted worldview or God's side with the inerrant scriptures?
PRAYER: Father, if we believe your word is true, why do so many believers spend so little time studying it? Give us a heart and hunger for your truth.
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