Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 23:36

"Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation." — Matthew 23:36 (ASV)

The very messengers who were beaten and killed for calling the people to repentance in the mystery of providence fill up the measure of the people’s sins (v.32)—namely, shedding righteous blood of God’s emissaries from Abel to Zechariah (see comment on Lk 12:51). Verse 35 anticipates 27:24–25: Pilate tries to evade responsibility for crucifying Jesus, and the Jews clamor for that same dreadful responsibility because of their skepticism about who Jesus is. All along in this chapter, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees have been Jesus’ primary target. Now the reference is to “this generation,” because the leaders represent the people, and the people, despite Jesus’ warnings, do not abandon their leaders for Jesus Messiah. This sets the stage for the concluding lament over Jerusalem (vv.37–39).