Matthew 23:29–39

Jesus Predicts Their Punishment

²⁹“How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You make fine tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of those who lived good lives; ³⁰and you claim that if you had lived during the time of your ancestors, you would not have done what they did and killed the prophets. ³¹So you actually admit that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets! ³²Go on, then, and finish what your ancestors started! ^33*You snakes and children of snakes! How do you expect to escape from being condemned to hell? ³⁴And so I tell you that I will send you prophets and wise men and teachers; you will kill some of them, crucify others, and whip others in the synagogues and chase them from town to town. ^35*As a result, the punishment for the murder of all innocent people will fall on you, from the murder of innocent Abel to the murder of Zachariah son of Berachiah, whom you murdered between the Temple and the altar. ³⁶I tell you indeed: the punishment for all these murders will fall on the people of this day!

Jesus’ Love for Jerusalem

³⁷“Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times have I wanted to put my arms round all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me! ^38*And so your Temple will be abandoned and empty. ^39*From now on, I tell you, you will never see me again until you say, ‘God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”