Matthew 23:31

Arabic 2016 (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)

وَبِهَذَا تُؤَكِّدُونَ أنَّكُمْ نَسْلُ الَّذِينَ قَتَلُوا الأنْبِيَاءَ،

What Does This Mean?

Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders and tells them they are like their ancestors who killed prophets in the past. He's saying that by continuing these actions, they're proving themselves as part of this lineage.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have a family tree with some not-so-nice relatives who did mean things long ago. Jesus is telling these religious leaders that they are like those mean relatives and are doing similar bad things now.

Historical Background

This verse comes from the Gospel of Matthew, written around AD 80-90 by an author believed to be Matthew, one of Jesus' disciples. The audience was likely early Jewish-Christian communities. This passage reflects a time when religious leaders were often in conflict with Jesus and his teachings.

Living It Out Today

Consider a scenario where a group at work is resistant to new ideas from younger colleagues. Just as the religious leaders rejected the prophets, this group might be repeating the same pattern of resistance.

Topics

• hypocrisy
• justice
• leadership
• prophets
• rebellion
• responsibility

Related Verses

• Luke 13:34
• 1 Kings 19:10
• Acts 7:52
• Jeremiah 26:20-23
• Matthew 23:29

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the 'children of them which killed the prophets'?

Jesus is referring to those who oppose and mistreat messengers of God, just as their ancestors did. This includes anyone who resists divine messages or leaders.

How can this verse be relevant in modern times?

In today's context, it can apply to any group or individual who rejects truth and guidance from those who seek to lead them towards moral and spiritual improvement.

What does 'witnesses unto yourselves' mean in Matthew 23:31?

It means that the religious leaders were inadvertently proving themselves as part of a tradition of people who reject God's messengers, just by their actions and attitudes towards Jesus.

How does this verse tie into Jesus' teachings on hypocrisy?

This verse highlights the theme of hypocrisy where people claim to follow religious principles but act contrary to them, similar to those who killed prophets while claiming piety.