This verse reveals a subtle but profound shift in terminology: Jesus, speaking as "the Wisdom of God," refers to future messengers as both "prophets" and "apostles." This isn't just about titles; it highlights how God's ongoing mission expands to include a new kind of emissary, those directly commissioned by Christ himself, marking a transition from Old Covenant prophecy to New Covenant apostleship.
Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is in the midst of a harsh critique of the Pharisees and religious leaders, condemning their hypocrisy and the way they honor past prophets while rejecting God's messengers. He declares that because of their continued rejection and persecution of God's servants, the guilt for all the righteous blood shed throughout history will fall upon this generation. Jesus then declares that "the Wisdom of God" (referring to Himself) will send them further prophets and apostles, knowing full well that many will be killed or persecuted, thus fulfilling the pattern of their ancestors.
Jesus isn't just quoting Scripture; He IS the very Wisdom of God speaking. How does this change how we understand His words?
In Luke 11:49, Jesus says, "Therefore also said the Wisdom of God..." This is a profound statement. The scholars point out that Jesus isn't simply referencing an Old Testament book. Instead, He identifies Himself with divine wisdom.
Why would God send more prophets and apostles if He knew they'd be rejected and killed? Explore the purpose behind this divine strategy.
This verse reveals a tragic, yet purposeful, pattern in God's interaction with humanity, particularly with the leaders of Israel.
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Understand the original words
sophia tou Theou · Greek Noun
A divine attribute personified in Jewish literature, often associated with God’s plan of salvation and His active intervention in history. In the New Testament, it is often identified with the person and work of Christ.
apostolos · Greek Noun
A messenger or "sent one," specifically referring to those commissioned by Jesus to carry the message of the Gospel with His authority.
haima · Greek Noun
The vital life-force of a living being; in a legal or covenantal context, it often represents the guilt of murder or the consequences of violent death that cries out for justice before God.
katabolē tou kosmou · Greek Noun
The beginning of the created order or the establishment of the world by God. It marks the chronological starting point for God's redemptive history on earth.
genea · Greek Noun
A specific group of people living at the same time, often used in Scripture to describe a collective moral character or a specific historical period experiencing divine judgment due to its rejection of God’s messengers.
This verse highlights a recurring pattern in salvation history: God consistently sends His messengers, yet humanity's resistance to divine wisdom often leads to their persecution. Jesus, embodying God's wisdom, foresaw this pattern extending even to His apostles, underscoring the deep-seated opposition to God's will throughout history.
c. 9th-5th century BC
Prophetic Ministry in Israel and Judah
During this era, prophets like Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others were sent by God to warn the people of Israel and Judah, call them back to faithfulness, and announce coming judgment. Many faced severe opposition, rejection, and persecution from both religious and political leaders.
c. 4th-1st century BC
Intertestamental Period
Following the return from Babylonian exile, the Jewish people experienced periods of foreign rule and internal religious struggle. While the prophetic voice diminished, the tradition of God sending messengers continued to be valued, though often misunderstood.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus, identified as the Wisdom of God, actively taught, healed, and confronted the religious establishment. His ministry was marked by growing opposition from the Pharisees and Sadducees, foreshadowing the rejection of His messengers.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Despite His demonstrations of divine authority and love, Jesus was ultimately arrested, tried, and crucified by the Jewish leadership and Roman authorities. His resurrection marked a pivotal moment, validating His claims and sending His followers out.
c. AD 30-60s
Early Church Apostolic Mission
Following Jesus' ascension, the apostles and early prophets, empowered by the Holy Spirit, spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. They faced significant persecution, imprisonment, and martyrdom from both Jewish authorities and Roman rulers.
This passage directly parallels Luke 11:49, presenting Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees and highlighting God's sending of prophets and apostles throughout history, many of whom would face persecution.
Luke 13:34-35Jesus laments over Jerusalem, which 'kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it.' This emphasizes Jerusalem's consistent rejection of God's messengers, a theme directly addressed in Luke 11:49.
Acts 7:52Stephen directly accuses the Jewish leaders of being betrayers and murderers of the Righteous One and of the prophets, echoing the sentiment that God's messengers have continually faced opposition from the very people they were sent to save.
2 Chronicles 24:20-22This Old Testament account details the stoning of Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, in the temple court for prophesying against the people's disobedience, serving as a historical example of the violent rejection of God's prophets.
1 Corinthians 1:30This verse speaks of Christ Jesus as 'made wisdom from God,' connecting to the phrase 'the Wisdom of God' in Luke 11:49 and highlighting Jesus as the ultimate divine messenger sent to humanity.
barnesLuke 11:49: "Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:"
The wisdom of God - By the "wisdom of God," here, is undoubtedly meant the Saviour himself. What he immediately says is not written in the Old Testament. Jesus is called "the word of God" John 1:1 , because he is the medium by which God "speaks" or makes his will known. He is called "the wisdom of God," because by him God makes his wisdom known in creation…
calvinLuke 11:47-51: "Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them."
- Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you build the sepulchers of the prophets and embellish the monuments of the righteous, 30. And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their associates in the blood of the prophets. 31. Thus you testify against yourselves, that you are the children of those who killed the prophets. 32. Do you also fill up t…
This verse reveals a subtle but profound shift in terminology: Jesus, speaking as "the Wisdom of God," refers to future messengers as both "prophets" and "apostles." This isn't just about titles; it highlights how God's ongoing mission expands to include a new kind of emissary, those directly commissioned by Christ himself, marking a transition from Old Covenant prophecy to New Covenant apostleship.
Jesus is in the midst of a harsh critique of the Pharisees and religious leaders, condemning their hypocrisy and the way they honor past prophets while rejecting God's messengers. He declares that because of their continued rejection and persecution of God's servants, the guilt for all the righteous blood shed throughout history will fall upon this generation. Jesus then declares that "the Wisdom of God" (referring to Himself) will send them further prophets and apostles, knowing full well that many will be killed or persecuted, thus fulfilling the pattern of their ancestors.
Jesus is in the midst of a harsh critique of the Pharisees and religious leaders, condemning their hypocrisy and the way they honor past prophets while rejecting God's messengers. He declares that because of their continued rejection and persecution of God's servants, the guilt for all the righteous blood shed throughout history will fall upon this generation. Jesus then declares that "the Wisdom of God" (referring to Himself) will send them further prophets and apostles, knowing full well that many will be killed or persecuted, thus fulfilling the pattern of their ancestors.
"Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generatio…" — This verse reveals a subtle but profound shift in terminology: Jesus, speaking as "the Wisdom of God," refers to future messengers as both "prophets" and "apostles." This isn't just about titles; it…
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Last reviewed October 2026
