Luke 11:51
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus is drawing a direct line from the very first martyr, Abel, all the way to the prophet Zechariah, killed in the Temple courtyard. This isn't just about historical examples; it's to show that this specific generation will be held accountable for the entire, unbroken chain of violence against God's messengers.
Jesus is delivering a scathing indictment against the religious leaders, the Pharisees and scribes, condemning their hypocrisy. He contrasts their outward show of reverence for prophets with their own persecution of God's messengers, declaring that their generation will be held accountable for all the righteous blood shed from the very beginning of history. This climactic pronouncement leads directly into Jesus' lament over Jerusalem and the hardening of their hearts, just before the religious leaders begin plotting to trap him.
Jesus draws a stark line connecting the very first martyr to a tragic event in Israel's history. What's the significance of this sweeping indictment?
Jesus doesn't just mention random killings; he spans the entire history of God's people, from the earliest recorded murder to a recent, scandalous one within God's own house.
By linking these two, Jesus emphasizes that the rejection and killing of God's messengers isn't a new problem for this generation. It's a pattern, a stain that runs through their entire history, from its beginning to a place held most sacred.
Zechariah’s death happened 'between the altar and the temple.' Why is the location of his murder so damning?
The place where Zechariah was murdered – between the altar of sacrifice and the inner sanctuary of the temple – was the most sacred space in Israel. It was the heart of their worship and their connection to God.
For violence and murder to occur here, especially against a prophet who was speaking God's truth, was an ultimate act of rebellion. It showed a complete disregard for God Himself, polluting the very ground He claimed as His own. This wasn't just a crime; it was a sacrilege that screamed against heaven.
Understand the original words
haima · Greek Noun
The vital fluid of a living being; in Scripture, it is often associated with the life-principle, life itself, or violent death resulting in murder or sacrifice.
thysiastērion · Greek Noun
A place of sacrifice where the people approach God through the offering of animals; it signifies atonement, consecration, and the holiness of God.
naos · Greek Noun
The inner, sacred part of the temple where God's presence dwelt; it represents the dwelling place of God and the holiness required for those who approach Him.
genea · Greek Noun
A specific group of people existing at a particular point in time, often used in judgment to denote a collective moral state or shared responsibility for rejecting God's messengers.
Jesus frames the coming judgment not as a new event, but as the culmination of a long, unbroken history of violence against God's messengers, stretching from the very beginning of human history to his own time. He highlights the murders of Abel and Zechariah as bookends to this tragic legacy, emphasizing that the current generation will be held accountable for perpetuating this pattern.
~3000 BC
Murder of Abel
Cain murders his brother Abel, marking the first recorded shedding of innocent blood. This event is referenced as the starting point of human violence.
c. 830 BC
Murder of Zechariah son of Jehoiada
Zechariah, a priest and prophet, is stoned to death in the temple courtyard for rebuking the people and king for their disobedience to God. This event is recorded in 2 Chronicles 24.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Confrontations
Jesus engages in public ministry, confronting the religious leaders. He delivers strong rebukes and warnings, culminating in this declaration about the ongoing cycle of persecution and divine judgment.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman army destroys Jerusalem and the Second Temple, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy and God's judgment against the generation that rejected Him and persecuted His messengers.
This passage describes the very first murder recorded in the Bible, where Cain kills his brother Abel, setting the precedent for the shedding of innocent blood that Jesus is referencing.
2 Chronicles 24:20-22This is the likely historical event Jesus is alluding to, detailing the stoning of Zechariah, a prophet of God, by order of King Joash within the temple courts, between the altar and the sanctuary.
Matthew 23:35This parallel passage in Matthew recounts the same statement by Jesus, explicitly naming Zechariah as the son of Barachiah and providing further context on the hypocrisy of the religious leaders.
Hebrews 11:4This passage in the Hall of Faith highlights Abel's sacrifice as still speaking, even after his death, connecting to Jesus' emphasis on the enduring consequence of shedding righteous blood.
Luke 13:34-35Jesus' lament over Jerusalem immediately follows this statement, underscoring the city's consistent rejection and persecution of God's messengers, the very pattern Jesus is condemning by referencing Abel and Zechariah.
vincentLuke 11:51: "From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation."
The altar and the templeOἴκου, temple, lit., house, is equivalent to ναοῦ, sanctuary (Rev.), in Matthew 23:35. The altar is the altar of burnt-offering. See on Matthew 4:5; and compare 2 Chronicles 24:18-21.
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…
Jesus is drawing a direct line from the very first martyr, Abel, all the way to the prophet Zechariah, killed in the Temple courtyard. This isn't just about historical examples; it's to show that this specific generation will be held accountable for the entire, unbroken chain of violence against God's messengers.
Jesus is delivering a scathing indictment against the religious leaders, the Pharisees and scribes, condemning their hypocrisy. He contrasts their outward show of reverence for prophets with their own persecution of God's messengers, declaring that their generation will be held accountable for all the righteous blood shed from the very beginning of history. This climactic pronouncement leads directly into Jesus' lament over Jerusalem and the hardening of their hearts, just before the religious leaders begin plotting to trap him.
Jesus is delivering a scathing indictment against the religious leaders, the Pharisees and scribes, condemning their hypocrisy. He contrasts their outward show of reverence for prophets with their own persecution of God's messengers, declaring that their generation will be held accountable for all the righteous blood shed from the very beginning of history. This climactic pronouncement leads directly into Jesus' lament over Jerusalem and the hardening of their hearts, just before the religious leaders begin plotting to trap him.
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Jesus points to this long history of violence and declares, 'it will be required of this generation.' What does he mean by 'required'?
Jesus isn't just recounting history; he's issuing a grave warning. The repeated rejection and killing of prophets by previous generations means the cup of iniquity is overflowing for the current generation.
"from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation." — Jesus is drawing a direct line from the very first martyr, Abel, all the way to the prophet Zechariah, killed in the Temple courtyard. This isn't just about historical examples; it's to show that thi…
