Prophets, Wise Men and Scribes - Matthew 23:34

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told the “scribes and Pharisees”, “fill you up then the measure of your fathers”, and then He called them, “You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?” In chapter twenty-three and verse thirty-four of his book Matthew shared how Jesus told the “scribes and Pharisees”, “I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes” where we read:

Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall you scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

The verse reads, “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify;” Matthew began with the word, “wherefore” which means “then, therefore, accordingly and consequently”, “behold” or “look, lo and see”, “I send unto you” which means “Jesus will discharge, dismiss and order to a particular place” “prophets” which refers to “ones who are moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman who solemnly declare to men what they have received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation”, “and wise men” or “and skilled, expert artificers”, “and scribes” which refers to “men learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreter and teacher”: “and some of them” or “and a number of the prophets, wise men and scribes” “you shall kill” which means “the scribes and Pharisees will destroy, extinguish, abolish, allow to perish and murder” “and crucify” or “fortify with driven stakes and palisade”. Matthew shared how Jesus said He would discharge “prophets, wise men and scribes” who would be “destroyed” by the “scribes and Pharisees”.

The verse continues, “and some of them shall you scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:” Matthew added the words, “and some of them” which means “and a number of the prophets, wise men and scribes” “shall you scourge” or “the scribes and Pharisees will flog” “in your synagogues” which means “within their houses of worship where men gather together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and exposition of the scriptures”, “and persecute them” or “and harass, put to flight, trouble and molest the prophets, wise men and scribes” “from city to city” which means “starting in one place of habitation to the next”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the “scribes and Pharisees” would beat the “prophets, wise men and scribes” whom He would send, and they would “harass” them in every “city” they went.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see the vicious behavior of these “religious leaders”. Though Jesus Himself will send “prophets, wise men and scribes” with His “gospel” so people might come into His Kingdom, there will be “religious leaders” who will attempt to destroy them and their ministry. People like these “scribes and Pharisees” are alive today, and regardless of the attempts to present the “gospel” of Jesus Christ to them, they reject it over and over again. God desires everyone to come to Him through His Son Jesus, and Jesus gave His life on the cross so they might be forgiven and come. Those who refuse this “good news” from God have not only rejected Him, but by their actions have attempted to “murder” His messengers. May all who read these words take heed.

Next time we see Matthew write how Jesus tells the “scribes and Pharisees”, “upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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