Devine Scripture

Matthew 23:30

What does Matthew 23:30 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 23:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 23:30 means

The scribes and Pharisees declared, "If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets." This statement expresses their self-righteous claim that they were morally superior to their ancestors who murdered God's messengers. However, Jesus will immediately expose this declaration as profoundly ironic and hypocritical, as their current persecution of Him and His disciples proves they share the same murderous spirit.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in the blood of the prophets.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And say: If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and ye say, If we had been in the days of our fathers we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

Context

This verse records the self-exalting and self-justifying declaration of the scribes and Pharisees, directly following Jesus' accusation regarding their building of prophets' tombs. Their claim of innocence and superiority to their fathers serves as a setup for Jesus' powerful refutation. This statement, intended to absolve themselves, instead provides Jesus with the perfect opportunity to reveal their deep complicity and ancestral guilt in the very next verse, tying them to the acts they outwardly condemn.

v.29Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the righteous,

v.30This passage

v.31Wherefore ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of them that slew the prophets.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 23:34

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

  • 2 Chronicles 36:15

    And Jehovah, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling-place:

  • Jeremiah 2:30

    In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

  • Matthew 21:35

    And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Matthew 23

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Matthew 23.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Matthew 23:30.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary