Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ New Living Translation Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’ English Standard Version saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Berean Standard Bible And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Berean Literal Bible And you⁺ 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.’ King James Bible 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. New King James Version and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ New American Standard Bible and you say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ NASB 1995 and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ NASB 1977 and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Legacy Standard Bible and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Amplified Bible and you say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have joined them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Berean Annotated Bible And you⁺ say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers {paterōn}, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. Christian Standard Bible and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Holman Christian Standard Bible and you say, If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ American Standard Version 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. Contemporary English Version And you claim you would not have taken part with your ancestors in killing the prophets. English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation Then you say, 'If we had lived at the time of our ancestors, we would not have helped to murder the prophets.' Good News Translation and you claim that if you had lived during the time of your ancestors, you would not have done what they did and killed the prophets. International Standard Version Then you say, 'If we had been living in the days of our ancestors, we would have had no part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' NET Bible And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have participated with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' New Heart English Bible and say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.' Webster's Bible Translation 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. Weymouth New Testament and your boast is, "'If we had lived in the time of our forefathers, we should not have been implicated with them in the murder of the Prophets.' Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ World English Bible and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand 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. Berean Literal Bible And you⁺ 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.’ Young's Literal Translation 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. Smith's Literal Translation And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we had not been their partakers in the blood of the prophets, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd 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. Catholic Public Domain Version And then you say, ‘If we had been there in the days of our fathers, we would not have joined with them in the blood of the prophets.’ New American Bible and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ New Revised Standard Version and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd you say, If we had been living in the days of our forefathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And you say, 'If we had been in the days of our forefathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of The Prophets.' NT Translations Anderson New Testamentand 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. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament 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. Mace New Testament and say, if we had liv'd in the time of our forefathers, we would not have been accessory with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. Weymouth New Testament and your boast is, "'If we had lived in the time of our forefathers, we should not have been implicated with them in the murder of the Prophets.' Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Woes to Scribes and Pharisees…29Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. 30And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets.… Cross References And you say, Jeremiah 2:35 you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, Acts 7:51-52 You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. / Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— Jeremiah 7:25-26 From the day your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets again and again. / Yet they would not listen to Me or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and did more evil than their fathers. Zechariah 1:4 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Turn now from your evil ways and deeds.’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me, declares the LORD. we would not have been partners with them Ephesians 5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 1 Timothy 5:22 Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 2 John 1:11 Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds. in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Luke 11:50 As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world, Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! Jeremiah 26:20-23 Now there was another man prophesying in the name of the LORD, Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land the same things that Jeremiah did. / King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and officials heard his words, and the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah found out about it, he fled in fear and went to Egypt. / Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor along with some other men. … Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you. Luke 11:47-48 Woe to you! For you build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them. / So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— Hebrews 11:32-38 And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. … Treasury of Scripture 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. the blood. Matthew 23:34,35 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: … Matthew 21:35,36 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another… 2 Chronicles 36:15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: Jump to Previous Blood Boast Fathers Forefathers Murder Partakers Partners Prophets Shedding Time Wouldn'tJump to Next Blood Boast Fathers Forefathers Murder Partakers Partners Prophets Shedding Time Wouldn'tMatthew 23 1. Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples5. His disciples must beware of their ambition. 13. He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness, 34. and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem. And you say, This phrase introduces a direct quotation from the religious leaders of Jesus' time, highlighting their self-righteousness and presumption. It reflects a common human tendency to judge past generations while failing to recognize similar faults in oneself. This self-assured statement sets the stage for Jesus' critique of their hypocrisy. ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe speaker of this verse, addressing the scribes and Pharisees, highlighting their hypocrisy. 2. Scribes and Pharisees Jewish religious leaders who are being criticized by Jesus for their self-righteousness and hypocrisy. 3. Prophets Messengers of God in the Old Testament who were often persecuted and killed for delivering God's messages. 4. Fathers/Ancestors Refers to the previous generations of Israelites who rejected and killed the prophets. 5. Jerusalem The city where many prophets were sent and where Jesus is delivering this message. Teaching Points Hypocrisy and Self-DeceptionThe scribes and Pharisees believed they were different from their ancestors, yet they were guilty of the same sins. We must examine our own lives for hypocrisy and self-deception. Acknowledging Our Spiritual Heritage Recognize the sins of our spiritual ancestors and seek to learn from their mistakes rather than repeat them. True Repentance Genuine repentance involves a change of heart and actions, not just words. We must strive to live out our faith authentically. The Cost of Discipleship Following Christ may involve standing against cultural or religious norms, just as the prophets did. We must be prepared to face opposition for our faith. The Importance of Humility Pride blinds us to our own faults. We must approach God and others with humility, acknowledging our need for His grace. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Matthew 23:30?2. How does Matthew 23:30 reveal the hypocrisy of the Pharisees' self-righteousness? 3. In what ways can Christians avoid the Pharisees' attitude in Matthew 23:30? 4. How does Matthew 23:30 connect to Jesus' warnings about false righteousness? 5. What modern behaviors reflect the Pharisees' claim, "If we had lived"? 6. How can believers ensure their actions align with true biblical humility? 7. What does Matthew 23:30 reveal about hypocrisy in religious leaders? 8. How does Matthew 23:30 challenge our understanding of self-righteousness? 9. Why do people often repeat the mistakes of past generations, as suggested in Matthew 23:30? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 23? 11. (Matthew 23:9) How is 'call no man father' reconciled with traditions that use fatherly titles for clergy? 12. Why does Jesus tell people not to call anyone 'father' (Matthew 23:9), yet the Bible refers to Abraham as 'our father' (Romans 4:16)? 13. Who was Joseph's father? (Matthew 1:16 vs. Luke 3:23) 14. Who were Josiah's sons? What Does Matthew 23:30 Mean And you sayJesus is quoting the religious leaders’ own words, exposing the gap between what they profess and what they practice. Their declaration sounds pious, yet it is merely lip service. Just as Isaiah 29:13 warns of people who honor God with words while their hearts are far from Him, these men use speech to varnish over unbelief. Matthew 23:29 frames this: “Woe to you… you build tombs for the prophets…”— outward tribute masking inward hostility (Luke 11:47-48). ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, They imagine that distance in time would have produced different behavior, yet the same sinful nature runs through every generation (Romans 3:10-12). Their statement overlooks Israel’s recurring pattern: each era excuses itself while repeating the past (Judges 2:19). Stephen later drives this point home: “As your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51). we would not have been partners with them Here comes the self-flattering denial of guilt. But partnership is not avoided by words; it is proven by deeds (James 2:18). By plotting against Jesus, they demonstrate active complicity (John 11:53). Romans 2:1 reminds us that condemning others while practicing the same sins brings God’s judgment. Their claim also ignores Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things.” • They fail to see that honoring past prophets while rejecting Christ Himself makes them guilty of the very violence they renounce. • Their alliance with those planning Jesus’ death shows partnership in real time (Matthew 26:3-4). in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ This phrase sums up Israel’s tragic history of rejecting God’s messengers—Zechariah son of Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:20-22), Uriah (Jeremiah 26:20-23), and countless others “stoned” and “sawn in two” (Hebrews 11:36-38). Jesus will soon pronounce judgment over Jerusalem for this bloodshed (Matthew 23:37-38), culminating in His own crucifixion (Acts 2:23). By rejecting the ultimate Prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18; Acts 3:22-23), they heap up responsibility for every slain servant from Abel to Zechariah (Matthew 23:35). summary Matthew 23:30 exposes the self-deception of religious leaders who claim they would never have harmed God’s prophets, even while plotting to kill the greatest Prophet, Jesus Christ. Their words reveal hypocrisy, ignore the continuity of human sin, and confirm that denial of guilt cannot erase partnership in evil. True repentance is shown not by boasting about what we would have done in the past but by surrendering to God’s message in the present. (30) If we had been in the days . . .--There is no necessity for assuming that the Pharisees did not mean what they said. It was simply an instance of the unconscious hypocrisy of which every generation has more or less been guilty, when it has condemned the wrong-doing of the past--its bigotry, or luxury, or greed--and then has yielded to the same sins itself.Verse 30. - And say. They boasted that they were better than their fathers; they disavowed their crimes, and endeavoured, by honouring the prophets' graves, to deliver themselves from the guilt of those who persecuted them. Fair show, with no reality! They professed to venerate the dead, but would not receive the living; they reverenced Abraham and Moses, but were about to murder the Christ to whom patriarch and prophet bore witness. Commentators quote the old adage, herein exemplified, "Sit licet divus, dummodo non vivus." The only practical way of delivering themselves from the guilt of their forefathers was by hearkening to those who now preached the gospel of salvation - the very last thing which they were purposed to do.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Andκαὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. you say, λέγετε (legete) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ‘If Εἰ (Ei) Conjunction Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc. we had lived ἤμεθα (ēmetha) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle - 1st Person Plural Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. in ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. the ταῖς (tais) Article - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. days ἡμέραις (hēmerais) Noun - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. of our ἡμῶν (hēmōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. fathers, πατέρων (paterōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'. we would not have been ἤμεθα (ēmetha) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle - 1st Person Plural Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. partners κοινωνοὶ (koinōnoi) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 2844: A sharer, partner, companion. From koinos; a sharer, i.e. Associate. with them αὐτῶν (autōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. in [shedding] ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. the τῷ (tō) Article - Dative Neuter Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. blood αἵματι (haimati) Noun - Dative Neuter Singular Strong's 129: Blood, literally, figuratively or specially; by implication, bloodshed, also kindred. of the τῶν (tōn) Article - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. prophets.’ προφητῶν (prophētōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 4396: From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet. Links Matthew 23:30 NIVMatthew 23:30 NLT Matthew 23:30 ESV Matthew 23:30 NASB Matthew 23:30 KJV Matthew 23:30 BibleApps.com Matthew 23:30 Biblia Paralela Matthew 23:30 Chinese Bible Matthew 23:30 French Bible Matthew 23:30 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Matthew 23:30 And say 'If we had lived (Matt. Mat Mt) |
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