That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
So all the innocent blood that's been spilled on this earth will come back on you, from Abel, the first person murdered for doing right, all the way to Zacharias (Barachias's son), who you killed right there between the temple and the altar.
Every act of violence against innocent people creates a debt that eventually gets paid.
📚 Historical Context
In the historical context of the New Testament, Jesus is delivering a scathing rebuke to the scribes and Pharisees in Jerusalem, accusing them of hypocrisy and complicity in the persecution of God's prophets throughout Israel's history. He traces this pattern back to the murder of Abel by his brother Cain in the book of Genesis, the first instance of righteous blood being shed, and forward to Zechariah son of Jehoiada, who was stoned to death in the temple courtyard as described in 2 Chronicles. This reference underscores the continuity of Israel's rejection of divine messengers, with Jesus warning that the current generation would face judgment for these cumulative sins.
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