Alwaystrue: @Image123,
thanks for completing the expose. God bless you. Jesus words are truly the way...He is the Word that came in the Flesh, full of grace and truth. May our thoughts, our words and our actions continually reflect Jesus and yield the fruits He desires. Amen.

Amen, thanks.

@image123 and alwaystrue,

God bless you two. May God continually increase us all. Amen.

swtchicgurl: @image123 and alwaystrue,

God bless you two. May God continually increase us all. Amen.

Amen and amen.


A slight run through though, to 'formally' end the chapter .

Mat 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

These last few verses affirm to us again that Jesus was not just talking to a group of localised scribes and pharisees. He was actually speaking primarily to Israel, and secondarily(by extension) to every human being. We all have notes to take in the sense that the same things/fate will befall anyone who tows the same line. The majority of the leaders of Israel in Jesus' time were subtle. That is why He called them serpents and vipers. He was not using it as a hate word or borne out of anger to lash back at the jews. They were truly subtle/cunning. They covered their slyness with a religious garb. God hates hypocrisy in anyone, whether jewish or gentile. Also, Jesus spoke of the reality of hell. How can you escape the damnation of hell? It is possible to escape therefore. But we cannot remain in hypocrisy and expect to escape. He had earlier talked about a two fold child of hell(v15). This is indicative of the fact that there are different levels of hell and damnation in hell. It is unto every man
according to their work. Yes, sin is sin, and sin will get any person into hell/damnation, but just like sickness is sickness, there are some more dreadful than the other. No one should remain in sin, with the belief that God cannot punish them for the mere sin committed.

Mat 23:34 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:

Here is a prophetic statement. In other words, here is God speaking. He says He would send prophets and wise men and scribes to them(YOU). Who are they again? Certainly, not just the people hearing Jesus speak, not just the scribes and pharisees. He is talking to Israel as a whole. Israel has rejected the Saviour at this phase, as it were. He is then pronouncing judgement/woe on them. If anyone neglects and rejects the Saviour, similar fate awaits him/her.
So God is sending them scribes and wise men etc. And you know the story. They did kill some and persecute others. [s]The thought of scribes paying tithe lingers [/s]

Mat 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zechariah son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

There we have it, the RIGHTEOUS blood, RIGHTEOUS Abel. Some folks keep on living in unrighteousness, and quoting "There is none righteous, no not one", out of context. In the midst of all the evil and sin, we should dare to stand out in righteousness, God's righteousness. Unrighteous people have being persecuting and killing righteous people from Genesis to Malachi. Zechariah wrote the book of Zechariah BTW. Jesus says that this audience slew him? He is referring to Israel as a whole. The nation of Israel. Jesus pronounced judgement on that generation for denying the Saviour. They saw all the signs and wonders, than perhaps any other generation, but they rejected Jesus. Quite similar to the generation of Moses, that saw so many wonders, and yet could not enter IN because of unbelief. Many unbelievers ask for signs like they would believe if they saw them. For such, Jesus affirms that they will not truly believe if they do not believe the Bible. They have the Bible, let them hear it.

Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Mat 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

And here is the judgement in brief. Quite self explanatory i suppose.


i still await tangible discussions emanating from the chapter. Preferably as a whole, and not just the fixated devotion to verse 23. Blessings.