Matthew 23:30
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.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 20
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
λέγετε
say
G3004
λέγετε
say
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
2 of 20
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
ταῖς
G3588
ταῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἡμέραις
the days
G2250
ἡμέραις
the days
Strong's:
G2250
Word #:
7 of 20
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πατέρων
fathers
G3962
πατέρων
fathers
Strong's:
G3962
Word #:
9 of 20
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
αὐτῶν
with them
G846
αὐτῶν
with them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
15 of 20
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
17 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αἵματι
the blood
G129
αἵματι
the blood
Strong's:
G129
Word #:
18 of 20
blood, literally (of men or animals), figuratively (the juice of grapes) or specially (the atoning blood of christ); by implication, bloodshed, also k
Historical Context
Jewish tradition recorded numerous prophetic martyrdoms: Isaiah under Manasseh, Urijah under Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 26:20-23), Zechariah under Joash (2 Chronicles 24:20-22). Pharisaic theology emphasized their faithfulness to Torah over apostate ancestors. They saw themselves as Torah's guardians, protecting Israel from past errors. But Jesus exposes this as self-deception—they were about to commit the ultimate prophet-murder: killing God's Son (Matthew 21:33-39).
Questions for Reflection
- What past Christian failures do you condemn while remaining blind to analogous sins in your own life or generation?
- How does confidence that "we would never do that" actually increase vulnerability to committing those very sins?
- In what ways does judging past generations create self-righteous blindness to present compromises?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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 Pharisees' self-assessment reveals dangerous delusion. They imagined themselves morally superior to their prophet-killing ancestors, incapable of such wickedness. Koinōnoi (partakers) means "partners, sharers, participants." They denied they would participate in prophetic bloodshed.
But within days they would crucify the Prophet of prophets, the Messiah Himself. Their imagined moral superiority became evidence of moral blindness. Those most confident they would never commit ancestor's sins are most vulnerable to repeating them—spiritual pride blinds us to our own capacity for evil. Every generation imagines itself more enlightened than previous ones while often committing analogous or worse sins.