“This generation will be held responsible!”

“This generation will be held responsible!”

 

 

 

 

“Therefore, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ so that the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world may be charged against this generation—from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible” (Luke 11:49–51).

 

 

 

(1)   As I meditated on today’s passage, Luke 11:49–51, I first looked into the Greek text. The phrase that immediately caught my attention was “διὰ τοῦτο” (dia touto) in verse 49.

 

(a)    In the Korean Bible it is translated as “therefore,” but a more literal rendering of the Greek would be “because of this” or “for this reason.” It functions as a conjunction that connects Jesus’ words in verses 47–48 (Internet).

 

(i)       In verses 47–48, Jesus pointed out that the religious leaders of His time built tombs for the prophets whom their ancestors had killed. Outwardly, they appeared to honor them, but in reality, they were agreeing with the evil deeds of their ancestors.  Thus, “διὰ τοῦτο” (“therefore”) indicates that because of their hypocrisy and rejection, the wisdom of God declares a message of judgment—sending prophets and apostles who will be persecuted, thereby holding that generation accountable (Internet).

          

·          In short, “διὰ τοῦτο” (“therefore”) in Luke 11:49 identifies the spiritual rejection and hypocrisy of the Jewish religious leaders as the cause, and connects it to God’s providential plan and the judgment that follows (Internet).

 

(2)   The second Greek phrase that drew my attention is “ἡ σοφία τοῦ Θεοῦ” (hē sophia tou Theou), translated in Korean as “the wisdom of God.”

 

(a)    Biblical scholars generally interpret this in two main ways (Internet):

 

                   (i)       First interpretation: Jesus Christ Himself

 

·        One of the most common interpretations is that “the wisdom of God” refers to Jesus Himself.

 

-        In Matthew 23:34, Jesus directly says, “I send you prophets…” whereas Luke records it as “the wisdom of God said,” implying that Jesus is the wisdom of God.

 

n  The Apostle Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 1:24, “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

 

(ii)    Second interpretation: A personified attribute of God

 

·        Another view sees this as a personification of God’s wisdom, describing it as if it were a living being.

 

-        In the Old Testament (e.g., Proverbs 8), “Wisdom” is portrayed as calling out in the streets and inviting people.  Similarly, this expression emphasizes that God, according to His wise plan, sent prophets.

 

n  It reflects God’s righteous wisdom—continuing to send messengers to save people despite their stubbornness, while also holding them accountable for their rejection (Internet).

 

(b)   What is the message that “the wisdom of God” speaks to us?

 

1.      The direct message of the biblical text (judgment and warning)

 

In today’s passage, Luke 11:49, “the wisdom of God” declares: “I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute.”

 

Unfailing love: Even though God knows that people will reject them, He continually sends “prophets and apostles.” This reveals God’s persistent effort to save humanity.

 

Exposure of human hardness: Yet people kill and persecute them. The wisdom of God clearly sees through and exposes the sinful nature of humanity.

 

Righteous accountability: In the end, it proclaims that this generation will be held responsible for all the righteous blood shed since the foundation of the world, calling for spiritual awakening.

 

2.      Spiritual lessons for us today (the voice of wisdom)

 

Through this passage, Christ—the wisdom of God—speaks these core messages to us:

 

“Look at the heart, not outward appearances”: Just as the lawyers (experts in the law) decorated the tombs of their ancestors and deceived themselves into thinking they were righteous, we are called to examine whether we are hiding behind religious formality.

 

“Receive the One who is sent”: Even today, God continually sends us messages through His Word, people, and circumstances. Wisdom is not rejecting that voice but receiving it now.

 

“Use the key of knowledge rightly”: We are told not to use biblical knowledge to judge or block others, but to use it as the “key” that allows both ourselves and others to enter the kingdom of God.

 

Summary: In short, the wisdom of God is telling us: “Stop your hypocrisy, listen to the voice of truth I am sending, and come to the path of life rather than judgment.”

 

(3)   The third Greek word: “Ἀποστελῶ” (apostellō, “I will send”).  The third Greek word that drew my attention is “Ἀποστελῶ” (apostellō) (“I will send”) in Luke 11:49. This is likely because it is the root of the word “apostle” (ἀπόστολος, apostolos).

 

(a)    This word goes beyond simply meaning “to send.” Its theological significance in this context includes:

 

1.      Sending with full authority

 

Etymological Meaning: *Apostellō* is used not merely to send an object, but primarily to dispatch an agent who has been entrusted with a specific purpose and full authority [from which the term *apostolos* (ἀπόστολος)—meaning "apostle"—is derived].

 

God’s sovereignty: The declaration “I will send” shows that God is the Lord of history. Even knowing people will reject them, He resolutely sends His messengers according to His plan of salvation.

 

2.      Future proclamation and historical continuity

 

Future tense: This statement points not only to Old Testament prophets but also to Jesus’ disciples (apostles) and future preachers of the gospel.

 

Foretelling persecution: By declaring in advance that those sent will be killed and persecuted, it shows that the suffering of the disciples is not outside God’s providence.

 

3.      The difference between “apostellō” and “pempō”

 

Although Greek has another word for “send,” “pempō” (πέμπω), the use of “apostellō” here is significant:

 

Pempō: Focuses on the act of sending or the movement of the one being sent.

Apostellō: Emphasizes the authority of the sender and the mission of the one sent.

 

Summary: “Apostellō” expresses God’s firm determination to send His authorized representatives into the world with a clear purpose.

 

(i)        Jeremiah 25:4 says: “The LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again, but you have not listened or paid attention.”  God continually (“again and again”) sends His servants to us, urging us: “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil deeds” (v. 5).

 

·        Even today, God persistently sends His servants—pastors and messengers—to speak to us: “Turn from your evil ways, correct your actions, and do not serve both God and money.”  Yet we often do not listen, pay attention, or obey God’s Word (cf. Jere. 35:14–15) (Internet).

 

(4)   Fourth, I became interested in the Greek phrase “ἀποκτενοῦσιν καὶ διώξουσιν” (apoktenousin kai diōxousin) — “they will kill and persecute” (Luke 11:49).

 

(a)    This Greek phrase declares, through two verbs, the tragic fate that those sent by God will face.  Its key meanings and grammatical features are as follows (Internet):

 

1.      Meaning of each word

 

“ἀποκτενοῦσιν” (apoktenousin): This is the future active form of apokteinō (ἀποκτείνω), meaning “to kill.” 

 

It does not refer to a natural death, but to being killed or murdered, foretelling that witnesses of the gospel will lose their lives.

 

“διώξουσιν” (diōxousin): This is the future active form of diōkō (διώκω), meaning “to pursue” or “to persecute.”

 

Like a hunter relentlessly chasing prey, it conveys the idea of persistently harassing and driving out those who proclaim the gospel.

2.      Emphasis of the future tense: “what will surely happen”

 

Both verbs are in the future tense. This is not a mere possibility, but expresses the historical inevitability foreseen by the wisdom of God.

 

When the wisdom of heaven (the gospel), which clashes with the values of the world, is proclaimed, the world will inevitably respond with resistance—persecution and even killing.

 

3.      The fate of “prophets” and “apostles”

 

Prophets of the past: They were already killed by their ancestors.

 

Apostles of the future: Jesus’ disciples will likewise be persecuted and killed.

 

Through these two verbs, Jesus declares that the history of persecution in the Old Testament will continue with the apostles in the New Testament.

 

Summary: This phrase firmly prophesies that those sent by God will not be welcomed by the world, but will instead walk a path of suffering—losing their lives (being killed) and being relentlessly pursued (persecuted) (Internet).

 

(5)   Fifth, I became interested in the phrase “ἵνα ἐκζητηθῇ τὸ αἷμα πάντων τῶν προφητῶν” (hina ekzētēthē to haima pantōn tōn prophētōn) — “so that the blood of all the prophets may be required (of this generation)” (Lk. 11:50).

 

(a)    This is a key statement declaring both the purpose of the persecution mentioned earlier and the solemn judgment that follows (Internet):

 

1.      Analysis of key words

 

“ἵνα” (hina): A conjunction meaning “so that” or “in order that.” Here it indicates that persecution leads to judgment as a necessary outcome.

 

“ἐκζητηθῇ” (ekzētēthē): An aorist passive subjunctive of ekzēteō (ἐκζητέω), meaning “to seek,” “to demand,” or “to require.”

 

In biblical usage, it carries the strong sense of “requiring blood,” or holding someone accountable for judgment.

 

“τὸ αἷμα (to haima): “The blood,” symbolizing the lives of those unjustly killed.

 

“πάντων τῶν προφητῶν” (pantōn tōn prophētōn): “Of all the prophets.”

 

2.      Core meaning of the phrase: “to require the blood”

 

This sentence means: “so that the blood of all the prophets may be required (from this generation).”

 

God’s justice: God never forgets the deaths of the righteous and will surely demand moral and legal accountability for their blood.

 

Historical reckoning: It is a fearful declaration that all the accumulated blood of the prophets since the foundation of the world will be charged to this generation (the religious leaders who reject Jesus).

 

3.      Why “this generation”?

 

The religious leaders of Jesus’ time pretended to condemn the sins of their ancestors (who killed the prophets), yet in reality they were plotting to kill Jesus—the Son of God—and His followers.  Thus, they were bringing those past evils to their climax. In this sense, they bear even greater responsibility than all previous generations combined.

 

Summary: This phrase expresses God’s firm determination to hold this generation accountable and to execute judgment for all the righteous blood shed throughout history (Internet).

 

(i)      Here, “this generation” (“τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης” — tēs geneas tautēs) refers not merely to people living at that time, but to a specific spiritual group. It can be understood in three aspects (Internet):

 

1.      Who it refers to: “The religious leaders who reject the gospel and their followers”

 

In context, this points to the Pharisees and the experts in the law who were disputing with Jesus.  Though entrusted with God’s Word, they rejected Jesus Christ—the very embodiment of that Word—and sought to kill Him.

 

2.      Why must they bear “all the blood”?

 

From God’s perspective, “this generation” represents the climax and completion of human sin:

 

Greatest privilege and rejection: They directly saw the Messiah foretold by all the prophets, yet rejected Him. Despite receiving greater light (truth), they chose greater darkness.

 

The culmination of a cycle of evil: Their ancestors killed the prophets; this generation killed the One whom the prophets foretold—Jesus Himself—thus committing the greatest possible sin and filling up the measure of all accumulated sin since creation.

 

3.      Historical fulfillment: “actual judgment”

 

This severe responsibility proclaimed in Scripture was realized in history.

 

About 40 years after Jesus’ prophecy (around AD 30), in AD 70, Jerusalem and its temple were completely destroyed by the Roman general Titus.  According to the Jewish historian Josephus, about 1.1 million Jews were killed in Jerusalem at that time.  This event is often interpreted as a historical fulfillment of the “accountability” Jesus warned about.

 

Conclusion: “This generation” witnessed the greatest wisdom of God—Jesus Himself—yet rejected Him most stubbornly.  Therefore, it bears the final responsibility for all the righteous blood shed throughout human history (Internet).

 

(6)   Sixth, I became interested in the statement: “from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary” (Lk. 11:51) [Greek: “ἀπὸ αἵματος Ἅβελ ἕως αἵματος Ζαχαρίου τοῦ ἀπολομένου μεταξὺ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου καὶ τοῦ οἴκου” (apo haimatos Abel heōs haimatos Zachariou tou apolomenou metaxu tou thysiastēriou kai tou oikou)].

 

(a)    Why did Jesus say, “from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah”?

 

(i)       “The expression ‘from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah’ mentioned by Jesus is a very precise phrase symbolizing the entire ‘history of martyrdom’ that runs through the Old Testament.

          

1.      Why specifically ‘Abel’ and ‘Zechariah’?

 

This is due to the arrangement of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) used by the Jews at that time.

 

  Abel (Genesis): The first martyr appearing in Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Bible (Gen. 4:8).

 

Zechariah (2 Chronicles): The last martyr appearing in 2 Chronicles, the final book of the Hebrew Bible (2 Chron. 24:20–22).

 

Meaning: “From Genesis to Chronicles”—that is, all the righteous deaths recorded throughout the entire Old Testament (similar to saying “from A to Z” today).

 

2.      The nature of Zechariah’s death (Lk. 11:51)

 

Jesus specifically said that Zechariah was “killed between the altar and the sanctuary.”

Zechariah rebuked the king and the people for their idolatry and was stoned to death in the temple court.

 

As he died, he cried out, “May the Lord see and avenge!”  Jesus declares that this cry would be answered, and that generation would be held responsible.

 

3.      The impact of this statement on the Jewish religious leaders

 

Repetition of history: They built tombs for the prophets killed by their ancestors and thought they were different. But Jesus warned them: “You too will kill and persecute the apostles, and your generation will pay for all the blood from Abel to Zechariah.”

 

Prophetic fulfillment: Soon after this statement, they killed Jesus, the Son of God, and later persecuted apostles such as Stephen and James.

 

Summary

This expression is a solemn message of judgment: “The sin of humanity, which has rejected and killed those sent by God from the beginning of creation until now, has reached its climax in your generation” (Internet).

 

(7)   Finally, seventh, I became interested in the Greek sentence: “ναί, λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐκζητηθήσεται ἀπὸ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης” (nai, legō hymin, ekzētēthēsetai apo tēs geneas tautēs) — “Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation” (Lk. 11:51).

 

(a)    This phrase functions like the final verdict concerning the blood of all the martyrs mentioned earlier. Its word meanings and theological weight are as follows (Internet):

 

1.      Analysis of key words and phrases

 

“ναί” (nai): “Yes,” “truly”

 

Not just a simple response, but a strong affirmation and confirmation—similar in weight to “Amen.”

 

“λέγω ὑμῖν” (legō hymin): “I say to you”

 

A formula Jesus uses when declaring something with divine authority, indicating this is God’s judgment, not human opinion.

 

“ἐκζητηθήσεται” (ekzētēthēsetai): “it will be required”

 

Future passive of ekzēteō (ἐκζητέω), carrying a legal sense of “to demand fully,” “to exact accountability.”

 

It implies that God will certainly pursue and exact the penalty from those responsible.

 

 “ἀπὸ τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης” (apo tēs geneas tautēs): “from this generation”

 

Specifies the exact group upon whom responsibility will be placed—the religious leaders and their generation who rejected Jesus.

 

2.      Core meaning of the phrase

 

Certainty of judgment (“nai, legō hymin”):

 

Jesus does not say “perhaps,” but firmly declares, “Yes, I tell you,” confirming that this judgment will not be avoided or revoked.

 

Demand for blood (“ekzētēthēsetai”):

 

In Scripture, the blood of the righteous cries out to God (like Abel’s). God hears and demands a life-for-life accounting, showing that His justice will surely be carried out.

 

Concentration of responsibility (“this generation”):

 

Why is all the accumulated blood required of this generation?  Because by killing Jesus—the final revelation of God—they “completed” the sins of their ancestors. Thus, the reckoning of all unbelief culminates in them.

 

3.      Summary

 

This phrase is a solemn declaration: “Truly I say to you, the legal responsibility and judgment for all the righteous blood shed since the foundation of the world will surely be executed upon this present generation” (Internet).

 

       (i)        An interesting point is that Jesus repeats the statement twice: “this generation will be held responsible” (v. 50) and again (v. 51).  This repetition is unusual in Scripture and signifies a powerful confirmation of judgment. The key meanings of this double emphasis are (Internet):

 

1.      Absolute certainty of judgment (double sealing)

 

In the Bible, repetition of an important declaration means it will “surely and soon come to pass” (like “truly, truly I say to you”).

 

Verse 50 presents the purpose (“so that…”).  Verse 51 presents the definitive future (“it will be required”).  Together, they confirm both the plan and the execution of judgment.

 

2.      The gravity of responsibility: “the culmination of human sin”

 

Why is “this generation” emphasized twice?

 

Completion of sin: The history of killing prophets, beginning with Abel, reaches its peak in this generation that rejects and seeks to kill Jesus Christ.

 

Final warning: Though God has been patient for a long time, this generation—having directly seen and rejected God’s wisdom (Jesus)—can no longer escape judgment.

 

3.      Legal declaration: “the demanding of blood”

 

The Greek word ekzēteō (ἐκζητέω) is a legal term meaning to pursue and exact a debt or blood price.

 

  First mention: the basis of judgment—all the prophets’ blood since creation.

 

Second mention: the execution—“I tell you, it will be required of this generation.”

 

It portrays God as both prosecutor and judge, bringing charges and issuing the final sentence.

 

4.      Historical fulfillment (AD 70)

 

About 40 years later, that very generation experienced devastating judgment when Jerusalem and the temple were completely destroyed.  Jesus’ “double emphasis” was thus a powerful warning and lament pointing ahead to that tragic history.

 

Summary

The repetition is a solemn and final warning: “The measure of your sins is now full; there is absolutely no escape from bearing the full responsibility accumulated since the beginning of creation” (Internet).