What does Luke 11:51 mean?

Explanation

Luke 11:51 is a verse from the Bible spoken by Jesus as part of a lamentation or pronouncement of judgment against the religious leaders of the time, specifically the scribes and Pharisees.

The reference to "the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias" represents the innocent blood shed from the beginning of humanity to the present day (in the context of the text).

Abel was the first victim of murder recorded in the Bible, slain by his brother Cain, while Zacharias (Zechariah) was one of the last prophets traditionally believed to have been murdered as recorded in the chronology of the Hebrew Bible.

The altar and the temple were considered sacred places, and the mention of bloodshed there underscores the severity of the sin and the rebellion against God’s laws.

The phrase "It shall be required of this generation" suggests that there is a collective responsibility and that the generation of Jesus' contemporaries would face consequences for the continued pattern of rejecting and persecuting the messengers of God.

Historical Context

Luke 11:51 was written in a time when Israel was under Roman occupation, and there was significant tension between the Jewish people and their occupiers, as well as among different Jewish sects.

The gospel of Luke was written to a primarily Greek-speaking audience, projected to be in the late first century AD.

This verse falls within a section where Jesus is admonishing the Pharisees and scribes for their hypocrisy and their neglect of justice and love of God.

Historically, these professions of faith leaders were respected for their knowledge, but Jesus condemned them for not practicing what they preached.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse is significant in several respects.

Firstly, it indicates a belief in collective or generational accountability before God.

Secondly, it highlights the continuity of God’s message through the prophets and the consistent rejection of that message by the people.

Thirdly, it views Jesus as the culmination of prophetic tradition, whose rejection would bring dire consequences.

For Christian theologians, this also serves as a testament to the belief in Jesus as the prophesied Messiah and the injustices he faced as part of a historical pattern of resistance to divine messages.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Luke 11:51 can be a call for self-examination and collective responsibility.

It urges individuals to consider the consequences of their actions that contribute to societal injustices.

The idea of "this generation" can be used to provoke thought on how current societies receive or reject prophetic (or moral and ethical) messages and to inspire action towards societal reform and repentance from communal sins.

Cross-References

• Matthew 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 Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar."
• Genesis 4:8: "And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him."
• 2 Chronicles 24:20-21: "And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.

And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words of this verse include "αἷμα" (haima), meaning “blood,” which holds the connotation of life force and also violence in the context of murder. "Ζαχαρίου" (Zachariou) refers to "Zacharias" or "Zechariah," but scholars debate which Zechariah it refers to; if it is the son of Jehoida, as in 2 Chronicles, or another prophet.

Finally, the phrase "ἐκζητηθήσεται" (ekzetēthēsetai) translates as "it shall be required," which implies a demand or a seeking out with the intent of holding accountable.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Within the cultural and religious context of the time, the blood of martyrs was a strong symbol of injustice and a call for divine retribution.

In other ancient myths, there are often themes of the blood of innocents crying out for vengeance, such as the blood of the murdered Egyptian Osiris seeking justice.

Comparing this with other religious traditions, one might find parallels in the concept of karma in Hinduism and Buddhism, where actions in one life influence the fate in the next.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives might not directly apply to this verse, as it is primarily a theological and moral statement rather than a claim about the natural world.

However, modern psychology and sociology could provide insight into the concepts of collective behavior and generational responsibility, how societies perpetuate patterns of behavior, the psychological underpinnings of scapegoating, and the social consequences of allowing injustices to continue unaddressed.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentaries offer insights on this verse.

For instance, the Pulpit Commentary emphasizes the gravity of the charge against the generation that rejects God’s messengers, suggesting that it accumulates the guilt of all previous rejections.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary reflects on the notion that the murder of God's prophets and servants is a grievous sin that tends to bring public judgment.

Other Scholars like Adam Clarke and John Gill discuss the particular identity of Zechariah and the solemnity of shedding blood in the temple precincts, underscoring the heinousness of the crime.