Luke 11:51

51 from the blood of Abel ^[a] to the blood of Zechariah, ^[b] who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. "Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible. ^[c]

Luke 11:51 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 11:51

From the blood of Abel
"Righteous Abel", as in ( Matthew 23:35 ) and so read the Arabic version here, and two manuscripts in the Bodleian library, and three of Stephens's copies; the Persic version renders it, "innocent Abel": he is mentioned because he was the first man that was slain, and he was slain because of his righteousness.

Unto the blood of Zacharias;
in the Cambridge copy of Beza's, it is added, "the son of Barachias", as in ( Matthew 23:35 ) and so the Arabic version, "the son of Barasciah"; who he was, (See Gill on Matthew 23:35)

which perished between the altar and the temple;
or "the house", that is, the holy place: and the Ethiopic version renders it, "the holy house"; here he died, being slain by the Jews; see the note, as before.

Verily I say unto you, it shall be required of this generation;
as it was at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem.

Luke 11:51 In-Context

49 Because of this, the wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,'

50 so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world -

51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. "Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.

52 "Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge! You didn't go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were going in."

53 When He left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose Him fiercely and to cross-examine Him about many things;

Footnotes

• [a]. Gn 4:9-10; Heb 12:24
• [b]. 2 Ch 24:20-22
• [c]. Lit you, it will be required of this generation