Luke 11:51

51 from the blood of ¹Abel to the blood of ²Zechariah, who perished between ³the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be ⁴required of this generation.

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 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,'

50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation,

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

52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering."

53 As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things,

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 4:4, 8; Hebrews 11:4; 1 John 3:12
• 2. 2 Chronicles 24:20, 21
• 3. Exodus 40:6; 2 Kings 16:14; Ezekiel 40:47
• 4. [See ver. 50 above]