Luke 11:47

47 `Wo to you, because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

Luke 11:47 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 11:47

Woe unto you
Meaning particularly the lawyers or Scribes, together with the Pharisees, and even the whole body of the people, who in general were of the cast and complexion here described:

for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets;
(See Gill on Matthew 23:29)

and your fathers killed them;
the prophets; "or whom your fathers killed", as read the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions; the one put them to death, and the other erected stately monuments over them, or adorned them; and yet both had the same malignant spirit against the faithful servants and messengers of God; and which showed their great hypocrisy.

Luke 11:47 In-Context

45 And one of the lawyers answering, saith to him, `Teacher, these things saying, us also thou dost insult;'

46 and he said, `And to you, the lawyers, wo! because ye burden men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves with one of your fingers do not touch the burdens.

47 `Wo to you, because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

48 Then do ye testify, and are well pleased with the works of your fathers, because they indeed killed them, and ye do build their tombs;

49 because of this also the wisdom of God said: I will send to them prophets, and apostles, and some of them they shall kill and persecute,