Matthew 23:32

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Matthew 23

Matthew 23:32

32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!

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Matthew 23:32 in Other Translations

KJV

32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

ESV

32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers.

NLT

32 Go ahead and finish what your ancestors started.

MSG

32 and daily add to the death count.

CSB

32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' sins!

Matthew 23:32 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 23:32

Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
] Of their sins; for there were bounds and limits set how far they should proceed, and no further; as yet they had not got to the end of their iniquity: their fathers had gone great lengths in sin, but their iniquity was not yet full, as is said of the Amorites, ( Genesis 15:16 ) these their sons were to fill it up. They had shed the blood of many of the prophets; and indeed there were none of them but they had persecuted and abused, in one shape or another: some they entreated shamefully, others they beat: some they stoned, and others they put to death with the sword, or otherwise; and now their children were about to fill the measure brimful, by crucifying the Son of God, which they were at this time meditating and contriving; and by persecuting and slaying his apostles, and so would bring upon them the vengeance of God. The Jews well enough understood these words, which were spoken to them in an ironical way, and expressing what they were about, and what they would hereafter do, and what would be the issue and consequence of it: they have a saying ^F15, that

``the holy blessed God does not take vengeance on a man, (wtao almttv de) , "until his measure is filled up"; according to ( Job 20:22 ) .''

Which the Chaldee paraphrase renders,

``when his measure is filled up, then shall he take vengeance on him;''

and that this is Christ's sense, appears from what follows.

FOOTNOTES:

F15 T. Bab. Sota, fol. 9. 1.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Matthew 23:32 In-Context

30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’

31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.

32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!

33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.