Lukas 11:47

47 Woe to you, because you build the matsevot (tombstone monuments) for the Kivrei HaNeviim (the sepulchers of the Prophets), but it was your avot who killed them.

Lukas 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.

Lukas 11:47 In-Context

45 And, in reply, one of the Baalei Torah says to him, Rabbi, by saying these things you insult us also.

46 But Rebbe, Melech, HaMoshiach said, Also woe to you Baalei Torah, because you burden men with [halachic] loads difficult to carry, and you yourselves with so much as one of your fingers do not touch the loads [with a heter].

47 Woe to you, because you build the matsevot (tombstone monuments) for the Kivrei HaNeviim (the sepulchers of the Prophets), but it was your avot who killed them.

48 Therefore, you are edim (witnesses) and in agreement with the deeds of your avot, because they do the killing of nevi’im part and you do the providing of the matsevot part.

49 Therefore, also the Chochmah of Hashem said, I will send to them Nevi’im and Shlichim, some of whom they will kill and persecute, [Lk 20:9-19]