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Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
Verse 47. Wo to you who build, and so forth Not that the building of the monuments of the prophets was in itself blameworthy, but only the intention of these unhappy men, who made use of this outward shew of religion and piety, as a means to carry on their wicked designs against the prince of prophets. Challoner.
So you testify and consent to the works of your fathers. For they killed them, and you build their tombs.
Verse 48. Build, and so forth See the notes Matthew 23:29. Witham.
Therefore also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles; and some of them they will kill and persecute,
Verse 49. The wisdom of God said. In S. Matt. it is, Behold I send to you prophets and wise men; and in this passage of Saint Luke, the wisdom of God saith, I will send, and so forth: thus is Christ truly the wisdom of the Almighty God. Saint Ambrose.
that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.’ Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.
Verse 51. Blood of Zacharias, and so forth This Zacharias was, according to some Zacharias the son of Joiada, whom the Jews slew between the temple and the altar. Theophylactus,—also S. Jerom, who moreover mentions that some editions had Zacharias, son of Joiada.—This generation. Not that this generation of the Jews should be punished for the crimes of others, but that having before their eyes the severe chastisements their ancestors had received, in punishment of their wickedness, they had not grown better, but had imitated their perversity. Saint John Chrysostom hom. lxxv in Matt.