Luke 11:49

In Luke 11:49, Jesus continues His strong rebuke of the religious leaders of His day, particularly the scribes and Pharisees. This verse is part of a series of "woes" pronounced against them for their hypocrisy, legalism, and rejection of God's true messengers. It serves as a prophetic utterance, looking both backward at the history of Israel's rejection of prophets and forward to the persecution of Christ's own apostles and followers.

Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees for building tombs for the prophets their ancestors killed, yet inheriting the guilt of those actions. Jesus highlights their consistent pattern of rejecting and even murdering God's messengers. The phrase "Therefore also said the wisdom of God" is a significant introduction, indicating that Jesus is speaking with divine authority, identifying His words with the eternal plan and wisdom of God itself. Some scholars interpret this as Jesus personifying divine wisdom, while others see it as a reference to a consistent divine decree throughout history.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Sending and Human Rejection: The verse emphasizes God's persistent love and desire to communicate with humanity by sending "prophets and apostles." This highlights God's initiative in revelation. However, it starkly contrasts with humanity's consistent pattern of rejecting, persecuting, and even killing these messengers.
• Continuity of God's Messengers: "Prophets" generally refer to Old Testament figures who spoke God's word, while "apostles" refer to the special messengers sent by Jesus in the New Testament era. This shows a seamless thread of divine communication from the Old Covenant to the New, with Jesus himself being the ultimate Prophet and Apostle (Hebrews 3:1).
• Prophecy of Persecution: Jesus foretells the harsh reality that His followers, like the prophets before them, would face immense opposition. The phrase "some of them they shall slay and persecute" is a direct prophecy of the suffering, martyrdom, and rejection that the early church and subsequent believers would endure for proclaiming the Gospel. This echoes similar warnings Jesus gave elsewhere, such as in Matthew 23:34.
• God's Unchanging Character: Despite the rejection, God continues to send His messengers, demonstrating His enduring patience and commitment to drawing people to Himself.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the wisdom of God" (Greek: hē sophia tou theou) is profound. In Jewish thought, wisdom was often personified as an attribute of God, active in creation and revelation (Proverbs 8). Here, Jesus identifies Himself and His mission with this divine wisdom, suggesting that His words and actions are the ultimate expression of God's eternal plan. The term "apostles" (Greek: apostolous) literally means "those sent forth" or "envoys," emphasizing their divine commission and authority.

Practical Application

Luke 11:49 serves as a sober reminder that proclaiming God's truth often comes with a cost. For believers today, it highlights:

• The Cost of Discipleship: Following Christ and sharing His message may lead to opposition, misunderstanding, or even persecution, just as it did for the prophets and apostles. This verse prepares us for such eventualities.
• The Value of God's Word: The consistent sending of messengers underscores the immense value God places on communicating His truth to humanity. It encourages us to cherish and heed His word.
• Standing for Truth: Despite the potential for rejection, believers are called to boldly share the Gospel and live out their faith, trusting in God's ultimate vindication of His messengers.
• Historical Continuity: We are part of a long lineage of those who have faithfully proclaimed God's message, facing similar challenges and drawing strength from the same divine wisdom.