Luke 11:50

That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

That {G2443} the blood {G129} of all {G3956} the prophets {G4396}, which {G3588} was shed {G1632} from {G575} the foundation {G2602} of the world {G2889}, may be required {G1567} of {G575} this {G5026} generation {G1074};

so that on this generation will fall the responsibility for all the prophets’ blood that has been shed since the world was established,

As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,

that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

Luke 11:50 presents a stark and weighty declaration from Jesus, delivered as part of His series of "woes" against the religious leaders of His time. This verse underscores the profound spiritual accountability that would befall the generation that rejected Him, holding them responsible for the cumulative sins of their forefathers who persecuted and killed God's prophets throughout history.

Context

This verse is found within a section of Luke's Gospel (Luke 11:37-54) where Jesus powerfully condemns the hypocrisy and spiritual blindness of the Pharisees and lawyers (scribes). They meticulously observed outward religious rituals but neglected justice and the love of God. Jesus points out their pattern of honoring dead prophets by building their tombs, yet inheriting the guilt of their ancestors who actually killed those prophets. The "blood of all the prophets" refers to a long, tragic history of God sending His messengers to Israel, only for them to be rejected, scorned, and often martyred. The phrase "from the foundation of the world" highlights the continuous nature of this rebellion, starting from the earliest days of human history, as clarified by the very next verse which names Abel as the first righteous one whose blood was shed.

Key Themes

  • Cumulative Guilt and Accountability: Jesus declares that the current generation, by continuing the pattern of rejecting God's divine messengers and culminating in the rejection of the Son of God Himself, would bear the full weight of all the innocent blood shed throughout history. This is not about inherited personal sin, but about a generation reaching the pinnacle of historical rebellion against God's truth.
  • Divine Justice and Judgment: The phrase "may be required of this generation" signifies a divine reckoning. God's patience has limits, and there is a definite point of judgment for persistent and escalating rebellion against His truth and His appointed spokesmen. This highlights God's unwavering commitment to justice.
  • Rejection of God's Messengers: A recurring theme in biblical history is Israel's tendency to reject and persecute the prophets God sent to call them to repentance. This culminated in the ultimate rejection of Jesus, the greatest Prophet. This pattern is vividly detailed in Jesus' lament over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Greek word for "required" is ekzētēthē (ἐκζητηθῇ), which means to be "sought out," "demanded," or "exacted." It conveys the strong sense of a debt that must be paid or an account that must be settled. It implies a thorough investigation and a just consequence.
  • "Generation" (genea - γενεά) refers not just to a specific time period, but also to a spiritual lineage or disposition. This generation embodied the full measure of their ancestors' rebellious spirit, bringing them to a point of no return in their rejection of God's ultimate revelation in Christ.

Practical Application

Luke 11:50 serves as a powerful warning for all generations. It teaches us several crucial lessons:

  • The Seriousness of Rejecting Truth: This verse underscores the grave consequences of ignoring, twisting, or actively opposing divine revelation, especially when it comes through God's anointed messengers. Our response to God's word is paramount.
  • Accountability for Our Choices: While we are not held personally responsible for the sins of past generations, we are accountable for our own response to the truth and light we receive. We inherit a spiritual legacy, but our choices determine our destiny.
  • Danger of Religious Hypocrisy: The condemnation of the Pharisees and lawyers highlights the peril of outward religiosity that lacks genuine inner transformation and submission to God's will. True faith is demonstrated by accepting and living by God's truth, not merely by tradition or external observances.
  • God's Unwavering Justice: Ultimately, God sees all injustice and the rejection of His truth. This verse reassures us that there will be a day of reckoning where all things will be made right, and accountability will be exacted.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Revelation 18:20

    Rejoice over her, [thou] heaven, and [ye] holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

  • Revelation 18:24

    And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

  • Genesis 9:5

    And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.

  • Genesis 9:6

    Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

  • 2 Kings 24:4

    And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.

  • Exodus 20:5

    Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;

  • Psalms 9:12

    When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

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