Matthew 23:31

KJV

Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

KJV (with Strong's)

Wherefore {G5620} ye be witnesses {G3140} unto yourselves {G1438}, that {G3754} ye are {G2075} the children {G5207} of them which killed {G5407} the prophets {G4396}.

Complete Jewish Bible

In this you testify against yourselves that you are worthy descendants of those who murdered the prophets.

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

Wherefore ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of them that slew the prophets.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Jesus delivers a searing indictment to the scribes and Pharisees, exposing their profound hypocrisy by asserting that their actions, particularly their outward veneration of deceased prophets, serve as self-incriminating evidence that they are the spiritual heirs of those who historically persecuted and murdered God's messengers. This declaration underscores their complicity in a long-standing pattern of rejecting divine truth, culminating in their opposition to Jesus Himself.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** [Matthew 23](/matthew/23 "Matthew 23 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees") is a pivotal chapter in Jesus's public ministry, representing His final and most comprehensive public denunciation of the religious leadership of His day. Preceding [verse 31](/matthew/23-31 "Matthew 23:31 - You are Witnesses to Yourselves"), Jesus has systematically exposed the Pharisees' hypocrisy, their love of honor, their burdening of others with legalistic demands, and their spiritual blindness (e.g., [Matthew 23:1-12](/matthew/23-1-12 "Matthew 23:1-12 - Hypocrisy of the Pharisees")). Specifically, [verses 29-30](/matthew/23-29-30 "Matthew 23:29-30 - Woe to You, Scribes and Pharisees") set the immediate stage for [verse 31](/matthew/23-31 "Matthew 23:31 - Self-Condemnation"), where Jesus condemns them for building and adorning the tombs of the prophets, while paradoxically claiming that if they had lived in their fathers' days, they would not have participated in shedding the prophets' blood. [Verse 31](/matthew/23-31 "Matthew 23:31 - Your Fathers Killed the Prophets") then delivers the crushing blow, turning their supposed piety into a confession of their true spiritual lineage. The subsequent verses (e.g., [Matthew 23:32-36](/matthew/23-32-36 "Matthew 23:32-36 - Judgment on Jerusalem")) escalate the condemnation, culminating in a prophecy of judgment upon Jerusalem for its continued rejection of God's messengers.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The scribes and Pharisees were the dominant religious and legal authorities in first-century Judaism, revered by the common people for their meticulous adherence to the Mosaic Law and oral traditions. They were the custodians of Jewish identity and practice, often seen as the spiritual descendants of the prophets and righteous figures of Israel's past. Building and decorating tombs of prophets was a common practice, intended to honor these revered figures and distance themselves from the actions of their ancestors who had persecuted them. This act was seen as a demonstration of their righteousness and respect for God's word. However, Jesus's critique exposes the profound disconnect between their outward displays of piety and their inward spiritual state. Culturally, the concept of "children of" extended beyond mere biological descent to denote a shared character, disposition, or spiritual affinity. Thus, to be called "children of them which killed the prophets" was not merely a statement of genealogy but a devastating accusation of spiritual continuity with those who opposed God.
* **Key Themes:** [Matthew 23](/matthew/23 "Matthew 23 - The Woes of Jesus") is saturated with several critical themes that [verse 31](/matthew/23-31 "Matthew 23:31 - The Legacy of Persecution") powerfully contributes to. Foremost is the theme of **Hypocrisy**, where Jesus relentlessly unmasks the religious leaders' outward show of piety as a facade for inner corruption and spiritual pride. Their actions in [Matthew 23:29-30](/matthew/23-29-30 "Matthew 23:29-30 - Building Tombs for Prophets") exemplify this, as they honor dead prophets while actively plotting against the living Prophet, Jesus. This leads to the theme of **Rejection of God's Messengers**, a recurring motif throughout Israel's history, from the prophets of the Old Testament (e.g., [Jeremiah 26:20-23](/jeremiah/26-20-23 "Jeremiah 26:20-23 - The Persecution of Uriah")) to the ultimate rejection of the Messiah Himself. [Verse 31](/matthew/23-31 "Matthew 23:31 - Spiritual Lineage") highlights their **Spiritual Lineage** not as physical descendants of Abraham, but as spiritual inheritors of those who resisted God's will and persecuted His servants. This concept of spiritual parentage is also seen in [John 8:44](/john/8-44 "John 8:44 - You are of Your Father the Devil"), where Jesus tells some Jews they are "of your father the devil." Finally, the verse contributes to the theme of **Divine Judgment**, as Jesus's woes serve as a pronouncement of impending judgment upon those who reject Him and God's truth.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **witnesses (Greek, _martyréō'_):** From G3140, meaning "to be a witness, i.e. testify (literally or figuratively)." In this context, it signifies that the Pharisees' own actions and words provide undeniable evidence against themselves. They are, in essence, self-incriminating, bearing testimony to their own spiritual alignment.
* **children (Greek, _huiós'_):** From G5207, meaning "a 'son' (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship." Here, "children" transcends mere biological descent to denote a profound spiritual and moral kinship, indicating that the Pharisees share the character, disposition, and actions of those who historically killed the prophets.
* **killed (Greek, _phoneúō'_):** From G5407, meaning "to be a murderer (of)." This word emphasizes the violent and abhorrent nature of the historical actions of their forefathers against God's messengers, and by extension, implicates the Pharisees in a similar murderous intent towards Jesus.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves,"**: Jesus asserts that the Pharisees, by their own conduct and pronouncements, are providing irrefutable evidence against their own claims of righteousness. Their actions, particularly their outward show of honoring dead prophets while inwardly rejecting God's present messenger (Jesus), serve as a powerful, ironic testimony to their true spiritual state. They are, in effect, condemning themselves by their own deeds.
* **"that ye are the children of them"**: This clause reveals the nature of the self-incrimination. The Pharisees' actions demonstrate a spiritual lineage, a shared character, and a continuity of disposition with their ancestors. This is not merely a statement of biological descent but a profound declaration of shared moral and spiritual identity. Despite their claims of being righteous descendants of Abraham, Jesus exposes their true spiritual fatherhood.
* **"which killed the prophets."**: This final phrase identifies the specific nature of their spiritual inheritance: a legacy of persecuting and murdering God's divinely sent messengers. This refers to a long and tragic history in Israel, where prophets like Elijah, Jeremiah, and Isaiah faced rejection, imprisonment, and death for speaking God's truth. Jesus implies that the Pharisees are not merely inheriting the bloodline, but the very spirit of rebellion and opposition to God's word that characterized their murderous ancestors.

#### Literary Devices
[Matthew 23:31](/matthew/23-31 "Matthew 23:31 - Literary Devices") is rich in literary devices that amplify Jesus's condemnation. **Irony** is paramount, as the Pharisees' very act of building tombs for the prophets, intended to demonstrate their piety and distance themselves from their ancestors' sins, is turned against them by Jesus as proof of their complicity. Their outward reverence for the dead prophets ironically confirms their spiritual alignment with those who killed them. The phrase "witnesses unto yourselves" is a form of **Self-Condemnation**, where their own actions become their accusers. This also borders on **Sarcasm** or **Rhetorical Questioning**, as Jesus uses their own self-professed righteousness to expose their deep-seated hypocrisy. The designation "children of them which killed the prophets" is a powerful use of **Metonymy** or **Metaphor**, where "children" signifies not just biological offspring but spiritual heirs, inheriting the character and disposition of their ancestors. This highlights a continuity of sin and rebellion against God's truth across generations.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[Matthew 23:31](/matthew/23-31 "Matthew 23:31 - Theological Connections") profoundly connects to the overarching biblical narrative of humanity's rebellion against God and the consistent rejection of His divine messengers. From the earliest prophets to Jesus Himself, God's loving overtures have often been met with resistance, persecution, and even death. This verse underscores the deep-seated human tendency to prefer self-righteousness and tradition over divine truth, a pattern seen throughout salvation history. It highlights the spiritual blindness that can accompany religious zeal when it is devoid of genuine humility and submission to God's will. Ultimately, it points to the radical nature of God's grace, which persists in sending messengers despite consistent rejection, culminating in the sending of His own Son.

* [Acts 7:51-53](/acts/7-51-53 "Acts 7:51-53 - Stephen's Accusation of Rejecting the Prophets")
* [Luke 11:47-48](/luke/11-47-48 "Luke 11:47-48 - Woe to You, for You Build the Tombs of the Prophets")
* [Hebrews 11:36-38](/hebrews/11-36-38 "Hebrews 11:36-38 - The Faith of the Persecuted Prophets")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Matthew 23:31](/matthew/23-31 "Matthew 23:31 - Reflection and Application") serves as a timeless mirror for self-examination, challenging us to look beyond outward religious observance to the true condition of our hearts. It warns against the subtle yet dangerous sin of hypocrisy, where we may outwardly honor God or past spiritual heroes while inwardly resisting His present truth or the contemporary work of His Spirit. Are we quick to critique the past failures of others while being blind to our own? Do we celebrate historical figures of faith but reject the inconvenient truths or challenging calls of God's word today? This verse calls us to genuine humility, a willingness to receive correction, and an openness to God's voice, regardless of the messenger. True faith is not merely about acknowledging the past, but about obeying God in the present, even when it demands costly repentance and a radical realignment of our lives with His will.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be prone to honoring past spiritual truths or figures while resisting current applications or challenges from God's Word?**
* **How do my actions and attitudes truly bear witness to my spiritual lineage? Am I a "child of God" in character and deed, or do I exhibit traits of resistance to divine truth?**
* **What are the "prophets" or "messengers" in my life today (e.g., Scripture, conscience, godly counsel, the Holy Spirit's conviction) that I might be subtly or overtly rejecting?**

### FAQ

**What does Jesus mean by "witnesses unto yourselves"?**

Answer: By "witnesses unto yourselves," Jesus means that the Pharisees' own actions and words provide undeniable evidence against their claims of righteousness. Their outward show of piety, specifically building and decorating the tombs of the prophets, paradoxically served as a confession of their true spiritual alignment. They were, in effect, self-incriminating. While they claimed to honor the prophets and distance themselves from their ancestors who killed them, their current opposition to Jesus, the ultimate Prophet, revealed that they shared the same rebellious spirit. Their deeds bore witness to their hypocrisy, proving that they were indeed the spiritual heirs of those who persecuted God's messengers. This concept of self-condemnation is a powerful rhetorical device used by Jesus to expose their inner corruption, as also seen in [Luke 19:22](/luke/19-22 "Luke 19:22 - You Knew That I Was a Stern Man").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Matthew 23:31](/matthew/23-31 "Matthew 23:31 - Christ-Centered Fulfillment") finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ Himself. The Pharisees' spiritual lineage of killing the prophets foreshadows their greatest act of rebellion: the rejection and crucifixion of the Son of God. Jesus is the culmination of all prophets, the very Word of God made flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "The Word Became Flesh")), yet He was met with the same, if not greater, hostility than those who came before Him. His death, orchestrated by the very religious leaders He condemns in this chapter, represents the pinnacle of humanity's rejection of God's divine messengers. However, in God's redemptive plan, this ultimate act of rebellion becomes the means of salvation. The blood of the prophets, and supremely the blood of Christ, shed by rebellious humanity, becomes the atoning sacrifice that cleanses us from all sin ([Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Without Shedding of Blood There Is No Forgiveness")). Jesus, the rejected Prophet, becomes the cornerstone ([Matthew 21:42](/matthew/21-42 "The Stone the Builders Rejected")) of a new covenant, offering forgiveness and life to all who, unlike the Pharisees, humbly receive Him as Lord and Savior ([John 1:12](/john/1-12 "Power to Become Children of God")). Thus, the pattern of prophetic martyrdom culminates in Christ's death, which paradoxically leads to His glorious resurrection and the establishment of God's kingdom, offering a path for humanity to escape the cycle of rebellion and enter into a true spiritual lineage as children of God ([Romans 8:14-17](/romans/8-14-17 "Children of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 7:51

¶ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers [did], so [do] ye.

Acts 7:52

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

1 Thessalonians 2:15

Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

1 Thessalonians 2:16

Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

Joshua 24:22

And Joshua said unto the people, Ye [are] witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, [We are] witnesses.

Job 15:5

For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

Job 15:6

Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.