Jesus always has such strong words for the Pharisees. It is
understandable that they didn’t like him, but what we don’t grasp is that Jesus
didn’t like them either. Let’s skim back through some of the history we have
studied to understand this. The Prophets were from the order of the Zedeks,
students of Melchizedek, who is also known as Shem. Shem and Eber had a school
in the city of Jebus which was in the region of their descendants inherited
land. We know that the Canaanites moved into that land even though they knew
they would be cursed for doing so. In the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
all three knew Shem and his school, and all participated in that school. After
the children of Jacob left Egypt and moved into the Promised Land, their tribes
surrounded Jebus. It was a neutral country, surrounded on all sides by the
tribes of Israel, but an independent and sovereign nation. Although the
Israelites and Jebusites were all technically related, they both stayed
independent of one another. This lasted until the time of David when David overtook
Jebus, but merged the Priests and Prophets of Jebus with service of the
tabernacle. Solomon did the same after he built the temple in
Jebus/Jerusalem/the City of David.
As time when on, the temple became defiled and the Prophets
left the region, moving to areas such as Carmel, what later became known as
Nazareth, the region of Jericho, and areas later known as Qumran. Eventually,
after the captivity and the building of the Nehemiah temple, the region changed
overlords from the Greeks to the Romans. When a high priest (who
was not of the lineage of Aaron) was instituted into the temple for political
reasons there was a falling away among the religious people. Those who left for
regions outside of Jerusalem remained in the order of the Prophets, becoming
known as the Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes/and the Damascus community. Those
who stayed in service to the temple became known as the Pharisees, Sadducees,
and scribes. Jesus and John the Baptist came from the order of the Nazarenes,
living in Egypt among the Therapeutaes, and schooling in the Essene community.
To those who stayed true to the order of Zedeks, the Essenes, Nazarenes, and
Therapeutaes; the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes were posers and impostors
who were leading the entire nation of Israel astray.
Now imagine the tension between Jesus, John, all the
Essenes, Nazarenes, Therapeutaes, and the people of the Damascus community
toward the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and the people who have been led
astray by them. Now imagine how frustrating this is to the Heavenly Father who
sent his Son to fulfill Isaiah 61, to rescue the sons of Jacob, while the
religious leaders continually stand in the way of the rescue. Once more,
imagine the ridiculousness of the Masorete’s who attempted to erase Jesus from
the Scripture, altering the prophecies of the Old Covenant and changing the
dates of events to attempt to make other individuals the Messiah. We have
always been taught a one sided hatred regarding Jesus, as in the Pharisees
hating Jesus. But there are many things God hates. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/10/recovery-of-sight-to-blind-isaiah-61.html
Proverbs 6:12 A foolish man and a transgressor goes in
ways that are not good. 13 And the same winks with the eye, and makes
a sign with his foot, and teaches with the beckonings of his fingers. 14 His perverse
heart devises evils: at all times such a one causes troubles to a
city. 15 Therefore his destruction shall come suddenly; overthrow and
irretrievable ruin.
16 For he rejoices in all things which God hates, and
he is ruined by reason of impurity of soul. 17 The eye of the
haughty, a tongue unjust, hands shedding the blood of the just; 18and a
heart devising evil thoughts, and feet hastening to do evil, —are hateful to
God. 19 An unjust witness kindles falsehoods, and brings on
quarrels between brethren. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Proverbs/index.htm
Prov 6:16G3754For G5463he
rejoices G3956in
all things G3739which G3404[3detests
G35881the G29622 lord];
G4937and he
is destroyed G1161 G1223because
of G167uncleanness
G5590of
soul --
17G3788[2eye
G51971an
insulting], G1100[2tongue
G941an
unjust], G5495hands G1632pouring
out G129[2blood
G13421righteous],
18G2532and G2588a
heart G5044.1contriving
G3053[2devices
G25561evil],
G2532and G4228feet G1986.1hurrying
G2554to do
evil.
19G1572[3kindles
G55714lying G31442witness
G941An
unjust], G2532and G1967.2brings
in addition G2920judicial cases
G303.1betweenG80brethren
Prov 6:16-19 These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven
are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one
overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that
shed innocent blood, [Ps 120:2,3.] 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts
and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who
breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his
brethren. AMP
If we compare the Septuagint to the NA27and the TR, we see
this Masoretic alteration. Verse 16 is a continuation of the previous verses 12
through 15. The foolish man and the transgressor rejoice in the things that God
detests and is destroyed or ruined because of the uncleanness or impurity of
their souls. The Pharisees became the embodiment of those things that God
hates. This is why Jesus was very harsh in his discourse toward the Pharisees
and Sadducees. Jesus was sent from his Father to rescue people from Hades.
Jesus called the Pharisees “the spawn of vipers”, and told them they could not
escape the penalty of hell. Jesus also says something else that is curious. He
says that the blood of the righteous, who were killed by their fathers, were
upon them. Let’s study Matthew 23.
Matthew 23:13G3759Woe G1473to you
G1122scribes
G2532and G*Pharisees,
G5273hypocrites,
G3754for G2719you
devour G3588the G3614houses
G3588of the
G5503widows,
G2532and G4392as an
excuse G3117[2long
G43361praying];
G1223on
account of G3778this G2983you
shall receive G4053more
extra G2917judgment.
The Pharisees stole the homes of widows, leaving them
homeless. The opposite was the case within the Essene/Nazarene/Therapeutae
communities, they took care of the old, the widows, and the orphans.
14G3759Woe G1473to you
G1122scribes
G2532and G*Pharisees,
G5273hypocrites,
G3754for G2808you
lock G3588the G932kingdom
G3588of the
G3772heavens
G1715before
G3588 G444men; G1473for
you G1063 G3756do not
G1525enter
in, G3761nor G3588the
ones G1525entering
G863do you
allow G1525to
enter.
The scribes and Pharisees were obscuring the way to God.
When people believed in Jesus, finding the way to the kingdom, the Pharisees
and Sadducees talked people out of believing in Jesus.
15G3759Woe G1473to you
G1122scribes
G2532and G*Pharisees,
G5273hypocrites,
G3754for G4013you
lead about G3588the G2281sea G2532and G3588the G3584dry land,
G4160to
make G1520one G4339convert,
G2532and G3752whenever
G1096he
becomes so, G4160you
make G1473him G5207a son G1067of Gehenna
-- G1362more
double G1473than
yourselves.
The scribes and Pharisees traveled all over the region to
find disciples or new converts, making them double the sons of hell that they
were. Meaning that they taught these new converts to behave worse than they
did. The comparison here is that the Essene school of learning did not make
people sons of hell, but sons of Heaven because they were teaching the same
things Shem, the son of Noah who is also known as Melchizedek, the King of the
Zedeks, taught. The Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes and the Damascus community educated
students in the things that were taught in the prophet schools, like Samuel’s
school, and Elijah and Elisha’s school. The Pharisees had no prophets.
16G3759Woe G1473to you
G3595[2guides
G51851blind],
G3588the
ones G3004saying,
G3739Who G302ever G3660should
swear by an oath G1722on G3588the G3485temple,
G3762it is
nothing; G1510.2.3 G3739but
who G1161 G302ever G3660should
swear by an oath G1722on G3588the G5557gold G3588of the
G3485temple,
G3784he
owes.
17G3474Morons
G2532and G5185blind;
G5100for
what G1063 G3173is
greater, G1510.2.3 G3588the G5557gold, G2228or G3588the G3485temple
G3588 G37sanctifying
G3588the G5557gold?
18G2532And saying,
G3739Who G1437ever G3660should
swear by an oath G1722on G3588the G2379altar,
G3762it is
nothing; G1510.2.3 G3739but
who G1161 G302ever G3660should
swear by an oath G1722by G3588the G1435gift offering
G3588 G1883upon G1473it, G3784he
owes.
19G3474Morons
G2532and G5185blind;
G5100for
which is G1063 G3173greater,
G3588theG1435gift offering,
G2228or G3588the G2379altar G3588 G37sanctifying
G3588the G1435gift offering ?
20G3588The
one G3767then G3660swearing
an oath G1722by G3588the G2379altar,
G3660swears
an oath G1722by G1473it, G2532and G1722by G3956all G3588the things
G1883upon G1473it.
21G2532And G3588the
one G3660swearing
an oath G1722by G3588the G3485temple,
G3660swears
an oath G1722by G1473it, G2532and G1722by G3588the
one G2730dwelling
in G1473it.
22G2532And G3588the
one G3660swearing
an oath G1722by G3588the G3772heaven,
G3660swears
an oath G1722by G3588the G2362throne
G3588 G2316of
God, G2532and G1722by G3588the
one G2521sitting
down G1883upon G1473it.
They were walking a thin line here as one was never to
swear an oath in the name of God (Lev 19:12), so instead they made up silly
rules. Jesus calls them “Morons”. They were trying to make up technicalities to
either enforce or get out of something they committed to. If we remember, the
entire point of Moses’ tabernacle was a tent of meeting. The temple was to be
the same, the place where the righteous could meet with Yahweh Elohim.
Unfortunately, there was so much defilement in the temple, for over three
hundred years the glory of the Lord departed the temple (Eze 10:18). To swear
an oath in any element of the temple, Jesus says, was still swearing by God. The
Essenes swore an oath to the covenant of Moses and endeavored to keep all the oaths
that they made. They believed it was a sin to renege on an oath.
23G3759Woe G1473to you
G1122scribes
G2532and G*Pharisees,
G5273hypocrites;
G3754for G586you
tithe G3588the G2238mint, G2532and G3588the G432dill, G2532and G3588the G2951cummin,
G2532and G863leave G3588the G926heavier
matters G3588of the
G3551law --G3588the G2920judgment,
G2532and G3588the G1656mercy,
G2532and G3588the G4102belief
-- G3778these G1163necessary
G4160to do,
G2548and
these G3361are
not G863allowed.
The Pharisees and scribes were good about tithing weeds.
They made sure they paid their tithe in weeds, but they did not like the remitting
judgment, mercy, and faith. Judgment and mercy are weighed and balanced, along
with forgiveness, meaning the measure one gives is the measure one will
receive. They did not want to discharge or remit (apheimi) judgment, mercy, or
faith, or in other words, they did not forgive or release people, or offer mercy
to people, or permit faith, especially faith in the Messiah. This is the
heavier part of the law, the part that they should have been faithful to
fulfill. Tithing weeds was not as important in Jesus’ mind as discharging
judgment, offering mercy, or permitting faith.
24G3595[2guides
G51851Blind],
G3588the
ones G1368straining
G3588the G2971gnat, G3588 G1161but G2574[2a
camel G26661swallowing
down].
What they were doing is magnifying the small unclean
things, and yet overlooking the large unclean things. No one wants to ingest
gnats, but they were ingesting a huge unclean thing in not discharging
judgment, offering mercy, or permitting faith.
25G3759Woe G1473to you
G1122scribes
G2532and G*Pharisees,
G5273hypocrites;
G3754for G2511you
cleanse G3588the G1855outside
G3588of the
G4221cup G2532and G3588the G3953dish, G2081but
inside G1161 G1073is
full G1537of G724seizure
G2532and G192intemperance.
26G*Blind
Pharisee, G5185 G2511cleanse
G4412first G3588the thing
G1787within
G3588the G4221cup G2532and G3588the G3953dish, G2443that G1096[2should
also become G2532 G3588 G16231their
outside] G1473 G2513clean.
Jesus uses this illustration of a cup and plate to show the
stupidity of what they were doing. The inside of the cup and dish are full of
rape, pillage, incontinence, and intemperance. Have a nice meal. It doesn’t matter
how we look on the outside, wide phylacteries and fancy borders on their
garments (verse 5) mean nothing since the heart is seething in filth.
27G3759Woe G1473to you
G1122scribes
G2532and G*Pharisees,
G5273hypocrites;
G3754for G3945you
are like G5028tombs G2867being
whitewashed, G3748ones
which G1855outside
G3303indeed
G5316appear
G5611beautiful,
G2081but
inside G1161 G1073are
full G3747of
bones G3498of the dead
G2532and G3956of all
G167uncleanness.
28G3779So G2532also G1473you G1855from
outside G3303indeed
G5316appear
G3588 G444to men
G1342as
righteous, G2081but
inside G1161 G3324you
are full G1510.2.5 G5272of
hypocrisy G2532and G458of
lawlessness.
This is the same idea, a nice clean tomb, freshly painted
doesn’t change the offensiveness on the inside. This is what Jesus started talking
to the multitudes and disciples about in the beginning of this chapter. Do what
Moses commanded and don’t do what the Pharisees and scribes do.
29G3759Woe G1473to you
G1122scribes
G2532and G*Pharisees,
G5273hypocrites;
G3754for G3618you
build G3588the G5028tombs G3588of the
G4396prophets,
G2532and G2885adorn G3588the G3419memorials
G3588of the
G1342righteous
ones,
30G2532and G3004you
say, G1487If G1510.7.4we
were G1722in G3588the G2250days G3588 G3962of our
fathers, G1473 G3756[2would
not be G302 G1510.7.41we] G2844their
partners G1473 G1722in G3588the G129blood G3588of the
G4396prophets.
31G5620So
that G3140you
witness G1438against
yourselves, G3754that G5207you
are sons G1510.2.5 G3588of the
ones G5407murdering
G3588the G4396prophets.
The Pharisees and scribes could look back and see that the
Prophets were correct in the things they prophesied. They probably made long
emotional speeches regarding how the Prophets warnings were not heeded, but if
they themselves lived in those days they would not have done what their fathers
had done, they would not have killed the Prophets. At first this seems simple,
the Pharisees and scribes are saying that their fathers were wrong; they killed
the Prophets, and now they are ruled by others just as the Prophets foretold. Their
speeches probably included tears and lamentations over their current state.
Maybe a repentance service ensued. It probably pulled the heartstrings of the
people. Everyone most likely had a good cry. The Pharisees seemed to be master
manipulators; but they made a small mistake and Jesus caught it.
If we remember our history, the true Prophets, Priests, and
followers of Yahweh were the Zedeks, and they were all persecuted by the people
who were not religious leaders of Yahweh. The religious leaders before the
captivity of both the northern and southern kingdoms were steeped in idolatry
and evil, they were not of the Zedeks of Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob, or the
Prophets. The Pharisees, by claiming they would not have done what their
fathers had done, were in reality saying they were not of the line of Prophets
or the Zedeks. Ooops. Had they been of the Prophets, they would have left
Jerusalem at the installation of Jonathan the Maccabee as high priest. They
would have become part of the Essenes, Nazarenes, Therapeutaes, or the Damascus
community. They would have followed the Holy Spirit who instructed people to
leave Jerusalem. What Jesus is doing is pointing out that they never were of
the true followers of Yahweh. They were of their fathers who were murderers of
the followers of Yahweh. Ouch.
The Messiah was not going to come out of the lineage of
murderers of the prophets. The Messiah was going to come out of the priestly
order of Melchizedek, Shem. The Messiah was going to be born to a virgin as
Isaiah prophesied, who lived among the order of the prophets, and Mary was a
Nazarene, of the order of the Zedeks. Joseph, Jesus’ step father, was also a
Nazarene. What the Pharisees and scribes did was attempt to erase history,
their own history, and re-write history. They were trying to say that they were
of the priestly lines and orders, but they were not. They were not of the true
priestly lines at all, they were all of the non-priestly lines. They were of
the line of evil murders that killed the messengers of Yahweh. They were trying
to make people forget history. They were trying to justify their position as
religious leaders and gain the sympathy of the people by agreeing that their
predicament being under Roman rule was due to their fathers not believing the
Prophets; and they claimed that they would not have been partners with their
fathers in killing the Prophets.
Yet they are just like their fathers, as they did scheme to
kill Jesus. They were never of the true line of Melchizedek, they were spawn of
the devil. Again, the religious leaders before the diaspora killed the
prophets, those were the religious leaders who practiced male and female
prostitution in the temple, abortion in the temple, the worship of stars,
planets, and the Cherubim in the temple, etc. This is who the Pharisees and
scribes accidently claimed were their fathers.
33G3789Serpents,
G1081offspring
G2191of
vipers, G4459how G5343should
you flee G575from G3588the G2920judgment
G3588 G1067of
Gehenna?
The point is that they can’t flee from the judgment of
Gehenna. They went further than this when they wanted Jesus killed. Jesus says
that because of this, to keep them from Gehenna, he is sending prophets, wise
men, and scribes, but they won’t heed them, they will kill them.
34G1223On
account of G3778this, G2400behold,
G1473I G649send G4314to G1473you G4396prophets
G2532and G4680wise
men G2532and G1122scribes;
G2532and G1537of G1473them G615you
shall kill G2532and G4717crucify,
G2532and G1537of G1473them G3146you
will whip G1722in G3588 G4864your
synagogues, G1473 G2532and G1377persecute
them G575from G4172city G1519to G4172city;
Jesus is sending prophets, wise men and scribes. Jesus is sending,
apostello, those who speak for God
and interpret His will, those who are skilled, learned, secretaries, and clerks,
but they will slay and impale them. We can see what happened in the following years
in the Book of Acts.
649 ἀποστέλλω apostellō ap-os-tel'-lo From G575 and G4724; set apart,
that is, (by implication) to send out (properly on
a mission) literally or figurativelyKJV Usage: put in, send (away, forth, out),
set [at liberty].
4396 LSJ Gloss: προφήτης one who speaks for a God and
interprets his will
Dodson: προφήτης a prophet, poet a prophet, poet; a person
gifted at expositing divine truth.
προφήτης prophētēs prof-ay'-tace From
a compound of G4253 and G5346;
a foreteller (“prophet”); by analogy an inspiredspeaker;
by extension a poetKJV Usage: prophet.
4680 LSJ Gloss: σοφός skilled in any handicraft
Dodson: σοφός wise wise, learned, cultivated, skilled,
clever.
σοφός sophos sof-os' Akin to σαφής saphēs (clear); wise (in a most general application) KJV Usage: wise.
1122 LSJ Gloss: γραμματεύς a secretary, clerk
Dodson: γραμματεύς a scribe, town-clerk, man of learning
(a) in Jerusalem, a scribe, one learned in the Jewish Law, a religious teacher,
(b) at Ephesus, the town-clerk, the secretary of the city, (c) a man of
learning generally.
γραμματεύς grammateus gram-mat-yooce' From G1121;
a writer, that is, (professionally) scribe or secretary
KJV Usage: scribe, town-clerk
615 LSJ Gloss: ἀποκτείνω to kill, slay
Dodson: ἀποκτείνω I put to death, kill I put to death,
kill; fig: I abolish.
ἀποκτείνω apokteinō ap-ok-ti'-no From G575 and κτείνω kteinō (to slay); to kill outright; figuratively to destroy KJV Usage: put to death, kill, slay.
4717 LSJ Gloss: σταυρόω to fence with pales, impalisade
Dodson: σταυρόω I crucify I fix to the cross, crucify; fig:
I destroy, mortify.
σταυρόω stauroō stow-ro'-o From G4716; to impale on the cross; figuratively to extinguish (subdue) passion or selfishness KJV Usage: crucify.
It almost seems as if the Pharisees and scribes were from
the lines of evil from the beginning, and infiltrated the children of Israel,
taking over the temple after the time of Solomon, and then their heirs came
back to Jerusalem after the diaspora to birth evil once again in Jerusalem and
in the temple. It seems that what we thought were simply highly religious
leaders who kept all the Mosaic laws, were nothing more than the evil seed of
the devil, who looked like they promoted the true religion of Yahweh but were
instead sending people to hell. Is this possible?
Instead of following the laws, in the spirit of the law,
they made amendments to laws they wanted to break and added rules and
procedures for the people to follow that they themselves didn’t follow. Instead
of being servant leaders as Jesus suggested, the Pharisees and scribes enjoyed
a higher class and higher status in Jerusalem. Instead of humility, they wore
the badge of Rabbi, which was the title the anointed one, the Christ, was to
wear. This is why Jesus was saying to the multitudes and disciples not to be
like the Pharisees and scribes in verses 1-12, of chapter 23.
Matt 23:1-12 THEN JESUS said
to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 The scribes and Pharisees sit on
Moses' seat [of authority]. 3 So observe and practice all they tell you; but do
not do what they do, for they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy
loads, hard to bear, and place them on men's shoulders, but they themselves
will not lift a finger to help bear them. 5 They do all their works to be seen
of men; for they make wide their phylacteries (small cases enclosing certain
Scripture passages, worn during prayer on the left arm and forehead) and make
long their fringes [worn by all male Israelites, according to the command]. [Ex
13:9; Num 15:38; Deut 6:8.] 6 And they take pleasure in and [thus] love the
place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 And to be
greeted with honor in the marketplaces and to have people call them rabbi. 8
But you are not to be called rabbi (teacher), for you have one Teacher and you
are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone [in the church] on earth father, for
you have one Father, Who is in heaven. 10 And you must not be called masters
(leaders), for you have one Master (Leader), the Christ. 11 He who is greatest
among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself [with haughtiness
and empty pride] shall be humbled (brought low), and whoever humbles himself [whoever
has a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly] shall be raised to
honor. AMP
The Pharisees and scribes seemed to exhibit all the aspects
of things God hates, acting like fools using secret body language to make deals
and play people, embodying a perverse heart, causing trouble to Jerusalem,
rejoicing in what God hates, shedding blood, scheming and hurrying towards
evil, lying and turning people on one another. Solomon describes the Pharisees
and scribes well. They are ruined by reason of impurity of soul. Now Jesus says something that is absolutely
astounding.
35G3704so
that G2064should
come G1909upon G1473you G3956all G129[2blood
G13421righteous]
G1632having
been poured out G1909upon G3588the G1093earth,
G575from G3588the G129blood G*of
Abel G3588the G1342righteous,
G2193unto G3588the G129blood G*of
Zachariah G5207sonG*of Barachiah,
G3739whom G5407you
murdered G3342between
G3588the G3485temple
G2532and G3588the G2379altar.
36G281Amen G3004I say G1473to you
G3754that G2240[3shall
come G39561all G37782these things]
G1909upon G3588 G1074this
generation.G3778
All the shed blood from all the righteous people from Abel
to Zachariah is upon these religious leaders, the Pharisees and scribes. Wow,
they are responsible for all the bloodshed of all the righteous for nearly four
thousand years. What does this mean? How can they be responsible for the things
people did in the past? When we studied the story of Cain and Abel years ago,
we saw that Cain had been conversing with satan. Cain had listened to, agreed
with, and turned his heart towards satan. Once Abel was murdered, Cain was
officially the first murderer, although Jesus says the devil was a murderer
from the beginning.
John 8:42-44 Jesus said to them, If God were your Father,
you would love Me and respect Me and welcome Me gladly, for I proceeded (came
forth) from God [out of His very presence]. I did not even come on My own
authority or of My own accord (as self-appointed); but He sent Me. 43 Why do
you misunderstand what I say? It is because you are unable to hear what I am
saying. [You cannot bear to listen to My message; your ears are shut to My
teaching.] 44 You are of your father, the devil, and it is your will to
practice the lusts and gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of your
father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is
natural to him, for he is a liar [himself] and the father of lies and of all
that is false. AMP
The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree. This is
interesting. These Pharisees and scribes made the devil their father. They
agreed to follow their father the devil for the gratification of the lusts and
pleasures of this life. They took on, for themselves, the family curse of the
blood of the righteous. Now, if we were to have a choice of family, and by
choosing a family all the blessings or curses from past to present would be
taken on, what family would we choose? Would we choose the family with
blessings or cursing’s? If we choose to inherit the cursing’s we would be doing
what the Pharisees did.
The last righteous person mentioned here is Zachariah.
There are several Zachariah’s in the Bible, but we will look at four
Zachariah’s. One was John the Baptist’s father, one was the writer of the book
that bears that name, one was the son of the high priest, and one was someone
in 70 AD who was killed in the temple. The father of John was probably not this
Zachariah as the gospel writers and historians of the first century would have
mentioned it as bloodshed in the temple would have been recorded.
The Zachariah from 2 Chronicles could be this Zachariah,
however his father’s name is incorrect but this may not matter as we will note
shortly. He was killed in the court which could be between the altar of
sacrifice and the temple.
2Chronicles 24:17 And it came to pass after the death
of Jodae, that the princes of Juda went in, and did obeisance
to the king. Then the king hearkened to them. 18 And they forsook the
house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served the Astartes and idols: and
there was wrath upon Juda and Jerusalem in that day. 19 yet he sent
prophets to them, to turn them to the Lord; but they hearkened not: and he
testified to them, but they obeyed not. 20 And the Spirit of God came
upon Azarias the son of Jodae the priest, and he stood up above the people, and
said, Thus saith the Lord, Why do ye transgress the commandments of the Lord?
so shall ye not prosper; for ye have forsaken the Lord, and he will forsake
you. 21 And they conspired against him, and stone him by command of
king Joas in the court of the Lord’s house. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Chronicles%20II/index.htm
The Zacharias who wrote the book that bears his name could
be the Zacharias, because his father’s name is correct, although we don’t know
how he died. The temple was being rebuilt during his time and there is no
record of someone being killed in the temple. At this time the people were not
contentious as they just came out of captivity. So it seems odd that if his
death was in the temple it was not recorded.
Zacharias 1:1 In the eighth month, in the second year
of the reign of Darius, the word of the Lord came to
Zacharias, the son of Barachias, the son of Addo, the prophet, saying, http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Zacharias/index.htm
The Zachariah from Josephus’ account in Wars of the Jews,
4.5.4, could be this Zachariah but he was technically killed by the Zealots,
not the Pharisees, although he was killed in the temple and his father’s name
is Baruch. The Pharisees were not attempting to start a war, but the Zealots,
who were not religious and did not care about religion, started a civil war
bringing in the Idumeans to fight against the Jewish people and the Jewish
religious leaders. This civil war is what led to the Romans destroying the
temple. However, it was due to the people not recognizing the hour of Jesus’
visitation that really caused the destruction of the temple. So the rejection
of Jesus by the Pharisees is what caused this civil war, leading to the
destruction of the temple, and the murder of a prominent citizen named
Zacharias. If we read Josephus’s account of this Zachariah, we find him to be a
very interesting person.
Josephus 4.5 4 And now these zealots and Idumeans were
quite weary of barely killing men, so they had the impudence of setting up
fictitious tribunals and judicatures for that purpose; and as they intended to
have Zacharias (9) the
son of Baruch, one of the most eminent of the citizens, slain, - so what
provoked them against him was, that hatred of wickedness and love of liberty
which were so eminent in him: he was also a rich man, so that by taking him
off, they did not only hope to seize his effects, but also to get rid of a mall
that had great power to destroy them. So they called together, by a public
proclamation, seventy of the principal men of the populace, for a show, as if
they were real judges, while they had no proper authority. Before these was
Zacharias accused of a design to betray their polity to the Romans, and having
traitorously sent to Vespasian for that purpose. Now there appeared no proof or
sign of what he was accused; but they affirmed themselves that they were well
persuaded that so it was, and desired that such their affirmation might he
taken for sufficient evidence. Now when Zacharias clearly saw that there was no
way remaining for his escape from them, as having been treacherously called
before them, and then put in prison, but not with any intention of a legal
trial, he took great liberty of speech in that despair of his life he was
under. Accordingly he stood up, and laughed at their pretended accusation, and
in a few words confuted the crimes laid to his charge; after which he turned
his speech to his accusers, and went over distinctly all their transgressions
of the law, and made heavy lamentation upon the confusion they had brought public
affairs to: in the mean time, the zealots grew tumultuous, and had much ado to
abstain from drawing their swords, although they designed to preserve the
appearance and show of judicature to the end. They were also desirous, on other
accounts, to try the judges, whether they would be mindful of what was just at
their own peril. Now the seventy judges brought in their verdict that the
person accused was not guilty, as choosing rather to die themselves with him,
than to have his death laid at their doors; hereupon there arose a great clamor
of the zealots upon his acquittal, and they all had indignation at the judges
for not understanding that the authority that was given them was but in jest.
So two of the boldest of them fell upon Zacharias in the middle of the temple,
and slew him; and as he fell down dead, they bantered him, and said, "Thou
hast also our verdict, and this will prove a more sure acquittal to thee than
the other." They also threw him down from the temple immediately into the
valley beneath it. Moreover, they struck the judges with the backs of their
swords, by way of abuse, and thrust them out of the court of the temple, and
spared their lives with no other design than that, when they were dispersed
among the people in the city, they might become their messengers, to let them
know they were no better than slaves. http://www.ccel.org/j/josephus/works/war-4.htm
We gain a clue from the Aramaic version of Matthew 23:35.
From Victor Alexander’s Aramaic New Testament, pg 55-56. “Thus you shall be
guilty of all the righteous blood that was spilt on the earth, from the blood
of Abel the righteous to the blood of Zacharias the blessed, whom you killed
between the temple and the altar.”
Notice Abel the
righteous and Zacharias the blessed.
These are phrases. In the Aramaic the word Bar-Bre-chiah means blessed. The
word (or name) Barachias, Greek, or Berechiach, Hebrew, comes from a compound
word, berek, knee, and Yahh, Jah the sacred name, meaning Jehovah (Yahweh) blesses. There are six people named Berechiach but
it can also be used as a phrase, as we see communicated in the Aramaic, Zacharias the blessed. Which one of
these Zacharias was Zacharias the blessed? We don’t truly know, but it does
limit who can be Zacharias the blessed, whichever one was killed between the
temple and the altar.
Nonetheless, if Jesus was prophetic regarding the future Zacharias the Blessed who did die in the
temple around 67 AD, or the Zacharias the
Blessed who wrote prophetically that the name of the Messiah would be
Jesus, around 520 BCE, or the Zacharias the
Blessed from the time of Joash who warned of sins in the temple around 796
BCE, it does not change much. It seems more likely that Jesus would have been
speaking prophetically of the future Zacharias as that is the close of the
temple era, that era or generation.
And the order of Pharisees and scribes continued through that time until they
were kicked out of Jerusalem by the Romans, that again is a generation. Worshiping Yahweh was the
reason for the bloodshed, not the temple building or the religious order. Abel
was the first one to worship Yahweh with sacrifices. Two of the Zacharias’ were
a human sacrifice in the temple. Either way, the generation of the children of
the devil will bear the curse of the innocent blood shed from Abel to one of
the Zacharias which will be a lot of blood. After this time we also know from
history that the Pharisees and scribes started a school along the coast and
attempted to re-write history, erasing Jesus the best way they could. This is
why so many rabbi’s tampered with records both in the Old Testament and in
history.
Jesus then goes on to say he often wanted to above gather the children of
Jerusalem.
37G*Jerusalem,
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Jesus says “How often I wanted to above gather you”. When
would that have been? How many years has Yahweh desired to gather his people?
Yahweh sent the Prophets and they were killed over and over. The Pharisees were
children of the devil and they also killed the Prophets, the wise, and the
scribes, along with the apostles. Jesus says that Jerusalem will not see him
again until they speak well of him or praise his name. They will say “Blessed
is the one coming in the name of Yahweh” This is a quote from Psalms.
Psalms 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I
will go into them, and give praise to the Lord. 20 This is the gate
of the Lord: the righteous shall enter by it. 21 I will give thanks
to thee; because thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. 22 The
stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the
corner. 23 This has been done of the Lord; and it is wonderful in our
eyes. 24 This is the day which the Lord has made: let us exult and
rejoice in it. 25 O Lord, save now: O Lord, send now
prosperity. 26 Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord: we
have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
This is beautiful. Even though the people of the city
rejected Jesus, people will recite Psalms 118 in anticipation of his return. The
order of the Prophets has always been to steer people to Yahweh. The Pharisees
were not true followers of Yahweh, they were imposters, posers, and spawn of
the devil. They followed the ways of their father, the devil, to cause people
to enter Hades, while they themselves will spend eternity in Gehenna. But Jesus
came to open the way to heaven, wishing to gather his people above. Jesus hated
the behaviors of the Pharisees and scribes, which is why his words are so
harsh. Woe can be looked at as Whoa because woe in this context is an exclamation, not simple sadness. In other
words, what Jesus was expressing is “Alarm, Alarm, Alarm, watch out, the
impostors are leading you to hell” as opposed to “Oh dear the impostors are
leading you to hell”. Seeing as how these people were impostors, posing as true
religious leaders, is it wise to attempt to follow the same order today? Aren’t
there many posers in the church today attempting to put people under the law or
into bondage to religious service? We should be alerted to who the fathers of
the Pharisees and scribes were, by their own admittance, and recognize that
they were never of the Prophets, or the School of the Prophets, but were the
vipers of the seed of the devil.