Blood of the Righteous; Abel the Righteous to Zacharias the Blessed; What God Hates; Impostors

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.    

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/03/passover-male-prostitution-in-temple.html

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-lost-sheep-divorce-oaths-and-name.html

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.  

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/12/mercy-and-forgiveness-weighed-and.html

http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/06/judging-others-condemnation-and-jesus.html

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.

32G2532And G1473you, G4137you fill up G3588the G3358measure G3588 G3962of your fathers. G1473 

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, G*Jerusalem, G3588the one G615killing G3588the G4396prophets, G2532and G3036stoning G3588the ones G649sent G4314to G1473her. G4212How often G2309I wanted G1996to assemble G3588 G5043your children G1473 G3739in which G5158manner G1996[²assembles G3733¹a hen] G3588 G3556her nestlings G1438 G5259under G3588the G4420wings, G2532and G3756you wanted not. G2309 

38G2400Behold, G863[²is left G1473³to you G3588 G3624¹your house] G1473 G2048desolate.

39G3004For I say G1063 G1473to you, G3766.2In no way G1473should you behold me G1492 G575from G737now, G2193until G302whenever G2036you should say, G2127Being blessed G3588is the one G2064coming G1722in G3686the name G2962of the Lord.

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.