11:47–48

In 11:47–48 Jesus criticized the law experts for building tombs to honor the dead prophets. The logic of Jesus’ statement is difficult to follow because:

(a) Normally, building tombs to honor someone is a good thing to do.

(b) If the law experts built tombs for prophets whom their forefathers had killed, people would think they were trying to atone for the sins of their fathers. That too would normally be a good thing to do.

Jesus’ logic was something like this:

(a) The only real way to honor the prophets would be to follow and obey their message.

(b) But the law experts did not obey the message of the prophets. So they were not honoring the prophets.

(c) If they were not honoring the prophets’ lives, then by building tombs they were honoring their deaths.

(d) This was the same as agreeing with what their ancestors did.

See the General Comment on 11:47–48 at the end of 11:48b for some possible ways to clarify 11:47–48.

11:47a

Woe to you!: This phrase is the same as in 11:43a.

11:47b

You build tombs for the prophets: The law experts were apparently in the habit of building fine tombs or memorials to honor the prophets of Old Testament days.

build tombs: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as tombs probably refers to stone monuments. These monuments were built at the site of the grave. They served to decorate the grave. Other ways to translate the phrase build tombs are:

make fancy grave markers
-or-
build monuments (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
make/erect memorials
-or-
set up beautiful stones to decorate the graves

prophets: The word prophets describes men and women who spoke on behalf of God. They told people what God revealed to them. Some ways to translate prophets are:

spokesmen for God
-or-
men who speaks God’s words
-or-
God’s message-speakers

The word prophets also occurs at 10:24a. See also prophet in the Glossary.

11:47c

your fathers: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as fathers figuratively means “ancestors.” Many English versions translate it that way. Another way to translate this is:

your forefathers (New International Version)

killed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as killed can also be translated as “murdered” here. The ancestors of the law experts had killed the prophets unlawfully because they had hated the prophets and their message.

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