Matthew 23:35 Meaning: From Abel to Zechariah

The Greek word for blood here is haima, the same word used for the life that flows through a body. In Scripture, blood is sacred because life is in it. When the text says righteous blood is being poured out (ekchunnomenon), the verb is in the present tense. It carries the sense of violence that keeps happening, not just a one-time event. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were continuing that same spill.

The word for murdered is ephoneusate, a stronger term than simply ‘killed’. It emphasizes the deliberate, unjust taking of a life. And Abel is called righteous (dikaios) not because he was sinless, but because his heart was right with God and his offering was accepted. From the innocent life of Abel to the prophet Zechariah stoned in the temple court, the pattern is the same: God’s faithful ones suffer at human hands. Jesus is saying that God sees every single case, and justice is coming.

Christians across traditions have read this verse with care, especially the identity of Zechariah. Many Protestant and Catholic commentators follow the early church in identifying him with the Zechariah killed in the temple courtyard during the reign of Joash (2 Chronicles 24). That Zechariah was the son of Jehoiada, yet Jesus calls him son of Barachiah. The difference is often explained by the Jewish custom of using multiple names for the same person, or by an early textual variation.

Other interpreters, including some Orthodox scholars, note that the last book in the Hebrew ordering of the Old Testament is 2 Chronicles. So Abel from Genesis and Zechariah from 2 Chronicles span the entire story of God’s people. Still others see a prophetic reference to a later Zechariah killed during the Roman wars. What all traditions agree on is that Jesus is saying every act of violence against God’s messengers, from the first to the last, will be accounted for.

A common misunderstanding is that Jesus is talking about the prophet Zechariah who wrote the book of Zechariah. That prophet is indeed called son of Berechiah, but there is no record of him being killed in the temple. In fact, the Zechariah who died between the sanctuary and the altar is almost certainly the one from 2 Chronicles 24, who was stoned in the court of the Lord’s house. Early Christian writers simply understood that Jehoiada and Barachiah were two names for the same man, as was common among Jews.

This verse asks you to take a hard look at how you treat the people God sends your way. It is easy to dismiss the messenger, especially when the message is uncomfortable. Before you reject a hard truth, consider whether you are repeating the same pattern Jesus warned about. The verse also invites you to trust that God sees every injustice. When you feel powerless against evil, remember that God keeps a record. In a world where innocent blood is still shed, you can pray for justice and also be someone who protects the vulnerable. That stands against the pattern Jesus names here.