Message Notes

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Text: Matthew 23

34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,
35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Matthew 23:34-36

GOD’S TRUE SERVANTS

1. Prophets

2. Wise men

3. Scribes

AN IMPORTANT COMMENTARY

36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—
38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

Hebrews 11:36-38

1. A short summary of those who suffered for their faith

2. The things endured:

a) Mocking

b) Scourging

c) Chains and imprisonment

d) Stoning

e) Sawn in two

f) Slain with the sword

g) Forced to wander

i) In sheepskins and goatskins

ii) In deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth

h) Destitution

i) Afflicted

j) Tormented

FUTURE PERSECUTION

1. Killing

2. Crucifying

3. Scourging

4. Persecution

A SOLEMN WORD OF WARNING

1. The many sins of the past

2. Accumulation to the present

a) Abel was the first righteous person to be murdered

b) Zechariah was one of the last prophets sent by God

i) He was the son of Berechiah

ii) The son of Iddo Zechariah 1:1

c) He was murdered

JUDGMENT WOULD COME UPON THIS GENERATION

1. The immediate reference is to the destruction of the Temple (AD 70)

2. The religious leaders and all who agitated the Roman emperor brought about the fall of Jerusalem

VITAL LESSONS

1. Judgment would come when sins are not repented of

2. The doctrine of Recompense/ Retribution would take place when man refuses to repent

3. Wisdom teaches us to repent and to turn to God for forgiveness