41 - Matthew 23:36

’Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.’ -Matthew 23:36. A Question has arisen with regard to the meaning of the word "generation," especially in Matthew 24:34, "This generation shall not pass till all be fulfilled." Some would have it to mean race. But the meaning ordinarily assigned seems to be the correct one. In Matthew 1:17 the word can only mean a single descent in a genealogical line. And generally it means in the New Testament all who are living at the same time. The passage we are to consider has then the force of the words elsewhere used: There are some standing here, or some now alive, who shall not taste of death until they see these things come to pass. [note: In the expression "generation of vipers" a different word is used in the original.] And what are these things? Language is hardly capable of uttering anything more awfully significant than the denunciations contained in this chapter. All is summed up in the expression: "That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar." "Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers." The doctrine is, that they who identify themselves in character with the enemies of God and the persecutors of his people who lived in former days, shall be identified with them in the chastisement due; and that they who overpass in iniquity those who have preceded them, and fill up the measure of the long accumulating iniquity, shall be visited with the long accumulated treasures of Divine wrath, hitherto kept back by the long-suffering of God and the space given for repentance. And we may further learn that in the counsels of God iniquity is estimated by the amount of light bestowed and the measure of grace resisted. They who consider not that the goodness and long-suffering of God is designed to lead them to repentance, and who harden themselves in impenitency, are obnoxious to the treasures of Divine wrath long accumulated, long suspended. The seed of the serpent, the generation of vipers, may be traced from the immediate vicinage of Paradise to the days of Jesus of Nazareth; and where do we find it? Among those who dwell in the darkness of heathenism? We trace it especially among the favoured race who had an express revelation from God. The more signally the grace of God and the unction of Divine knowledge rested upon the prophets whom God commissioned to make known his will to men, the more portentous was the crime of those who slew these wise and holy men. The more full and explicit became the prophetic testimony concerning the Son of God who was to be manifested in due time to destroy the works of the devil, the more criminal was the conduct of those who despised and rejected the inspired men who announced the coming kingdom. At length One appeared who was incomparably fairer than the children of men; in whom was all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners; who filled up what was behind of the revelation of God made before, and gave a perfect description of the way of life, in his words and in his conduct; who employed the infinite power that he possessed in works of mercy and kindness; who endured the contradiction of sinners; One the latchet of whose shoes the greatest of the prophets was not worthy to stoop down and unloose. Eye had not seen, ear heard, nor heart conceived of such a revelation of the Divine perfections as was made in him. Well, what was his reception? Men would not have him upon the same earth with themselves; ’away with him, away with him,’ was their cry; ’not this man but Barabbas; crucify him rather than Barabbas the murderer, and release unto us Barabbas the murderer rather than this Jesus.’ They did not begin to breathe freely until they saw him actually give up the ghost on the cross, between two thieves. Have they not now filled up the measure of their iniquity? Can anything more be added in the way of wickedness? What need is there for the Divine judgment to linger any longer?

No, the cup is not quite full. Christ intimates that there is a manifestation of wickedness exceeding this. It is well for us to observe carefully what it is that constitutes the crowning wickedness of man. You remember his prayer for his murderers, ’Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ They had admirable opportunities of knowing him, yet it was possible for them to be made still better acquainted with his character, his office, his claims upon them. He was to rise from the dead; complete the education of his disciples; ascend to heaven, and pour upon them his Spirit, enduing them with power. ’Behold,’ he says, ’I send unto you prophets and wise men and scribes; and some of them ye shall kill and crucify, scourge and persecute, that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth.’ It was one thing" to stumble over the stone laid upon the ground; another thing to have it fall upon them from heaven. Sinners like themselves, chosen, redeemed, sanctified, and sent to them in the fulness of the Spirit, with mighty signs and wonders, to preach salvation through the blood of the Lamb, this gave them the opportunity of surpassing their wickedness in crucifying Christ; and with this surpassing iniquity they filled high the measure, till the time came for judgment to fall upon their devoted city, land, and nation. The New Testament tells us nothing about the execution of these prophecies which occupy so large a place in the Gospels; and this fact would be a strange and an unaccountable one if the books of the New Testament were mostly, as some imagine, written after the destruction of Jerusalem. But other historians have furnished us with the details of that unparalleled judgment, and we find the predictions of Christ fully verified in the recorded facts.

Then men took a new start. Churches were gathered here and there all over the known world, and were built up in their most holy faith by apostolic men. And then after a little we find iniquity developing itself in the Church of Christ, and doing its utmost to get possession of that Church for the god of this world. And the book of prophecy which closes the canon of Scripture directs attention to a generation in the last days who should fill up the measure of the iniquity of this dispensation, and upon whom should come all the righteous blood spilt since the destruction of Jerusalem. In that which is called Babylon the Great shall be found, we are told, the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that were slain on the earth. "For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. . . . Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on her." (Revelation 18:5; Revelation 18:20.)