What lessons can we learn from the bloodshed of Abel and Zechariah? setting the scene: why jesus names abel and zechariah “ So upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.” (Matthew 23:35) Jesus pulls the first and last recorded murders of the Hebrew Scriptures—Genesis 4 and 2 Chronicles 24—to frame the long history of persecuting God’s messengers. Their stories bracket the entire Old Testament era, underscoring that the problem is not occasional; it is systemic rebellion against God’s truth. innocent blood that still speaks • Genesis 4:10—“The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.” • 2 Chronicles 24:22—Zechariah’s dying words: “May the LORD see this and call you to account.” • Hebrews 12:24—Christ’s blood “speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” Righteous blood is never silent; heaven records it, and divine justice responds. lesson 1: God sees and remembers every injustice • Numbers 35:33—shed blood “defiles the land,” and only justice can cleanse it. • Revelation 6:10—martyrs cry, “How long, O Lord… until You avenge our blood?” Nothing escapes His notice. We may forget names, but God does not. Every wrong will be settled—either at the cross for those who repent or at the final judgment for those who will not. lesson 2: violence against the righteous is rebellion against God Himself • 1 John 3:12—Cain “was of the evil one and murdered his brother.” • Acts 7:51–52—Stephen indicts Israel for killing “those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One.” Persecuting God’s people equals opposing God. It exposes a heart that resists truth and loves darkness (John 3:19–20). lesson 3: the urgency of repentance before judgment falls Jesus’ warning in Matthew 23:35–36—“all these things will come upon this generation”—landed just decades before Jerusalem’s destruction in AD 70. The pattern is clear: shed blood invites divine reckoning. Repentance turns wrath aside; refusal hastens it (Ezekiel 18:30–32). lesson 4: christ fulfills and surpasses their witness • Hebrews 12:24—His blood “speaks a better word.” Abel’s blood cried for justice; Christ’s blood provides justice and mercy, satisfying God’s righteous demands while offering forgiveness to offenders (Romans 3:25–26). By bearing the penalty Himself, He both honors the martyrs and opens life to their murderers. lesson 5: encouragement for believers under pressure today • Romans 12:19—“Do not avenge yourselves… ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” • 1 Peter 4:19—“Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” Practical take-aways: – Expect opposition when standing for truth; it has always been so. – Trust God’s timing for justice; He has never lost a case. – Keep proclaiming the word boldly, as Zechariah did, and worship faithfully, as Abel did. – Remember that your labor is not in vain; eternity vindicates faithfulness (1 Corinthians 15:58). summed up Abel and Zechariah remind us that innocent blood carries a voice God will answer. Their stories warn the rebellious, comfort the afflicted, and point to the ultimate Innocent—Jesus—whose shed blood both satisfies divine justice and secures everlasting hope for all who believe. |
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