Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

MATTHEW 23:36KJV
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Matthew 23:36 (KJV)

What does Matthew 23:36 mean?

Matthew 23:36 means that everything Jesus has just warned about—the consequences for rejecting God’s messengers and the guilt for past wrongs—will soon fall on the people living at that time. Jesus is saying that the current generation will experience the results of these actions.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to a crowd in Jerusalem, including religious leaders, after listing the ways their ancestors mistreated prophets and righteous people. He emphasizes that the consequences for these long-standing wrongs are not far off but will come upon those listening to him now. This statement is part of a larger warning about ignoring God’s message and the seriousness of their choices.

The Greek behind Matthew 23:36

  • "Verily" (ἀμὴν, amēn): This word means “truly” or “certainly,” and it signals that what Jesus is about to say is especially important and trustworthy.
  • "All" (πάντα, panta): This word means “all” or “every,” showing that Jesus is not talking about just some consequences, but the full weight of what he has described.
  • "Generation" (γενεά, genea): This word often refers to the people living at a particular time. Here, it points specifically to those alive and listening to Jesus, not just a vague future group.

Why Matthew 23:36 matters

  • Matthew 23:36 clears up that Jesus is not speaking about distant future generations but is warning the people present in his day about coming judgment.
  • This verse highlights the seriousness of rejecting God’s messengers and ignoring repeated warnings, connecting the actions of past generations to the present.
  • It ties together the themes of responsibility and accountability that run through Jesus’s speech in Matthew 23, showing that choices have real and near consequences.

Where else these words appear

“come” Greek G2240 · used in 26 verses

  • Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
  • Luke 19:43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
  • Hebrews 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

“generation” Greek G1074 · used in 37 verses

  • Matthew 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
  • Mark 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
  • Luke 17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

“this” Greek G5026 · used in 119 verses

  • Matthew 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
  • Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
  • Acts 23:13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

“Verily” Greek G281 · used in 126 verses

  • Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
  • Mark 14:9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
  • Romans 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.