" That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar."

The verse Matthew 23:35 from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is part of a larger passage in which Jesus is rebuking the religious leaders of his time. This particular verse is part of a scathing denunciation of the Pharisees and scribes, whom Jesus criticizes for their hypocrisy and failure to live up to the principles they espouse. In this verse, Jesus is prophesying the judgment that will fall upon the religious leaders, and by extension, the nation of Israel.

The verse begins with the phrase "That upon you may come," indicating the impending judgment that will befall the religious leaders. Jesus then speaks of "all the righteous blood shed upon the earth," a reference to the persecution and martyrdom of the righteous throughout history. This phrase emphasizes the gravity of the religious leaders' sins and the collective guilt that they bear for the shedding of innocent blood.

The mention of "the blood of righteous Abel" alludes to the story of Cain and Abel in the book of Genesis, in which Cain murders his brother Abel out of jealousy and anger. This is the first act of violence recorded in the Bible and sets the stage for the cycle of violence and bloodshed that permeates human history. By referencing Abel, Jesus is drawing attention to the pattern of persecution and martyrdom that has plagued humanity since the beginning.

The mention of "Zacharias son of Barachias" is likely a reference to the prophet Zechariah, whose martyrdom is recorded in the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles. According to Jewish tradition, Zechariah was stoned to death in the courtyard of the temple, making him a fitting symbol of the persecution of the righteous by those who should have been their protectors. By including Zechariah in this list, Jesus is again highlighting the long history of violence and persecution suffered by the righteous at the hands of the religious establishment.

The phrase "whom ye slew between the temple and the altar" is significant in that it locates the act of murder within the sacred precincts of the temple. This detail serves to underscore the hypocrisy and spiritual blindness of the religious leaders, who defile the very place that is meant to be a sanctuary for the worship of God. By committing violence within the temple, they reveal the depth of their corruption and the extent to which they have strayed from the true principles of their faith.

In this verse, Jesus is not only condemning the religious leaders of his time but also drawing attention to the broader theme of persecution and martyrdom that runs throughout the biblical narrative. By referencing the blood of Abel and Zechariah, Jesus is connecting his own ministry to the larger story of the suffering and persecution of the righteous. He is also foreshadowing his own impending sacrifice, which will become the ultimate example of innocent bloodshed at the hands of religious leaders.

Overall, Matthew 23:35 serves as a powerful condemnation of religious hypocrisy and a poignant reminder of the suffering endured by the righteous throughout history. It also foreshadows the coming judgment and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, which will serve as a remedy for the cycle of violence and bloodshed that has plagued humanity since the beginning. In this way, the verse carries profound themes of justice, redemption, and the triumph of righteousness over evil.