What does Luke 11:49 mean?

According to Jesus, Pharisaical lawyers of His era were complicit in the murders of God's prophets from the Old Testament period. In the previous verse, this guilt was metaphorical. While the Pharisees' ancestors killed the prophets' bodies, the generation surrounding Jesus destroys the prophets' words by denying them and teaching the people a gospel of works.

Soon, however, their guilt will be literal. Later, Jesus will tell the disciples that the lawyers claim, "If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets" (Matthew 23:30). The crucifixion of Jesus proves otherwise. In addition, their murder of Stephen will set off a wave of violence against Jesus-followers that will eventually catch the apostle James in its wake (Acts 7:54–60; 8:1–3; 9:1–2; 12:1–3). When Paul, an architect of this violence, turns and becomes God's prophet as well, he, too, will be persecuted (Acts 21:27–36).

The phrase "Wisdom of God" is interpreted in various ways. Some think it refers to an Old Testament prophecy or an allusion to unscriptural apocalyptic literature, but there is no known parallel. Some translations capitalize the word as "Wisdom," suggesting the Holy Spirit or Jesus. It could also simply mean God's plan has been put into motion and is as sure as if it had already happened.

Jesus' parable of the wicked tenants is a similar indictment (Luke 20:9–18). Matthew 23:34 gives a more vivid description of what the Jewish religious leaders will do: "Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town."