What does Matthew 23:36 mean?

Jesus has been clearly and harshly pronouncing God's condemnation and coming judgment on Israel's religious leaders: the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:13–32). Most recently, Christ said that God would deliver judgment for all the murders of godly servants from Abel (Genesis 4:4–8) to Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20–22) on these modern leaders of Israel.

In this statement, Jesus takes the pronouncement of judgment even further. This coming judgment of God for these sinful actions and murder will come upon this generation. God's angry retribution for the rejection of Jesus and God's messengers will not be limited to Israel's religious leaders. All of Israel will be judged: both the leaders and those who willingly follow them. Many scholars believe Jesus' prediction of this judgment came to pass, at least in part, during the devastating Roman destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.