A link is drawn between verse 29 and verses 27-28 through the repetition of the word tombs. Since the tombs of the prophets implies tombs out of the ordinary, Good News Translation translates “fine tombs,” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “wonderful tombs.” It was customary in that day to build outstanding monuments to mark the graves of heroes and other famous men (see Acts 2.29, which mentions David’s tomb).

Prophets was discussed at 1.22. Here it may have to be “the prophets of old” to be sure readers do not think the reference is to building tombs and grave markers in anticipation of the death of the prophets.

The righteous are defined by Good News Translation as “those who lived good lives” (see comment under “just” at 1.19, and note the use of the word in verse 28).

The prophets and the righteous represent two categories of people who were known for their faithful devotion to God. The honor attributed to them by the Pharisees was an attempt to deny that they would have rejected the prophets, had the Pharisees lived during the days of their ancestors (see verse 30).

It appears that tombs and monuments are used synonymously, with tombs of the prophets and monuments of the righteous forming a parallel construction. One may then translate “you build fine tombs for the prophets and other faithful servants of God, and you keep their tombs decorated” or “you build … and you decorate the tombs that others have built for them.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .