Matthew 23:33

“Ye servants, ye generation of vipers, etc.] The latter of these names, John the Baptist calls the Sadducees and Pharisees by, in (<400307>Matthew 3:7) and Christ, in (<401234>Matthew 12:34) both express their craft and subtlety, their inward poison, and venomous nature; their fair outside, and specious pretences; their hypocrisy, malice, and wickedness; in which they were like to the old serpent, their father the devil, and to their ancestors, that murdered the prophets; nor could any good thing be expected, from such a viperous generation: how can ye escape the damnation of hell? signifying, that it was impossible that they should; nor could they surely expect it themselves, who must be…”

“Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?--In thus, at the end of His ministry, recalling the words of the Baptist at the outset of his, our Lord would seem to intimate that the only difference between their condemnation now and then was, that now they were ripe for their doom, which they were not then.”

“Ye serpents - This name is given to them on account of their pretending to be pious, and very much devoted to God, but being secretly evil, At the heart, with all their pretensions, they were filled with evil designs, as the serpent was, Genesis 3:1-5 Generation of vipers - See the notes at Matthew 12:34. Damnation of hell - This refers, beyond all question, to future punishment. So great was their wickedness and hypocrisy, that, if they persevered in this course, it was impossible to escape the damnation that should come on the guilty. This is the sternest language that Jesus ever used to wicked people. But it by no means authorizes ministers to use such language to sinners now. Christ knew…”

“Ye serpents - Our Lord having now lost all hope of reclaiming these, speaks so as to affright others from the like sins. Matthew 23:34”

“serpents: Mat 3:7, Mat 12:34, Mat 21:34, Mat 21:35; Gen 3:15; Psa 58:3-5; Isa 57:3, Isa 57:4; Luk 3:7; Joh 8:44; Co2 11:3; Rev 12:9 how: Mat 23:14; Heb 2:3, Heb 10:29, Heb 12:25 Matthew 23:34”