You snakes!In this phrase, Jesus uses the metaphor of snakes to describe the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Snakes are often associated with deceit and danger in biblical literature, harking back to the serpent in the Garden of Eden (
Genesis 3:1-5). This imagery underscores the deceptive and harmful nature of the religious leaders' actions. In the cultural context of the time, snakes were seen as cunning and treacherous, which aligns with Jesus' condemnation of the leaders' hypocrisy and manipulation of religious laws for personal gain.
You brood of vipers!
The term "brood of vipers" intensifies the accusation, suggesting not only individual deceit but a collective, generational corruption. Vipers are known for their venom, symbolizing the destructive influence the leaders have on the people they are supposed to guide. This phrase echoes John the Baptist's earlier rebuke inMatthew 3:7, where he also calls the Pharisees and Sadducees a "brood of vipers," highlighting a consistent theme of prophetic denunciation against religious hypocrisy. The use of "brood" implies that this is a deep-seated issue, passed down and perpetuated among the leaders.
How will you escape the sentence of hell?
This rhetorical question emphasizes the severity of the leaders' spiritual condition and the impending judgment they face. The "sentence of hell" refers to divine judgment and eternal separation from God, a concept rooted in Jewish eschatology and further developed in Christian theology. The Greek word for "hell" here is "Gehenna," a term derived from the Valley of Hinnom, a place outside Jerusalem associated with idolatry and child sacrifice (2 Kings 23:10,Jeremiah 7:31). By invoking Gehenna, Jesus warns of the ultimate consequence of their actions. This phrase challenges the leaders to recognize their need for repentance and transformation, aligning with the broader biblical narrative of redemption and the call to genuine faith.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Jesus ChristThe speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing the religious leaders of His time, specifically the Pharisees and scribes, in a series of woes pronounced against them for their hypocrisy and spiritual blindness.
2.
Pharisees and ScribesThe primary audience of Jesus' rebuke. They were religious leaders known for their strict adherence to the Law and traditions, yet often criticized by Jesus for their hypocrisy and lack of true righteousness.
3.
JerusalemThe city where Jesus is delivering this message. It is significant as the religious and cultural center of Jewish life and the location of the Temple.
4.
Hell (Gehenna)The term used by Jesus to describe the final place of punishment for the wicked. It is derived from the Hebrew "Ge-Hinnom," a valley outside Jerusalem associated with idolatry and child sacrifice, later symbolizing eternal damnation.
5.
The WoesA series of pronouncements by Jesus in
Matthew 23, where He condemns the religious leaders for their hypocrisy, legalism, and failure to understand the heart of God's law.
Teaching Points
Hypocrisy and AccountabilityJesus' harsh words remind us that religious leaders and believers are held to a high standard of integrity and authenticity. We must examine our lives for hypocrisy and seek genuine transformation.
The Danger of LegalismThe Pharisees' focus on external adherence to the law without understanding its spirit serves as a warning against legalism. True righteousness involves a heart aligned with God's will.
Repentance and RedemptionDespite the severity of Jesus' rebuke, the call to repentance is implicit. No one is beyond redemption if they turn to God with a sincere heart.
The Reality of JudgmentJesus' reference to hell underscores the reality of divine judgment. It is a call to take seriously the consequences of our spiritual state and to seek God's grace.
The Role of Spiritual LeadersThose in positions of spiritual authority must lead by example, prioritizing humility, justice, and mercy over self-righteousness and pride.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Matthew 23:33?
2.How does Matthew 23:33 challenge us to examine our own spiritual integrity?
3.What does "brood of vipers" reveal about the Pharisees' spiritual condition?
4.How can we avoid the hypocrisy Jesus condemns in Matthew 23:33?
5.What Old Testament passages align with Jesus' rebuke in Matthew 23:33?
6.How can Matthew 23:33 guide us in addressing false teachings today?
7.What does "You snakes! You brood of vipers!" reveal about Jesus' view of the Pharisees?
8.How does Matthew 23:33 challenge the concept of religious authority and leadership?
9.Why does Jesus use such harsh language in Matthew 23:33?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 23?
11.What is the biblical perspective on snakes?
12.Did Jesus mention Hell more often than Heaven?
13.How can the imagery of snakes and venom (verses 4-5) be reconciled with modern scientific understanding of reptile behavior?
14.Did Jesus mention Hell more often than Heaven?What Does Matthew 23:33 Mean
You snakes!• Jesus addresses the religious leaders with the same word used for the serpent inGenesis 3. The charge is not name-calling but a declaration that their hearts mirror the deceiver’s nature (John 8:44;2 Corinthians 11:3).
• ThroughoutMatthew 23, Christ has exposed their hypocrisy—whitewashed tombs on the outside yet full of decay within (Matthew 23:27). Calling them “snakes” highlights the danger: their teaching injects poison into God’s people (Numbers 21:6-9; compareJohn 3:14-15).
• By using this imagery, Jesus underscores the seriousness of sin that hides beneath religious appearance. Like the bronze serpent lifted up in the wilderness, the only cure is looking to Him in faith (John 3:14-18).
You brood of vipers!• “Brood” points to offspring; these leaders reproduce their own deadly character in followers (Matthew 23:15). It recalls John the Baptist’s earlier rebuke to the same audience (Matthew 3:7), showing they ignored every call to repent.
• Vipers in Scripture strike suddenly (Acts 28:3-6) and symbolize treachery (Psalm 140:3;Romans 3:13). Jesus reveals that beneath polished rituals lies a lineage of rebellion stretching back to their murderous ancestors (Matthew 23:31-32;Acts 7:51-52).
• The phrase warns believers today against spiritual heredity that substitutes tradition for truth. True children of Abraham do the works of Abraham—faith and obedience (John 8:39;Galatians 3:7-9).
How will you escape the sentence of hell?• The question is rhetorical: apart from repentance, there is no escape (Hebrews 2:3). Hell (Gehenna) is a real, eternal judgment prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41;Revelation 20:10-15).
• Jesus is not condemning lightly; He is exposing the inevitability of divine justice. The Law they claimed to uphold will witness against them (Deuteronomy 27:26;James 2:10).
• Yet even here grace shines: the very One pronouncing judgment will soon bear sin on the cross, offering deliverance to any who believe (Isaiah 53:5-6;2 Corinthians 5:21;John 5:24).
• The solemn warning echoes throughout Scripture: repentance is urgent, judgment is certain, salvation is available only through Christ (Luke 13:3;Acts 4:12).
summaryMatthew 23:33 is a blistering yet loving call to abandon religious facade and flee to Christ. By labeling the leaders “snakes” and “brood of vipers,” Jesus exposes their satanic deception; by asking how they will escape hell, He confronts them with the certainty of judgment. The passage urges every reader to examine the heart, reject hypocrisy, and embrace the only escape God provides—the finished work of His Son.
(33)
Ye generation of vipers.--Better, as in
Matthew 3:7,
brood, or
progeny of vipers. The word of rebuke which had come before from the lips of the Baptist, comes now, with even more intense keenness, from those of the Christ.
How can ye escape?--Better--to maintain the parallelism with the Baptist's words, which was, we can hardly doubt, designed--How should ye flee from?
Verses 33-39. -
Declaration of the sentence on these Pharisees and their generation.Verse 33. -
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers;γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν:
offspring of vipers. Our Lord repeats the Baptist's denunciation (
Matthew 3:7). They were of devilish nature, inherited from their very birth the disposition and character of Satan. So Christ said on another occasion, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stood not in the truth" (
John 8:44).
How canye escape?Πῶς φύγητε; the deliberative conjunctive,
How shall ye escape? Quo mode fugietis? (Vulgate). There is no emphasis on "can" in the Authorized Version. What hope is there now of your repentance? Can anything soften the hardness of your hearts? The Baptist had spoken more hopefully, "Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" But now the day of grace is past; the sin against the Holy Ghost is committed; there remaineth only the fearful looking for of judgment.
The damnation of hell; literally,
the judgment of Gehenna;
judicio Gehennae (Vulgate);
i.e. the sentence that condemns to eternal death (
Matthew 5:22). The phrase is common in the rabbinical writings (see Lightfoot). "Before sinning, we ought to fear lest it be the
filling up; after sinning, we should trust in a truly Christian hope that it is not, and repent. This is the only means to escape the
damnation of hell; but how rare is this grace after a pharisaical life!" (Quesnel). Hypocrisy is a bar to repentance.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
You snakes!ὄφεις(opheis)Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3789:Probably from optanomai; a snake, figuratively, an artful malicious person, especially Satan.You broodγεννήματα(gennēmata)Noun - Vocative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1081:Offspring, child, fruit. From gennao; offspring; by analogy, produce.of vipers!ἐχιδνῶν(echidnōn)Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 2191:A serpent, snake, viper. Of uncertain origin; an adder or other poisonous snake.Howπῶς(pōs)Adverb
Strong's 4459:Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!will you escapeφύγητε(phygēte)Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 5343:To flee, escape, shun. Apparently a primary verb; to run away; by implication, to shun; by analogy, to vanish.theτῆς(tēs)Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.sentenceκρίσεως(kriseōs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2920:Decision; by extension, a tribunal; by implication, justice.of hell?γεέννης(geennēs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1067:Of Hebrew origin; valley of Hinnom; ge-henna, a valley of Jerusalem, used as a name for the place of everlasting punishment.
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NT Gospels: Matthew 23:33 You serpents you offspring of vipers how (Matt. Mat Mt) 
