Mateo 23:33

33 »¡Serpientes! ¡Camada de víboras! ¿Cómo escaparán ustedes de la condenación del infierno?^[a]

Mateo 23:33 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 23:33

Ye servants, ye generation of vipers
The latter of these names, John the Baptist calls the Sadducees and Pharisees by, in ( Matthew 3:7 ) and Christ, in ( 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 conscious to themselves of their wickedness, malice, and deceit. The Persic version reads it, "where can ye escape?" &c. and so Beza says it was read, in one ancient copy of his; and the sense is, whither can ye flee? to whom, or what can you have recourse to, to screen you from the wrath to come? Rocks and mountains, caves and dens, will be of no service. The phrase, (Mnhyg lv hnyd) , "the judgment, or damnation of hell", is a phrase often used in the Talmud ^F16, and Midrashes ^F17 of the Jews; and intends future torment, and the everlasting vengeance and wrath of God, the unquenchable fire prepared for the devil and his angels, and which impenitent unbelieving sinners cannot escape.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 T. Bab. Berncot, fol. 61. 1. Erubin, fol. 18. 2. Yebamot, fol. 102. 2. Sota, fol. 4. 2. & 5. 1. & Bava Bathra, fol. 10. 1.
F17 Bemidbar Rabba, fol. 203. 1. Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 14. 2. & Midrash Kohelet, fol. 76. 1.

Mateo 23:33 In-Context

31 Pero así quedan implicados ustedes al declararse descendientes de los que asesinaron a los profetas.

32 ¡Completen de una vez por todas lo que sus antepasados comenzaron!

33 »¡Serpientes! ¡Camada de víboras! ¿Cómo escaparán ustedes de la condenación del infierno?

34 Por eso yo les voy a enviar profetas, sabios y maestros. A algunos de ellos ustedes los matarán y crucificarán; a otros los azotarán en sus sinagogas y los perseguirán de pueblo en pueblo.

35 Así recaerá sobre ustedes la culpa de toda la sangre justa que ha sido derramada sobre la tierra, desde la sangre del justo Abel hasta la de Zacarías, hijo de Berequías, a quien ustedes asesinaron entre el santuario y el altar de los sacrificios.

Footnotes

• [a]. "del infierno" . Lit. "de la Gehenna" .