Mǎtaìfúyīn 23:33

33 Nǐmen zhèxie shé leì , dúshé zhī zhǒng a , zĕn néng taótuō dìyù de xíngfá ne .

Mǎtaìfúyīn 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.

Mǎtaìfúyīn 23:33 In-Context

31 Zhè jiù shì nǐmen zìjǐ zhèngmíng , shì shāhaì xiānzhī zhĕ de zǐsūn le .

32 Nǐmen qù chōngmǎn nǐmen zǔzong de è guàn ba .

33 Nǐmen zhèxie shé leì , dúshé zhī zhǒng a , zĕn néng taótuō dìyù de xíngfá ne .

34 Suǒyǐ wǒ chāi qiǎn xiānzhī hé zhìhuì rén bìng Wénshì , dào nǐmen zhèlǐ lái . yǒude nǐmen yào shāhaì , yào dìng shízìjià . yǒude nǐmen yào zaì gōngtáng lǐ biāndǎ , cóng zhè chéng zhuībī dào nà chéng .

35 Jiào shìshang suǒ liú yì rén de xiĕ , dōu guī dào nǐmen shēnshang . cóng yì rén Yàbó de xiĕ qǐ , zhídào nǐmen zaì diàn hé tán zhōngjiān suǒ shā de Bāyējiā de érzi Sājiālìyà de xiĕ wéizhǐ .