Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 23:33

"Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape the judgment of hell?" — Matthew 23:33 (ASV)

Our Lord spoke very severely, but faithfulness required such language as this. A good surgeon cuts deep, so did Jesus. Our modern preachers would not talk like this, even to scribes and Pharisees who were crucifying Christ afresh and putting him to an open shame. He is not the most loving who speaks the smoothest words. True love often compels an honest man to say that which pains him far more than it affects his callous hearers.