Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 3:7

"He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" — Luke 3:7 (ASV)

The word “crowds” (GK 4063) represents an unidentified, assorted group of people who came out to the desert to see him (cf. Matthew 3:7, where Matthew identifies them as Pharisees and Sadducees). John’s language is strong, as was that of OT prophets who preceded him. He refers to God’s anger (cf. Romans 2:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:10), not God’s kingdom, as Jesus did . His question suggests that while their “coming out to be baptized by him” was the proper thing to do, their motives were in question.