John Gill Commentary Matthew 23:33

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

You servants, you generation of vipers. The latter of these names, John the Baptist calls the Sadducees and Pharisees by in (Matthew 3:7), and Christ does so in (Matthew 12:34). Both names 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 you escape the damnation of hell? This signifies 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, (hja tkd) "where can you escape?" etc. And so Beza says it was read in one ancient copy of his. The sense is, where can you 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. It 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.