Matthew 23:33 (WEB)
You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?
Fathers and councils · 26
Origen
“Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 29–38.
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Irenaeus of Lyons
“And therefore did the Lord term those whom He knew to be the offspring of men “a generation of vipers;” because after the manner of these animals they go about in subtilty, and injure others.” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 33.
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John Chrysostom
“And this is manifest too by what comes after; He adds at least, “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers.”” — editor's note: Matt. xxiii. 33.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
He had said against the Scribes and Pharisees, that they were the children of those who killed the Prophets; now therefore He shews that they were like them in wickedness, and that was false that they said, “If we…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
He foretels, that as their fathers killed the Prophets, so they also should kill Christ, and the Apostles, and other holy men. As suppose you had a quarrel with some one, you might say to your adversary, Do to me…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
They fill up the measure of their fathers’ sins by their not believing in Christ. And the cause of their unbelief was, that they looked only to the letter and the body, and would understand nothing spiritual in them.
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
Because then they will fill up the measure of their fathers’ purposes, therefore are they “serpents, and an offspring of vipers.”
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
The same had been said by John the Baptist. Wherefore as of vipers are born vipers, so of your fathers who were murderers are you born murderers.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
He calls them “offspring of vipers,” because the nature of vipers is such that the young burst the womb of their dam, and so come forth; and in like manner the Jews condemned their fathers, finding fault with their…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
That is, the Apostles, who, as foretelling things to come, are “Prophets;” as having knowledge of Christ, are “wise men;” as understanding the Law, are “Scribes.”
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or, as the Apostle writes to the Corinthians [marg. note: 1 Cor 12] that there are various gifts among Christ’s disciples; some Prophets, who foretel things to come; some wise men, who know when they ought to speak;…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or the Scribes who are sent by Christ, are Scribes according to the Gospel, whom the spirit quickens and the letter does not kill, as did the letter of the Law, which whoso followed ran into vain superstitions. The…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Then to shew them that they should not do this without punishment, He holds out an unspeakable terror over them, “That upon you may come all the righteous blood.”
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
That is, all the vengeance due for the shedding of the blood of the righteous.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Concerning the Abel here spoken of, there is no doubt that it is he whom his brother Cain murdered. He is proved to have been righteous, not only by this judgment of the Lord, but by the passage in Genesis, which…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
A tradition has come down to us, that there was one place in the temple in which virgins were allowed to worship God, married women being forbidden to stand there. And Mary, after the Saviour’s birth, going into the…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
But as this has no Scripture authority, it is as readily despised as offered. Others will have it to be that Zacharias who was killed by Joas, king of Judah, between the temple and the altar, [2 Chron 24:21] that is,…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
It should be enquired too how He says, “to the blood of Zacharias,” since the blood of many more saints was afterwards shed. This is thus explained. Abel a keeper of sheep was killed in the field, Zacharias a priest…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Moreover, He names Abel, to shew that it would be out of envy that they would kill Christ and His disciples. He names Zacharias, because there was a twofold resemblance in his case, the sacred place, as well as the…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Matthew
Zacharias is interpreted ‘The memory of God.’ Whosoever then hastes to obliterate the memory of God, seems to those to whom he gives offence to shed the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias. For it is by the…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
And to take away all excuse from them that they might not say, Because you sent them to the Gentiles thereat were we offended, He foretels that His disciples should be sent to them, and it is of their punishment that…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
He means not only those there present, but the whole generation before and after, for all were one city and one body of the Devil.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
The rule of the Scriptures is only to know two generations, one of good the other of bad. Of the generation of the good it is said, “The generation of the righteous shall be blessed.” [Ps 112:2] And of the bad it is…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Otherwise; Because He delayed the punishment of hell which He bad threatened them with, He pronounces against them threats of present evil, saying, “All these things shall come upon this generation.”
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
As all the good things which had been merited by all the saints in each generation since the foundation of the world were bestowed upon that last generation which received Christ; so all the evil that all the wicked…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
For he who having seen many sinning yet remains uncorrected, but rather does the same or worse, is obnoxious to heavier punishment.
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Cross-references · 13
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.41.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.41.
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 23:32–36 (4) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.41.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.41.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.41.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.41.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.41.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.41.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.41.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.41.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.41.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.41.