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Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:33

Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers - What a terrible stroke! - Ye are serpents, and the offspring of serpents. This refers to Matthew 23:31 ; : they confessed that they were the children of those who murdered the prophets; and they are now going to murder Christ and his followers, to show that they have not degenerated - an accursed seed, of an accursed breed. My old MS. translates this passage oddly - Gee serpentis, fruytis of burrownyngis of eddris that sleen her modris . There seems... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:34

Wherefore - To show how my prediction, Ye will fill up the measure of your fathers, shall be verified, Behold, I send (I am just going to commission them) prophets, etc. and some ye will kill, (with legal process), and some ye will crucify, pretend to try and find guilty, and deliver them into the hands of the Romans, who shall, through you, thus put them to death. See on Luke 11:49 ; (note). By prophets, wise men, and scribes, our Lord intends the evangelists, apostles, deacons, etc., who... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:35

Upon the earth - Επι της γης , upon this land, meaning probably the land of Judea; for thus the word is often to be understood. The national punishment of all the innocent blood which had been shed in the land, shall speedily come upon you, from the blood of Abel the just, the first prophet and preacher of righteousness, Hebrews 11:4 ; 2 Peter 2:5 , to the blood of Zachariah, the son of Barachiah. It is likely that our Lord refers to the murder of Zachariah, mentioned 2 Chronicles... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:36

Shall come upon this generation - Επι την γενεαν ταυτην , upon this race of men, viz. the Jews. This phrase often occurs in this sense in the evangelists. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:37

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem - It is evident that our blessed Lord seriously and earnestly wished the salvation of the Jews. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:38

Behold, your house - Ο οικος , the temple: - this is certainly what is meant. It was once the Lord's temple, God's Own house; but now he says, Your temple or house - to intimate that God had abandoned it. See the note on Matthew 23:21 ; see also on Luke 13:35 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:39

Ye shall not see me - I will remove my Gospel from you, and withdraw my protection. Till ye shall say, Blessed - Till after the fullness of the Gentiles is brought in, when the word of life shall again be sent unto you; then will ye rejoice, and bless, and praise him that cometh in the name of the Lord, with full and final salvation for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. See Romans 11:26 , Romans 11:27 . Our Lord plainly foresaw that, in process of time, a spiritual domination... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:33

Verse 33 33.Offspring of vipers. After having demonstrated that the scribes are not only base enemies of sound doctrine, and wicked corrupters of the worship of God, but likewise deadly plagues of the Church, Christ, being about to close his discourse, kindles into more vehement indignation against them; as it is necessary to shake off by violence the flatteries in which hypocrites indulge, and to drag them, as it were, to the judgment seat of God, that they may be filled with alarm. And yet... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:34

Verse 34 34.Therefore, lo, I send to you. Luke introduces it in a still more emphatic manner, Wherefore also the Wisdom of God hath said; which some commentators explain thus: “I, who am the eternal Wisdom of God, declare this concerning you.” But I am more inclined to believe that, according to the ordinary custom of Scripture, God is here represented as speaking in the person of his Wisdom; so that the meaning is, “God foretold long ago, by the prophetic Spirit, what would happen with regard... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:35

Verse 35 35.That upon you may come. He not only takes away from them their false boasting, but shows that they had received prophets for a totally different purpose, that no age might be free from the criminality of wicked rebellion; for the pronoun you embraces generally the whole nation from its very commencement. If it be objected, that it is not consistent with the judgment of God that punishment should be inflicted on the children for the sins of the parents, the answer is easy. Since they... read more

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