Gods Power is not created from our Word
it is created from his
Revealed Will
John the Baptist condemned the Pharisees and Sadducees
as a “brood of vipers”
in Matthew 3:7.
A “brood of vipers” is a “family of snakes.”
Because vipers are venomous, John was essentially calling the
religious leaders
“deadly sons of serpents.”
It’s quite a bold denunciation—and one Jesus repeated to the Pharisees
in Matthew 12:34.
The Pharisees and Sadducees
were the religious leaders in Israel during the time
of John the Baptist and
Jesus
The Pharisees were the Law-keepers and promoters of tradition,
and the Sadducees comprised
the
wealthier ruling class.
Over the centuries, these well-meaning groups had
become
corrupt, legalistic, and hypocritical
and would eventually be responsible
for
crucifying the Son of God.
They earned their label “brood of vipers,” a sobriquet with
deeper meaning than is obvious at first glance.
The viper was seen to be an evil creature.
Its venom was deadly,
and it was also devious—the viper that bit
Paul was
hiding in the firewood
(Acts 28:3).
The Hebrew Scriptures, which the Pharisees knew well,
associate the serpent with Satan in Genesis 3. For John to call the
Pharisees a “brood of vipers” implies that
they bore satanic qualities
This idea is clearly stated by Jesus in John 8:44, where
He says the unbelieving Jews “
belong to [their] father, the devil.”
When John and Jesus called the Pharisees a “brood of vipers,” they were pointing out that these men were deceitful, dangerous, and wicked—deceitful in that they were hypocrites
(Matthew 23:15);
dangerous in that they were blind leaders of the blind
(Matthew 15:14);
and wicked in that their hearts were full of murder
(John 8:37).
Another fascinating detail is found in Jesus’ use of the
epithet “brood of vipers” to describe the Pharisees.
In Matthew 23:33, He says, “You brood of vipers,
how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?”
Farmers, then as now, often burned the stubble of their fields
to get the land ready for the next planting season.
As the fires neared the vipers’ dens, the snakes
would slither away from the flames, but they often did not escape being consumed.
Snakes fleeing the fire was a common sight,
and Jesus’ words to the Pharisees would likely
have called it to their minds.
How could they think they
would escape the
fire of God’s judgment by relying on
their own works,
which were
not at all
honest or good?
John’s and Jesus’ calling them a brood of vipers was
meant to make them aware of
their own wickedness and call them to repent.
What does Matthew 12:34 mean?
Christ is thoroughly and righteously condemning the group of Pharisees.
These legalistic religious leaders have accused Him of getting
His power to cast out demons from Satan
(Matthew 12:24).
They are so committed to rejecting Jesus as the
Messiah
that they would rather
glorify Satan's
power than acknowledge that God
is working through His Son!
In the previous verse, Jesus compared the
Pharisees to bad trees.
This was proven by their
bad "fruit:"
rejecting and accusing Him.
Here, the criticism intensifies. Jesus repeats what John the Baptist called a group of Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 3:7.
The word
"brood" means offspring
(John 8:42–44),
so Jesus is
calling the Pharisees children of snakes.
This associates them with Satan, often pictured as a serpent in Scripture, beginning in Genesis 3.
These critics have accused Christ of using
Satan's power--
but truth
is they are the ones aligned with Satan and
against Jesus.
The question asked here is rhetorical—it's making a point. In the same way that a bad tree is incapable of growing good fruit, a person committed to hate for Christ can't speak spiritual truth. Jesus bluntly calls these men evil. Good words cannot come out of evil hearts. The Pharisees words about Jesus and Satan showed to everyone their true, evil selves.
This Scripture reveals a blanket principle for all people:
our words
always eventually reveal
what's going on
inside of us.
There's no such thing as an unimportant act, or an unimportant word
(Matthew 12:36).
Who Was Jesus Calling a ‘Brood of Vipers’?
Jesus called these Pharisees a "brood of vipers" because
of the wickedness in their hearts
because the heart
is what matters to Jesus.
Every word and action will overflow from there.
A pure heart in Christ will make pure actions.
In Matthew 12:34, Jesus proclaims,
"Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things?
For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks."
Wow, that was intense. I hope Jesus never says this to me! Let's look at the context a few verses before to understand better what is going on.
Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed,
blind and mute; and He healed him,
so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
And all the multitudes were amazed and said,
“Could this be the
Son of David?”
Now when the Pharisees heard it they said,
“This fellow does not cast out demons except by
Beelzebub,
the ruler of the demons"
(Matthew 12:22-24).
Here is the scene.
A crowd surrounds Jesus, and a demon-possessed
man who is blind and mute
is brought publicly before Jesus.
Jesus instantly heals him, and amazement surges
through the crowd.
Then, people begin to ask one another
if Jesus is the
"Son of David,"
a name for the
prophesied Messiah of Israel.
The Pharisees, who also saw the miracle
before their eyes, respond differently.
They do not like Jesus, and they hate the very
thought that he could be the
Messiah
But they are in a bit of a pickle.
How could they deny the miracle when they saw it
right in front of them?
They try to disqualify him by explaining how he could do such miraculous things to the crowd.
They proclaim that he has the power of Satan inside of him,
and that is how he can control demons.
After the Pharisees speak out against him, Jesus responds
in the next verse. It says,
"But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand’" (v. 25).
Who exactly was the "they" in this verse? It was the Pharisees. Jesus continues to talk directly to the Pharisees in the crowd through verse 37.
It is within this response that Jesus famously says in verse 34, "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks."
There you have it. Jesus was directly calling the Pharisees a brood of vipers. He was not speaking to the crowd, believers, or unbelievers, but rather He was responding to the claims of the Pharisees.
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven,
either in this age or in the age to come.
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?
For the mouth speaks what
the
heart is full of”
(Matthew 12:32-24).
What Is a Brood of Vipers?The word "brood" in the original language of the Bible meant "the offspring, born or begotten of." A more modern way of translating this verse would be "sons, or children of snakes!"
In the Jewish culture, the
snake was a symbol of the Devil, death, and sin.
Remember in the Garden of Eden, what the
Devil disguised himself as?
A serpent.
When Jesus claims that these Pharisees have been born of serpents,
he proclaims that these Pharisees are
children of the Devil.
They disguise themselves as wise but are like their namesake, corrupt and wicked inside. They deceive the people of God into sin, just like the serpent in the garden deceived Adam and Eve.
These Pharisees, like the Devil,
were selfish, hate-filled,
and had murder in their
hearts towards Jesus.
Right after Jesus calls them a "brood of vipers," he says,
"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks"
(Matthew 12:34).
He claims that what comes out of your mouth
indicates what
is brewing inside of your heart.
The fact that the Pharisees witnessed a miracle,
and the
first thing out of their mouths
were accusations, criticism,
and talk about the Devil,
exposed what was
truly
inside of their hearts.
Their hearts were full of
hate, accusation, criticism, and
the Devil.
Though they looked religious on the outside,
internally,
they carried attributes of
Satan himself.
What Does That Mean for Us Today?
This intense response of Jesus was for a specific group of people within a particular conversation, and we must be careful not to place his same conclusions about the Pharisees on to other people in our lives.
Can a "brood of vipers" exist today. Absolutely.
Anyone who acts like
a religious Christian on the outside
but internally has
hatred, anger, murder, and deceit in their heart
would fit this description.
I am sure we have all met people like that.
You can usually tell based on what comes out of their mouths. Is their speech filled with hatred towards someone, or overly accusatory or critical?
That shows what is in their hearts.
But does that mean we go up to them and call them a child of Satan? No way! Remember Jesus was the only one in the crowd who perfectly "knew their thoughts," so only he could judge and call them that.
We also, not being perfect, have all had anger and hatred in our hearts before. So, we have all been a "brood of vipers" at one point in our lives. But the beauty of the gospel is that Jesus can transform us from being children of snakes into children of God.
So, unless you are perfect like Jesus, let's not go around calling people sons of Satan; instead, let's lead them to Christ and, through his kindness, show them how to become children of God. Could you be right in calling someone a son of Satan? Maybe.
But you could also be wrong, and you'll have to explain to
Jesus
one day why you called his child a child of Satan.
I don't know about you, but I've decided to lead them to Jesus and leave righteous anger to him.
Jesus called these Pharisees a "brood of vipers" because of the wickedness in their hearts because the heart is what matters to Jesus. Every word and action will overflow from there. A pure heart will make pure actions.
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:35-37).
So, as you watch your words and actions,
let it expose what is going on inside your heart,
then take that to Jesus for healing.
https://churchofthehighlandsbloodlessgospel.com/
WHAT IS HIGHLANDS
A trendy church that takes scripture out of context and wrongly divides the word of God.
WHAT IS HIGHLANDS
High energy and engaging services. That do not honor God, but honor the flesh. Rock music with religious words vs. Hymns that are based on scripture that honor God.
WHAT IS HIGHLANDS
Just another Word of Faith, prosperity preaching Church.
WHAT IS HIGHLANDS
Constantly proclaiming the name of Jesus in every service without the gospel. This is a bloodless gospel church. No discussion of Sin and the sin debt that must be paid.
WHAT IS HIGHLANDS
Each week providing self help messages that are based on scripture that are completely taken out of context.
WHY I AM CALLING THEM OUT
They present an incomplete/ false gospel, which is sending people to hell thinking they are saved. I wish it wasn't so.
AN INCOMPLETE GOSPEL MESSAGE IS ANOTHER GOSPEL
Invite Him into your heart, Make Him Lord of your Life! If you have been at Highlands for any period of time, you have heard those statements at the end of the service.
These statements are not the COMPLETE Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Below is the complete Gospel Message, and these are the steps to be saved (Born again) and to know 100% when you die that you will go to Heaven.
1. You must admit you are a sinner. Romans 3:10 As it is written there are none righteous, no not one. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
2. You must understand that God expects a payment for our sin, and that payment is Death and Hell.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Revelations 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimestone: which is the second death.
3. Jesus Paid your sin debt.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
God wants to give you a gift : Romans 3:23 B - but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The million dollar question is how do I get Jesus so I can have eternal life with Him in Heaven?
4. Call on the name of the Lord and He will save you.
Romans 10:9-13 That if though shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call on him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
So to call on the name of the Lord, is to call out in prayer.
You can say a prayer like this: Dear Lord, I know that I'm a sinner and because of my sin I deserve to go to hell. But I believe that You died on the cross to pay my sin debt and was buried and rose again the third day. I repent of my sin please forgive me and come into my heart and save me. I'm trusting You as my Saviour right now. I'm trusting You and only You to take me to heaven when I die. Help me to live my life for you. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
If you followed these steps and are truly trusting
Jesus alone for your Salvation,
then you are saved and going to Heaven when you die.
You are in the family of God and He promised He will never cast you out or forsake you.
The apostle Paul, in his first letter to his young disciple, Timothy, had this to say: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:10). Now this verse is often misquoted as saying, “Money is the root of all evil.” Notice how “money” is substituted for “love of money” and “the root of all evil” is substituted for “a root of all kinds of evil.” These changes, while subtle, have an enormous impact on the meaning of the verse.
The Bible makes it quite clear that sin is the root of all evil in the world
(Matthew 15:19; Romans 5:12; James 1:15).
However, when we reflect upon the correct citation of this verse, we see that it is the love of money, not money itself, that is a source of all different kinds of trouble and evil.
Wealth is morally neutral; there is nothing wrong with money, in
and of itself, or the possession of money.
However, when money begins to
control us, that’s when trouble starts.
With that said, let’s consider the question before us:
Why is the love of money a root of all kinds of evil?
To help us answer this, we must look at the passage in its greater context. Near the end of the letter (1 Timothy 6:2–10),
Paul is exhorting Timothy
regarding the need
to “
teach and urge these things”
to his congregation,
“these things”
referring back to earlier material in the epistle. Paul then warns Timothy about false teachers who will seek to warp and pervert the content of sound doctrine for their own greedy gain (verses 3–5). Now notice what the apostle says at the end of verse 5: “Imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” These false teachers do what they do for the fame and notoriety they achieve, along with the financial rewards it brings.
Paul wants to
steer Timothy away from that
trap
In doing so, he tells him the real source of “great gain;” namely, godliness with true contentment (verse 6). Contentment, in a biblical sense, is the recognition that we come into the world with nothing and that everything we have is a gift from God’s hands (verses 7–8). Yet those who desire to be rich (i.e., those who have the “love of money”) are the ones who are led into temptation and fall into a snare (verse 9). Paul concludes the passage by telling Timothy that the love of money leads to all sorts of sin and evil.
Simple reflection on this principle
will confirm that it is true.
Greed causes people to do all sorts
of things they wouldn’t normally do.
Watch any number of TV courtroom dramas, and the crime under consideration is usually motivated by jealousy or greed, or both. The love of money is what motivates people to lie, steal, cheat, gamble, embezzle, and even murder.
People who have a love for money lack the godliness and
contentment that is true gain in
God’s eyes.
But the Bible makes an even stronger statement about the love of money. What we have discussed thus far simply describes the horizontal level of the love of money. In other words, we have only mentioned how the love of money can lead one to commit greater sins against his fellow man. But the Bible makes quite clear that all sin is ultimately against God’s holy character (Psalm 51:5). We need to consider the vertical dimension to the love of money.
In the Sermon on the Mount,
Jesus said,
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will
hate the one and love the other,
or he will be devoted to the one and despise
the other.
You cannot
serve
God and money”
(Matthew 6:24).
This verse comes at the end of a passage in which Jesus tells us
to “
lay up treasures in heaven”
(v. 19).
Here, Jesus likens a “love of money”
to
idolatry
He refers to money as
a “master”
we serve at the expense of
serving God.
We are commanded by God to have
“
no other gods”
before the only
true and living God
(Exodus 20:3;
the first commandment). Anything that takes first place in our lives other than our Creator God is an idol and makes us guilty of breaking the first commandment.
Jesus had much to say about wealth.
His most memorable conversation about money is
His encounter with the rich young ruler
(Matthew 19:16–30). The young man asks Jesus what he must do to obtain eternal life, and Jesus tells him to follow the commandments.
When the man tells Jesus that he has done all that, Jesus tests his ability to obey the first commandment and tells him to sell all his possessions and
give it to the poor and to follow Him.
The young man couldn’t do this; his wealth had become an idol—it was his master!
After this encounter, Jesus turns to His disciples and says, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:23–24). This is a hard saying, especially for 21st-century people living in North America. Jesus is saying that wealth is one of the biggest obstacles to coming to faith in Christ. The reason is obvious: wealth becomes a slave master in our lives and drives us to do all sorts of things that drive us further and further away from God. The good news is that what is impossible for man, entering into the Kingdom of God, is possible with God (Matthew 19:26).
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