What is the meaning of Generation of Vipers How many times were it mentioned in the Bible and who spoke of this phrase?

Answer 1

Jesus used the expression "offspring (or generation) of vipers" in reference to the religious leaders of his day. John the Baptist also used this expression toward these same religious leaders. John's use of the expression is found at Matthew 3:7 and the parallel account is at Luke 3:7. Jesus appears to have used the expression twice. Once at Matthew 12:34 and again at Matthew 23:33. The reason that these men were labled as such was because of their misleading the people. This is indicated by what Jesus says in Matthew chapter 23 from verse 1 onward. He states that these men were "blind guides" teaching false doctrines and using their positions to get rich. Jesus use of the term "offspring of vipers" also reminds us of when he referred to these same religious leaders as being the offspring of the Devil at John 8:44, of which the Bible calls the "origional serpent." (Revelation 12:9) A viper is a snake and a snake in both the Old and New Testaments represents a teacher of the law. So Jesus told his disciplers that they must be as cunning as snakes and Jacob described his son: "Dan", whose name means: "judge" as a snake. Jesus also compared himself to the copper snake placed on a pole by Moses. Therefore, a snake, obviously, cannot be a demonic being. A viper, however, is a poisonous snake and Paul of Tarsus describes: "lies" as being like: "poison". Hence: "a viper" is: "a teacher of the law who spreads incorrect information". === === The above answerer referred to a snake as not ever meaning a demonic being, however, the scrpitures at Revelation 12:9 refers to Satan the Devil as the "origional serpent." Therefore, a serpent (or snake) can certainly refer to a demonic person. Jesus told his disciples that they must be as cautious as snakes. Jesus was merely using this trait of a snake to help his listeners understand that they needed to use caution and discernment when preaching, since there were many enemies of the good news at that time.