"O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."
I would beg the Reader to pause over this verse; and to collect the sense of our Lord's expression, in calling those men whom he had in view, generation of vipers. It is a very solemn consideration, but therefore the more to be regarded, that throughout the whole word of God, this generation is spoken of, in one and the same uniform character. Indeed, the seed of the woman, and the seed of the serpent, are expressly marked and defined, from the first moment in which the Lord declared, he would put enmity in the seed, to each other. Genesis 3:15. Hence those strong expressions of Christ: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. John 8:44. And hence, as in this verse, Jesus speaks of it as a thing impossible, that they should do otherwise than what is evil. How can ye being evil speak good things? Ye believe not (said Jesus), because ye are not of my sheep. John 10:26. And elsewhere, he calls them, serpents and a generation of vipers, which cannot escape the damnation, of hell! Matthew 23:33. See Matthew 25:33; Matthew 25:33. And in like manner, his servants the Apostles adopt the same language. Paul called Elymas the sorcerer, child of the devil. Acts 13:10. And Peter speaking of the same race, calls them cursed children; and as brute beasts made to be taken and destroyed. 2 Peter 2:12-14. And John if possible, yet more strongly defines the stock; for when. speaking of Cain's murdering his brother, he asketh the question by way of answering it. And wherefore (said he) did Cain slay his brother? Because he was of that wicked one.1 John 3:12. See those scriptures in further confirmation. Galatians 3:16-29; 1 John 3:8-9.