Why Did Jesus Call the Pharisees Vipers and Snakes?
“You serpents, you spawn of vipers, how can you escape the penalty of hell?” (Matthew 23:33, AMP).
That is a pretty harsh statement coming from Jesus concerning what the scribes and Pharisees were teaching Israel. This isn’t just an angry rebuke or warning from Jesus. His use of the term “vipers and snakes” is a direct connection to the day judgment fell on Israel and vipers and serpents came out of the ground biting everyone (Numbers 21:4-9). God instructed Moses to put a bronze serpent on a pole and raise it up. Everyone who had been bitten by the poisonous snakes could look at the bronze serpent on the pole, “believe,” and be healed.
Paul teaches that these stories are given to us as our examples and instructions for living in God’s righteousness today.
All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, AMP)
A brief history of snakes in the Bible always points to rebellion and sin starting with Eve in the garden.
Jesus identified the Pharisees and scribes as serpents and vipers by showing their teachings brought death, not life to people.
In Numbers Chapter 21, the people spoke out against God and Moses. They were becoming rebellious and questioned why God took them out of Egypt to die in the desert. Of course, we all know that wasn’t God’s plan for them. He had the Promised Land set aside just for them. This land was filled with houses and vineyards already built and planted. All God required was they trust Him. They were delivered from slavery and bondage, and Egypt loaded them down with gold and precious items as they left. God supernaturally delivered them from Pharaoh’s army. And after all of that, they grumbled, complained, and believed God just brought them to the desert to kill them. Talk about being ungrateful.
The Old Testament is filled with stories that are types and shadows of Jesus and His redemptive work. This is such a story. The serpents and vipers represent sin and unbelief. The bronze serpent raised up on a pole symbolized Jesus on the cross. Jesus became sin for us so we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The bronze serpent raised up on a pole represents two crucial issues related to redemption. Bronze represents God’s judgment. The altars where animals were sacrificed were made of bronze. Bronze was never allowed inside the tabernacle, only gold, which represents God’s royalty and holiness, as well as silver, which symbolizes man’s redemption. The tabernacle symbolizes God’s presence, His home, which believers are today. This is also why Paul tells believers that those in Christ never need to fear judgment (Romans 8:1).
The serpent is a symbol of sin. Jesus took all sin upon Himself, so we could be free from the power of sin. When infected, Israel looked at and believed what God provided for them. As a result, they were healed or saved.
Jesus made this connection to the teaching of the Pharisees and scribes so they and everyone else would know what they were teaching Israel was no different to what happened to Israel when they were bitten by poisonous snakes in the desert. Their teachings produced unbelief and death resulting in hell to those who believe them. Whereas, what Jesus teaches points people to the cross. If they believe in what God does for them at the cross through His Son, they will be saved.
People who teach that salvation and righteousness are earned and worked for are no different from poisonous snakes biting people and giving them a slow painful death. Those who point people to Jesus will see them set free from self-righteousness and performance-based religion.
Jesus came to heal broken hearts, not add more burdens to them. Everything He teaches is intended to yoke us with Him because His burden is light.
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30, AMP).
You can always recognize religion because it puts burdens on you. Grace removes those burdens and life becomes easy and light because you are yoked to Jesus.
“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]” (John 10:10, AMP),
