-1. The Parable of the Vipers.

.   MATTHEW 3:1-10.


IN those days came John the Baptist,
preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2. And saying,

“Repent ye:
for The Kingdom of Heaven
is at hand.”

3. For this is he
that was spoken of
by the Prophet Esaias,
saying,

“THE VOICE OF ONE
CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
PREPARE YE
THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.”

4. And the same John
had his raiment of camel's hair,
and a leathern girdle about his loins;
and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5. Then went out to him Jerusalem,
and all Judaea,
and all the region round about Jordan,
6. And were Baptized of him in Jordan,
confessing their sins.
7. But when he saw many
of the Pharisees and Sadducees
come to his Baptism,
he said unto them,

“O Generation of Vipers,
who hath warned you to flee
from the Wrath to come?
8. “Bring forth therefore
fruits meet for Repentance:
9. "And think not
to say within yourselves,


'WE HAVE ABRAHAM
TO OUR FATHER:'


for I say unto you,


'THAT GOD IS ABLE
OF THESE STONES
TO RAISE UP CHILDREN
UNTO ABRAHAM.'


10. "And now also the Axe
is laid unto the Root of the Trees:
therefore every tree
which bringeth not forth
Good Fruit is hewn down,
and cast into the Fire."

This was a Parable of JOHN THE BAPTIST, not of Yahshua, and this should not be overlooked.
 
THE VIPER is a very poisonous snake that can kill with a single bite.
 That is to say, it could kill with its mouth.

To allow oneself to be bitten by a Viper must be either careless in confronting them, or else ignorant of what they can do, or else ignorant that they are even present.

A PHARISEE was a False Teacher of The Law, who was capable of killing people through TALKING.

They could report on them, or use leading statements to get people to say something that could be used to condemn them.

Therefore, they were indeed similar to the Viper Snake in operation, making this a very apt analogy.