Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Both Jesus and John the Baptist called the elite, educated Pharisees, Sadducees and the Teachers of Law “brood of vipers” as there were common character traits between snakes and the Sanhedrin. We have noticed snakes flickering their tongue out all the time. It may appear threatening when it flicks its tongue out, but it’s simply trying to get a better sense of its surroundings by “tasting” the air. Most snakes have poor eyesight and limited hearing, so they use their nostrils and tongues to pick up the scent of nearby prey or predators. Jesus compared the spiritual blindness and spiritual deafness of the Pharisees to the blindness and the deafness of the snakes and the venom under their tongue as the flickering tongue of the vipers! Matthew 15:8 “‘These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” They had their “tongue out”, by preaching in the street corners and the synagogues but had poor insight into the Word of God and insensitive deafness to the truth.
We find many robbed in the pure, holy and righteous garments on the outside yet, propagating wrong teachings, leading mischievous, secretive lifestyles and causing confusion by gossip, slur and slander. Paul warns us “test them all; hold on to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Beware of the brood of vipers who are noxious, misleading and malign.
The rudimentary nature of those who live above and below the snake line can be determined by the words of their tongue:
1. Teach: Jesus warned the common uneducated people to be careful of hypocrites who teach twisted truth. Matthew 23:23 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. Those who live below the snake line will overvalue legalism but undervalue love. They have their tongues flicking out, teaching in every matter; (even in issues that do not concern them), yet, they do not practice what they preach.
2. Tongue: The tongue is the true test to our trajectory. James 3:2 For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. Those who live below the line of disobedience flicking their tongues like a snake, ‘taste the atmosphere’ (‘topic of discussion’) and jump in with their own ideas, gossip and views, ravaging people, breaking principles and injecting poison. Tongue is the true test if we are living above or below the snake line.
3. Truth: The integrity of a person is measured by the words of his tongue. Ephesians 4:15a Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him. Truth must be spoken but must be seasoned with love. There are many who hurt, pierce and break the hearts of the listeners under the banner of “speaking the truth”. We become self righteous when we speak the truth harshly but truth must always be spoken in humility and love.
The flickering tongue of the snake is full of venom so, is a hypocrite who lives way below the snake line. They pretend to be pious, pure and pristine yet are spiritually blinded and deafened like the brood of vipers.
James 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, quicken and purify my spiritual eyes, ears and heart that I may speak words of wisdom. May the words of my mouth be the measure of my spiritual growth. Amen
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