He saw many proud religious law-keepers and other people of the religious group who believe no one will be raised from the dead. They were coming to him to be baptized. He said to them, “You family of snakes! Who told you how to keep from God’s anger that is coming?

Or if he asks for a fish, would he give him a snake?

“I am sending you out like sheep with wolves all around you. Be wise like snakes and gentle like doves.

You family of snakes! How can you say good things when you are sinful? The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

You snakes! You family of snakes! How can you be kept from hell?