Yes, and in Mat 10:16 He says "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves." Is he telling them to be evil and destined to hell?
Serpents/vipers were obviously considered dangerous, because they are dangerous animals. But they were also considered wise and cunning.
There are many instances, mostly in the OT, where people are called serpents.
I doubt they were all meant to be the descendents of Cain...
That's true but these "serpents" have already been condemned to hell, Matthew 23:33. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Also, consider the "generation of vipers".
As used in that scripture: Strong's #1081 gennema, or genema, from 1080 offspring; by anal. produce (lit.or fig.): - fruit, generation....#1080 to procreate (prop. of the father, but by extens. of the mother); fig. to regenerate: - bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.
The other uses of generation are different, they are #1074 - genea; from 1085; a generation; by impl. an age (the period or the persons): - age, generation, nation, time.
From that it appears, to me, that Christ is speaking about offspring of the serpent, condemned to hell. That is not a snake.
We must also consider the word "serpents". As used in other places it is #2062 herpeton, (to creep); a reptile... In these verses where Christ is speaking it is #3789:
ophis; prob. from 3700 (through the idea of sharpness of vision); a snake, fig. (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, espec. Satan: - serpent
There are many instances, mostly in the OT, where people are called serpents.....I doubt they were all meant to be the descendents of Cain...
As shown above, it depends on what the meaning of "serpent" and "generation" is. The vipers Christ is talking about appear to be Cain's descendents.
....Ping