When Jesus condemned the Pharisees it was because they decorated the tombs of the prophets and claimed as their spiritual forefathers those who had murdered the prophets, saying that they themselves were innocent because they personally would never do such things.
They thereby condemned themselves and hence Jesus called them “the offspring of vipers”.
It was not Christ’s followers that were doing the killing and persecuting. (Matt. 23:29-33)
By calling these murderers their forefathers the Pharisees became murders themselves.
Is there a lesson to be drawn here?
Of course. Just don’t expect those who need to learn it the most to get it.
Excellent point. Scriptural logic and God’s truth are on our side. You just gave a great example of that fact.