You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus’ sharp rebuke, "brood of vipers," isn't just anger; it's a diagnostic, showing that their evil words are an unavoidable overflow of a fundamentally corrupt inner nature. The saying, "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks," reveals that our words aren't random utterances but rather the visible evidence of what truly fills our inner being.
You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just been accused of casting out demons by the power of Satan, and he refutes this charge by logic and pointing to the obvious goodness of his actions. In response to their continued accusations and hardened hearts, he calls them a "brood of vipers," a stark contrast to their religious claims, asserting that their evil nature inevitably reveals itself in their words. He then connects this to the broader principle that what fills the heart will overflow through the mouth.
Jesus doesn't hold back here, calling His opponents a 'brood of vipers'! What does this harsh image reveal about their true condition?
When Jesus calls them a "brood of vipers," He's not just throwing insults. He's using a powerful metaphor to expose their deeply corrupt nature. Vipers are associated with venom and deception, and Jesus is saying their very core is toxic.
This wasn't a casual jab; it was a diagnostic statement. Their evil nature meant they couldn't speak good things about Him and His miraculous works. Just like a poisonous snake can only produce venom, their inherently evil hearts could only produce words that attacked, misrepresented, and condemned Him.
Ever wonder why some people just can't seem to stop complaining, or why others are so quick to encourage? Jesus gives us the answer right here.
The phrase 'out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks' is incredibly profound. It means our words aren't random; they are the overflow of what's truly inside us.
Think of your heart like a container. If it's filled to the brim with bitterness, anger, or pride, those things will spill out in what you say. Conversely, if your heart is filled with God's love, peace, and truth, your words will naturally reflect that.
This isn't about perfect speech; it's about the source. Jesus is highlighting that genuine goodness or evil will inevitably be revealed through conversation. Our words are like a window, giving others a glimpse into the state of our inner world.
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Understand the original words
echidna · Greek Noun
A metaphorical description of the Pharisees, characterizing them as treacherous, deceitful, and spiritually deadly. It highlights the satanic influence behind their opposition to the ministry of Christ.
kardia · Greek Noun
The center of human personality, encompassing the will, intellect, and emotions. It is the seat of moral choices and the source of all outward expressions, whether righteous or wicked.
c. 28 AD
John the Baptist's Ministry Begins
John the Baptist begins his public ministry in the Judean wilderness, calling people to repentance and baptizing them. He directly confronts the religious leaders, calling them a 'brood of vipers.'
c. 28-30 AD
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, performing miracles and teaching about the Kingdom of God. He frequently clashes with the Pharisees and other religious leaders.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus Accused of Using Demonic Power
Following Jesus' healing of a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, the Pharisees accuse him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Rebuke to the Pharisees
In response to their accusation, Jesus delivers a strong rebuke, explaining that a kingdom divided cannot stand and that their false accusation reveals the corruption of their own hearts.
c. 30 AD
Jesus Exposes Hypocrisy
Jesus further contrasts the fruit of a good tree with the fruit of a corrupt tree, directly applying this to the Pharisees' evil words, which spring from the "abundance of the heart."
This passage directly echoes Jesus' teaching that a person's words reveal the state of their heart, stating 'The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.'
James 3:10James draws a powerful parallel between the mouth and a person's inner nature, highlighting how the same source can produce both praise and curses, showing the same disconnect Jesus addresses with the 'brood of vipers.'
Matthew 15:18Jesus explains that 'what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person,' reinforcing the idea that outward speech is a direct indicator of one's inner condition.
Proverbs 10:20This proverb offers a contrast, stating 'The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth,' emphasizing that the quality of speech is directly tied to the value and purity of the heart within.
barnesMatthew 12:34: "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."
O generation of vipers! - Christ here applies the argument which he had suggested in the previous verse. They were a wicked race; like poisonous reptiles, with a corrupt and evil nature. They could not be expected to speak good things - that is, to speak favorably of him and his works. As the bad fruit of a tree was the proper effect of its "nature," so w…
pulpitMatthew 12:34: "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."
Verse 34. - The first clause is in Matthew only. O generation (ye offspring, Revised Version) of vipers (Matthew 3:7, note). Observe that the figure of the tree had also been used by the Baptist (Matthew 3:10). How can ye. It is against nature. Being evil; i.e. inherently worthless (Matthew 6:13, note); cf. πονηροὶ ὄντες, Matthew 7:11. Speak good things.…
Jesus’ sharp rebuke, "brood of vipers," isn't just anger; it's a diagnostic, showing that their evil words are an unavoidable overflow of a fundamentally corrupt inner nature. The saying, "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks," reveals that our words aren't random utterances but rather the visible evidence of what truly fills our inner being.
Jesus has just been accused of casting out demons by the power of Satan, and he refutes this charge by logic and pointing to the obvious goodness of his actions. In response to their continued accusations and hardened hearts, he calls them a "brood of vipers," a stark contrast to their religious claims, asserting that their evil nature inevitably reveals itself in their words. He then connects this to the broader principle that what fills the heart will overflow through the mouth.
Jesus has just been accused of casting out demons by the power of Satan, and he refutes this charge by logic and pointing to the obvious goodness of his actions. In response to their continued accusations and hardened hearts, he calls them a "brood of vipers," a stark contrast to their religious claims, asserting that their evil nature inevitably reveals itself in their words. He then connects this to the broader principle that what fills the heart will overflow through the mouth.
"You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." — Jesus’ sharp rebuke, "brood of vipers," isn't just anger; it's a diagnostic, showing that their evil words are an unavoidable overflow of a fundamentally corrupt inner nature. The saying, "out of the…
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Last reviewed October 2026