
Jesus called them hypocrites and snakes because they didn't practice what they preached and they were like slithering snakes, a common representation of evil. After all, wasn't it the serpent who talked Eve into talking Adam into joining her in taking a bite from the forbidden apple? The birth of sinful man was thereby established, ultimately requiring The Christ coming to earth to save us.
At the end of that day before the Last Supper, Jesus returned to the outside of the city where He enjoyed gathering with the Disciples around an open fire for warmth and for cheer. This night he mourned the rejection of God's Law by Jerusalem and spoke of her pending destruction. He knew not only what would soon befall Him but also the turning of the City of God from the Lord and the ultimate destruction of the Temple that would come to pass while His very Disciples spread the Word.
During the period since Palm Sunday, Judas had made contact with the Elders and had made a pact with them to identify Jesus for the Temple guards. The seeds were set for the chain of events which would begin the next day, Maundy Thursday, events that would fulfill the Prophet Isaiah and the words of Jesus Himself.
What an amazing story that is unfolding: the Greatest Story ever told. We'll continue tomorrow. Think about and remember the significance of this period for it brought with it His grace and love just for us. God bless you all.