Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda].”
MATTHEW 10:16 AMP
“Says R. Judah, in the name of R. Simon, the holy blessed God said, concerning Israel, with me they are תמימים כיונים, “harmless as doves”; but among the nations of the world, they are ערומים כנחשים, “subtle as serpents.” [BibleStudyLight.org. John Gill’s Exposition of the Holy Bible. Matthew 10:16]
Sheep are innocent and vulnerable. As Christians we have the responsibility of spreading the Word in hostile environments, but in doing so we must be alert and always be ready to dodge attacks. We must be cunning, and stay on the offensive, not lashing out at nay-sayers.
We must remain humble and innocent as doves, never giving anyone reason to doubt our intent or becoming viewed as the center of the conversation. When attacked, we should not lash back, but rather keep our reputation intact.
Like serpents, we must be strategic and know when to stand and when to escape, or depart until the time is right to re-approach others and share the wisdom of God’s love for us.
Key Points
* The world is hostile to believer’s.
* Wolves are intentional about the harm they inflict on sheep.
* Serpents are subtle and strategic.
* Doves are innocent.
“In Matthew 10:16, Jesus taught us how to optimize our gospel-spreading opportunities. Successful Christian living requires that we strike the optimal balance between the dove and the serpent. We should strive to be gentle without being pushovers, and we must be sacrificial without being taken advantage of. We are aware of the unscrupulous tactics used by the enemy, but we take the high road. Peter admonishes us, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:12)”.[Gotquestions.org. What does it mean to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves? Matthew 10:16]