“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16
This message is part of Jesus’ sendoff to his disciples who are about to enter the larger world in pairs, carrying with them Jesus’ Good News. These are just regular guys. They aren’t college grads. They are being asked to do something they are unfamiliar with. They are to go door to door, and I rather imagine they are stepping out with a modicum of fear. He reassures them.
“Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:17-20
God will provide the words, but Jesus adds that notable proviso.
“…. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16b
So what does the epithet “shrewd as a snake” actually mean? How are snakes shrewd? Here is what Google told me:
- They blend into their environment.
- They know when to act.
- They are careful and prudent in how they act. They strike only when the time is right.
In sports, there is a term used again and again. One we all know well — Home Field Advantage — a card it’s always good to possess. We are playing on Satan’s turf. He is the prince of this world. He has a plan. To fight him, we must be shrewd.
Our adversary, the devil, will NOT play by the rules. We must go into battle with our eyes open. Satan will fight dirty. We must be prepared and utilize every tool God has given us. Paul outlines the tools in our armory.
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests….” Ephesians 6:11-18
That accounts for the “Shrewd as a Serpent” part, but what about “Innocent as a Dove”? Peter clarifies that for 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.
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.” 1 Peter 2:12-16
We just finished, likely, the bitterest, most vitriolic presidential campaign ever. Both sides operated as though the End justifies the Means. As long as you win, it doesn’t matter how you get there. Mistruths? No Problem! But Jesus says it does. We are Jesus’ Ambassadors. What would Jesus do? And that is the answer to the meaning of “Innocent as a Dove”.
We are to live in the world, be aware of its foibles, but not be of the world. That’s what we must represent!
Shrewd AND Innocent, i.e,. Saints Alive
by Bruce Hanson
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