Matthew 10:16 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 10:16 — KING JAMES VERSION 1

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. The mission's danger is acknowledged: the disciples go as sheep among wolves — the same sheep and wolf imagery as the false prophets of 7:15, now applied to the disciples' vulnerability. The wisdom of serpents and innocence of doves are the complementary virtues for the dangerous mission: serpents were proverbially shrewd in perceiving and avoiding danger (Genesis 3:1 uses the word for the serpent's wisdom); doves were proverbially gentle and harmless. The combination prevents both naivety (innocence without wisdom) and cynical manipulation (wisdom without innocence).

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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Carlos RiveraNote1mo ago

Wise as Serpents, Innocent as Doves

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Jesus isn't calling his disciples to naive trust. He's calling them to wisdom combined with int...