Matthew 10:16
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus isn't just telling you to be clever and innocent; he's presenting a paradox: be so sharp-eyed you can spot danger like a serpent, yet so pure of heart that your intentions are as untainted as a dove. This means being shrewd in navigating challenges without ever compromising your integrity or becoming cunning yourself.
Jesus is commissioning his twelve disciples to go out and preach the coming of the kingdom, but he immediately warns them that their mission will be dangerous. He foresees that they will face hostility and persecution from those who oppose his message, comparing their vulnerable state to sheep surrounded by ravenous wolves. This stark imagery prepares them for the conflict and opposition they will inevitably encounter.
Jesus sends his followers into a hostile world, not with weapons, but with a mission. How can they survive, let alone succeed?
Jesus begins by issuing a stark warning: "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves." This isn't a casual assignment. The disciples are being sent into dangerous territory, surrounded by those who are predatory and hostile to the message they carry.
Think of it like this: you're heading into a room full of hungry wolves, and your job is to deliver a message of hope. Jesus isn't minimizing the danger; He's calling attention to it. The word 'Behold' (or 'Lo!') grabs our attention, forcing us to acknowledge the reality of the situation. This imagery highlights the disciples' vulnerability and the fierce opposition they will face.
Jesus gives a surprising directive: be like a serpent and a dove. How can these seemingly opposite qualities work together?
The core of Jesus' instruction lies in the command: "so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." This is not about adopting the serpent's malice, nor the dove's naivete. Instead, Jesus calls for a specific blend of traits.
Wisdom like Serpents:
Innocence like Doves:
Understand the original words
idou · Greek Interjection/Particle
A command to pay close attention or perceive something of great importance; often used to introduce a significant revelation or truth.
probaton · Greek Noun
Animals known for their gentleness, vulnerability, and dependence on a shepherd; in Scripture, they often represent God’s people.
lykos · Greek Noun
Predatory animals that symbolize those who are hostile, ravenous, or spiritually dangerous to the people of God.
phronimos · Greek Adjective
Practical, godly discernment; the ability to make sound judgments and act with foresight according to God's will.
This passage uses the same imagery of lambs among wolves, highlighting the vulnerability and danger faced by Jesus's followers as they carried His message.
Genesis 3:1The serpent's cunning is mentioned as a characteristic to imitate, drawing a parallel to the serpent's role in the temptation narrative, but with a focus on practical wisdom rather than deceit.
Romans 16:19This verse speaks of being 'innocent' or 'guileless' regarding what is evil, echoing the 'harmless as doves' instruction and emphasizing a pure heart alongside wisdom.
Psalm 119:105While not directly about persecution, this verse about God's word being a lamp and a light speaks to the need for guidance and wisdom in navigating difficult paths, similar to the discernment Jesus calls for.
1 Peter 3:15This passage encourages believers to be ready to make a defense for their faith, but also to do so with gentleness and respect, mirroring the balance between strategic wisdom and gentle innocence.
vincentMatthew 10:16: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
I send you forth (ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω)Cognate to the word ἀπόστολος (apostle). The I is emphatic: "It is I that send you forth."Wise (φρόνιμοι)So A.V. and Rev. Denoting prudence with regard to their own safety. Wyc., wary.Harmless (ἀκέραιοι)Lit., unmixed, unadulterated. Used of wine without water, and of metal without alloy. Hence guileless. So Luther, without f…
bensonMatthew 10:16: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
Matthew 10:16 . Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves — I now send you forth weak and defenceless among a wicked, cruel, and persecuting people. “Considering the nature of the tidings which the apostles were now sent out to publish, namely, that the kingdom of heaven was at hand — considering, also, the number and variety of the miraculous cures…
Jesus isn't just telling you to be clever and innocent; he's presenting a paradox: be so sharp-eyed you can spot danger like a serpent, yet so pure of heart that your intentions are as untainted as a dove. This means being shrewd in navigating challenges without ever compromising your integrity or becoming cunning yourself.
Jesus is commissioning his twelve disciples to go out and preach the coming of the kingdom, but he immediately warns them that their mission will be dangerous. He foresees that they will face hostility and persecution from those who oppose his message, comparing their vulnerable state to sheep surrounded by ravenous wolves. This stark imagery prepares them for the conflict and opposition they will inevitably encounter.
Jesus is commissioning his twelve disciples to go out and preach the coming of the kingdom, but he immediately warns them that their mission will be dangerous. He foresees that they will face hostility and persecution from those who oppose his message, comparing their vulnerable state to sheep surrounded by ravenous wolves. This stark imagery prepares them for the conflict and opposition they will inevitably encounter.
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Jesus is calling for a strategic, aware faith that doesn't compromise its pure intentions. It's about being shrewd enough to survive and effective, yet pure enough to represent God faithfully.
akeraios · Greek Adjective
Purity, lack of deceit, or blamelessness; signifies being unmixed or untainted by evil or malice.
"“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." — Jesus isn't just telling you to be clever and innocent; he's presenting a paradox: be so sharp-eyed you can spot danger like a serpent, yet so pure of heart that your intentions are as untainted as a…
