Matthew 10:1-23

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16, NKJV)

After Jesus selected the twelve apostles, He sent them out to preach to the lost sheep of Israel. He gave them power to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. They were not to take money or extra clothing with them, because the worker is worthy of his food. Wherever they went, a worthy person would open their home to them. But if no one received them, then they would shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against them. As they had freely received from the Lord, so they would freely give to others.

But they needed to be watchful and discerning. Jesus sent them out as sheep among wolves. They would need to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Not everyone who claims to be a believer is a child of God. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing. The Pharisees claimed to be children of Abraham and children of God, but Jesus said that they were children of the devil (John 8:37-47). Christ’s disciples could not afford to be foolish or gullible or else they would be deceived and destroyed. They would become wolf chow!

Likewise, we must be wise as serpents.

“The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made.” (Genesis 3:1, NLT)

We must also be shrewd and discern when someone is not who they appear to be. Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16).” But we should not judge others in a way that is harsh or hurtful. We must be harmless as doves. The dove is a universal symbol of peace and gentleness. There is good reason for this. In real life, a wolf can never become a sheep, but among people a wolf can become a sheep. It is not easy; it may even be extremely rare; but a wolf can become a sheep. The murderous Pharisee Saul became the gracious Apostle Paul.

Therefore, we must be watchful and discerning, but we must also give God time and space to change people. If people oppose us, we must gently instruct them in the hope that God will grant them repentance (2 Timothy 2:24-26). Jesus said that the devil would sow tares among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-43). Once we identify someone as a tare, we may want to pull him up. But Jesus tells us not to do that lest we uproot the wheat as well. Instead, we must wait for God to judge them, which He will do at the end of the age.

“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 13:41–43, NKJV)

So, let us wait patiently for the Lord to come when He will rightly judge every person. In the meantime, may the Holy Spirit help us to be serpent-doves!