Calling
Shrewd as Snakes and as Innocent as Doves
Jesus gives this
illustration to help the Disciples understand the environment
And how they should
respond
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.
Therefore be as shrewd as
snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16
When Jesus sent out
the 12 Disciples, He in other words was saying
“Don’t look for
trouble because it is bad enough that it will look for you”
Although there are
times we will be brought before judges,
Placed in
environments where we will have to defend the faith
We should not forget
the call is to those who welcome us
And the message of
Christ
"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy
person
there and stay at his house until you leave… Matthew 10:11
Search for worthy
people
People who will hear
your message
Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Shrewd as Snakes and
as Innocent as Doves
I find Jesus’ instructions in
Matthew 10 very interesting.
By this time Jesus had spent
some time with His Disciples.
They had seen Him do many things, and from
the teaching and instruction Jesus gave them,
the purposes of God were being revealed.
So in Matthew 10, Jesus sent the 12 Disciples
out to preach the message of the Kingdom.
What I find interesting is who He sends them to…
"Whatever town or
village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house
until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is
deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to
you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off
your feet when you leave that home or town.
Matthew
10:11-15
Jesus told them to look for people
who would welcome them.
Jesus is fully aware that the world is
full of anti-Christ those who oppose
the message of the Kingdom.
Jesus warns the 12 that this message of love,
this message of good news will be rejected.
Jesus is clear that the world is divided
on the large scale and the small…
The rulers of the world and in the family at home.
Jesus warns the disciples to stay away from those
filled with hatred toward the Kingdom Message.
Jesus gives this illustration to help the Disciples under-
stand the environment and how they should respond…
I am sending you out
like sheep among wolves.
Therefore be as shrewd
as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Matthew 10:16
When Jesus sent out the 12 Disciples,
He in other words was
saying…
“Don’t look for trouble because it is
bad enough that it will look for you.”
There are many who will welcome
the message of the Kingdom.
It seems every day I see something on the news or on
face book that makes me want to stand up and fight…
To argue with those who promote things contrary
to my understanding of God’s Word.
But Jesus did not send His Disciples
to fight the political agenda.
He sent them to people who would welcome them…
People open and receptive to the Good News.
The early church did
not grow by fighting
the establishment, but by giving hope to
people who were looking for true peace.
Although there are times,
we will be brought before
judges…
Placed in
environments where
we will have to defend the faith.
We should not forget the call is to those
who welcome us and the message of Christ.
Search for worthy people.
People who will hear your message.
Therefore be as shrewd
as snakes
and as innocent as
doves.
When I worked at Jeep, there was a man
who called himself an atheist.
Christians warned me of him
because he hated Christians.
I never felt it my place to try to convert him,
but treat him with
the same respect I did with others.
Christians would get into argument with him
and he watched their lives closely.
He complained every time a Christian
did not do his job like he should.
I never tried to convert him or point out his wrong.
I just did my job and shared Christ
with those who would listen.
This atheist was watching me and
one day he came to me privately.
He said…
“I do not believe
that there is a God
but my daughter has a serious physical
problem, will you pray for her?”
I did not try to convert him, but said…
“I appreciate the
confidence you
have in me and I will pray.”
God healed his daughter and although as far
as I know he never became a Christian…
He respected me and
came to me
on other occasions for advice.
The point is this, sometimes we feel strong
and want to show our strength…
Like youth who are looking for a fight.
Our call is to look for those
who will receive the message.
Don’t get distracted from those who
are open to the Message of Hope.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 10:1-16 NIV
10:1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them
authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon
(who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his
brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James
son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who
betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following
instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the
Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this
message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead,
cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received,
freely give. 9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10
take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the
worker is worth his keep.
11 "Whatever town or village you enter, search for some
worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12 As you enter the
home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest
on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not
welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you
leave that home or town. 15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for
Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16 I am sending
you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as
innocent as doves.
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