Matthew 10:16

Serpents And Doves

Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16.

Have you ever noticed how often Jesus spoke about dumb animals? He seemed to love them and understand them better than anyone else did. When He was a boy He must have wandered often among the hills and vales of Galilee, and I expect there wasn't a thing that boys know about birds and beasts that He didn't know. He knew how each bird made its nest, the numbers and the color of the eggs, and how long the little birds took to hatch and grow up. He knew where the foxes had their holes, and the wild beasts their dens. He knew much more than ordinary boys do, for with those wonderful eyes of His which could look right into the very hearts of men, He could see also into the minds of the creatures God had made, and could read all their little joys and cares and sorrows.

And so it is not strange that when Jesus was talking to the people, He often spoke to them about the birds and beasts. When He wanted to let them know how much God loved them, He told them of the lost sheep whom the Good Shepherd went to seek. When

He would have them understand how God watched over each one of them, He drew a picture of the little common sparrows, not one of whom fell to the ground without His Father's seeing it. When they were anxious about this world's goods, He spoke of the ravens whom God fed, and when one man wanted to follow Him without counting the cost, He reminded him that the foxes had holes and the birds of the air their nests; but the Son of man had not where to lay His head.

When Jesus was about to send His disciples on their first mission He again spoke of two dumb creatures. The disciples were going out into a world where they would meet with many temptations and many rebuffs, and He cautioned them to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

Now why did Jesus tell His disciples to be like serpents? Well, of course it wasn't the wickedness of the serpent He was thinking of, nor the harm it could do with its poisoned fangs. Perhaps nobody but Jesus would have found something good to say about the serpent. But He did find something good in it as He found good in everybody. He told His disciples to imitate the wisdom of the serpent. The serpent is especially wise in protecting itself from its foes. Sometimes it makes itself look like the branch of a tree, sometimes it hides in the hot sand with only its head visible, sometimes it lies among the long grass, or at the bottom of a pool.

Jesus knew that He had set His disciples a difficult task and that they would need all their head as well as all their heart to carry it out. Many people were against them. Although they were not to be cowards, they were not to run unnecessary risks. And they were not to spoil their cause by needlessly and foolishly setting up people's backs. Many men and women have ruined a good cause by allowing their enthusiasm to run away with their judgment.

But although they were to be wise as serpents they were also to be “harmless as doves.” Harmless just means simple or innocent. Like the dove they were to be pure, and gentle, and faithful. They were not to give anyone a real reason to speak ill of them. They were not to avenge themselves.

Jesus wants all His followers, like the first disciples, to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” He wants all-round boys and girls. Some people are like trees that have grown all to one side. They are not beautiful because they are undeveloped. The best people grow out on every side. Christ wants us to use all our powers for Him.

1. First, He wants us to be “wise as serpents.” He wants us to use our head as well as our heart.

We have to be wise for our own sakes. The world is not all a good place. There are bad things in it as well as good, and we have to be watchful to discern the good from the evil, and to avoid the evil.

Once an earthenware pot and a brass pot stood side by side on the bank of a river. One day the river rose after rain and the pots were carried far out into the middle of the stream. As it bobbed up and down, the earthenware pot dreaded lest it should be shattered by a blow from the brass pot. But the brass pot sailed up, all polished and smiling, and said, “Don't be frightened. I shall take care of you.” “Thank you,” replied the earthenware pot, “all the care I require of you is that you keep your distance. I am not afraid of the stream, but if you come close to me, it will mean my ruin.”

There are lots of brass pots sailing about the world. On the surface they look very fine and attractive, but if we come too near them they may be our ruin, and we need the wisdom of the serpent to know them and avoid them.

Then we have to be wise also for the sake of others. If we want to help them and do them good we must be wise in the doing of it.

And we have to be wise for Christ ' s sake, for we may do His cause a great deal of harm if we act foolishly.

2. But, secondly, we must be “harmless as doves.” We may be wiser than any serpent, but if we are not also as simple as doves our wisdom may turn into cunning. Jesus wants us to use our heart as well as our head.

If we are to be like the dove we must be innocent and pure. Purity is the best shield with which to face the world. In the Pilgrim ' s Progress, Bunyan tells how the Shepherds brought the Pilgrims to Mount Innocence and how they saw there a man in a white garment sitting on the hillside. Two men called Prejudice and Ill-will were continually throwing dirt at him, but when the dirt touched his garment it very soon fell off again and left no stain. When the Pilgrims asked the meaning of it the Shepherds told them that the man's name was Godly-man and that he was clad in a robe of innocence. Those others who were throwing dirt hated him for his well-doing, but their labor was all in vain. And the fate of all others who were like him would be as his God would cause their innocence to break forth as the light, and their righteousness as the noonday.

Jesus Christ Himself was “wise as a serpent, and harmless as a dove.” No one who trod the earth was ever so pure or so gentle, and no one was ever so wise. Do you remember how cleverly He answered the Pharisees and how wise He was in His dealings with all the people who came to Him? And we can wish for nothing better than just to grow a little liker Him from day to day. Let us ask His help that we also may become “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”