apostles after the death and resurrection of Christ; when their Compare Romans 16:19; Philippians 2:15. "wolves", because fierce and furious, voracious and ravenous, Read commentary on this popular Bible verse and understand the real meaning behind God's Word using John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. He who gets ease and pleasure, in consequence of embracing the ministerial office, neither preaches the Gospel, nor is sent of God. vii. Harmless as doves.—Better, simple, sincere—i.e., “guileless.” The Greek indicates more than simple harmlessness—a character in which there is no alloy of baser motives. “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. By Jerry June 3, 2020 July 24, 2020. What does Matthew 5:16 mean? inoffensive, in their lives and conversations; were weak, and Matthew 10:16. In this I … There will be some who have a benign attitude that ignores the message. (Matthew 10:17-23) How were the disciples to react to persecution? Matthew 10:16-20 The Word of God Jesus said to his disciples, "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Matthew 10 contains a collection of teachings on the disciples’ mission. - The internal conditions of conveying Christ's message. be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves—Wonderful combination this! ESV: English Standard Version 2016 . It may be that Matthew, written years after Mark’s Gospel, adds the unchastity exception because of the struggles of the early church with this issue. New King James Version. Our Lord’s reference to this symbolism gains a fresh significance when we remember that He had seen the heavens opened, and the Spirit of God descending “like a dove” upon Himself (Matthew 3:16). Matthew 10:16. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Ἰδοὺ, behold) Behold is frequently used for pointing out a thing which is present.— ἐγὼ, I) your Lord. 1. I looked and see a concordance list of 55 occurences in the NKJV but yet do … of To be left exposed, as sheep to wolves, would have been startling enough; but that the sheep should be sent among the wolves would sound strange indeed. They have a specific mission: proclaim the coming of the kingdom of heaven from town to town in the region of Galilee (Matthew 10:5–8). unable to protect themselves, and were sent out by him unarmed In Matthew 16:19, Christ continues, “And I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” The “keys” He is referring to here is symbolic language meaning that He gives His ministers the knowledge of how to enter the kingdom. Matthew 10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Cognate to the word ἀπόστολος (apostle). . "Behold, I send you forth as sheep amidst the wolves" Answer Save. ... (see Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 23-26). Matthew 10:16 (16) “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. No, I'm not religious. I came across it on a website and found it interesting. These words sound so true, and I pray for the great gift of being both wise and innocent at the same time. they were meek and humble in their spirits, harmless, and Matthew 10:16. Matthew 10:16-33. Why Parables? Matthew 10:9-10 "Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses," "Nor scrip for [your] … What does Matthew 10:16 mean? Mutual independence remains a live option. Matthew 10:16 - Balancing Between Serpents and Doves. Albanus, the Captain-General of the army of Charles V., had four hundred stout and resolute youths, who were prodigal of life and devoted to death, called the forlorn hope. . Alone, the wisdom of the serpent is mere cunning, and the harmlessness of the dove little better than weakness: but in combination, the wisdom of the serpent would save them from unnecessary exposure to danger; the harmlessness of the dove, from sinful expedients to escape it. Favorite Answer. Much such an expression as this God is represented as saying of Be wise as serpents ... - Serpents have always been an emblem of wisdom and cunning, Genesis 3:1. doves. Wise as serpents.—The idea of the serpent as symbolising wisdom, seems to have entered into the early parables of most Eastern nations. We find it in Egyptian temples, in the twined serpents of the rod of Æsculapius and of Hermes, in the serpent-worship of the Turanian races, in the history in Genesis 3 of the serpent that was “more subtle than any beast of the field.” For the most part it appears in Scripture as representing an evil wisdom to be fought with and overcome. Salt is meant it be salty and becomes worthless if it loses that quality. preach his Gospel; of which he gives a faithful account before Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. These are doctrines of the Kingdom disguised as parables. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He directs them, also, to be harmless, not to provoke danger, not to do injury, and thus make their fellow-men justly enraged against them. wherefore Christ gives them this wholesome advice. Roger Hahn. The serpent is a very sharp sighted, cunning creature, and uses various arts and stratagems for its own preservation, and especially of its head; and is so far to be imitated by the followers of Christ, as to make use of all proper methods to preserve themselves from the insults and rage of men, and not expose themselves to unnecessary dangers: and, as much as in them lies, they should be careful to give no just occasion of offence, or irritate, and provoke them to use them ill, and to avoid all snares and traps that are laid for them; and, at the same time, maintain the innocence and harmlessness of the dove, being free from all wicked cunning and craftiness, without rancour, malice, and wrath; not meditating and seeking revenge, but meek and humble in their deportment, leading inoffensive lives, and proceeding in the course of their calling, though liable to many insults, and much oppression. The good work that we do is the new-life of Christ within us, that is working through us. Jodi D. Lv 7. In Matthew 10:16; "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. WORDS OF JESUS IN RED. Clarke's Matthew 10:16 Bible Commentary Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves - He who is called to preach the Gospel is called to embrace a state of constant labor, and frequent suffering. Resume Prayer. Wyc., wary. No animal equals them in the rapidity and skill which they evince in escaping danger. commission was enlarged, and they afresh sent out by Christ to It is the new, born-again life of Christ that we received when we were born from above, that carries out any good works that we do, so that others may see our good works and glorify our Father Who is in heaven. We should strive to be gentle without being pushovers, … When St. Paul “caught men with guile” (2Corinthians 12:16), becoming “all things to all men” (1Corinthians 9:22), he was acting in the spirit of his Master’s counsels. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. “Iscariot is usually thought to mean ‘man of Kerioth’ (a city in southern Judaea), but has also been explained as meaning ‘traitor’, ‘assassin’, ‘carrier of the leather bag’, or ‘redhead’!” (France) viii. in the midst of wolves—ready to make a prey of you (Joh 10:12). The general principle is found in verse 16: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves. Change Language {{#items}} {{local_title}} The disciples of Christ are to be at once supremely guileful and absolutely guileless. What did Jesus mean when He said, 'be wise as serpents,'? Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue.