Matthew 10: 16
On Being as Wise as Serpents and as Harmless as Doves

Here he contrasts the traditional symbolism that a snake is wise and crafty with the traditional depiction of a dove as being gentle and guileless.  The idea probably has something to do with the slow and easy movements of the dove as it flies, and its supposed capability to be tamed by humans.  In most societies there are symbolic uses of certain creatures of nature.  We see a similar use of a dragon -- a mythological entity -- similar to our idea of a "monster." 

And we see sheep consent to being shepherded by their shepherd.  Here, Jesus uses these two -- probably traditional -- creatures to depict a paradox in the way we are to behave.  So we are to "be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."  The RSV translates the latter as innocent, but that is merely an attempt to translate the Greek.  The word translated "harmless" here literally means "unmixed" and is usually associated with the purity of some substance, for example.

Now, this morning, let us consider some of the areas in which this paradox might describe our lives and our activity and vulnerability.

The first one is absolutely clear, because that is the subject at hand in Jesus' exhortation to the disciples on this occasion, and through them to us. 

I. IT APPLIES TO THE MALEVOLENCE OF HUMAN KIND. 

We ourselves are shocked, when we see examples of it in our own culture and time. 

1. This is like a kind of "manufacture's warning," like the kind of thing they put on step ladders stating that "Under certain circumstances, this ladder can be very dangerous."  In this case, the danger is that there lurks in the heart of mankind an evil that only the most biased observer can ignore; though historians, sociologists and philosophers often seem to disregard it.  On one level, the history of humanity is just a long series of atrocities committed by humans against humans; the enormity of which, only escapes us because we fail to take notice of the murders, the genocide, the cruelties, on every hand.  It is as if people of history were running a contest with one another as to who could be the most barbarous.  We guess that, relatively speaking, America is an impressive exception to the barbarism that is demonstrated throughout history.  But yet, of a total exception.

2. Only the Christian has an explanation for man's greatness and, at the same time, for his inexplicable potential for evil.  That explanation is, of course, the fact that man, unlike any other creature, was created in the image of God, but that he is also fallen in his present state. 

3. Now this view could make us very cynical and make us people who are haters of mankind instead of what we should be, lovers of mankind and of all of Creatures, loving them in a way that is appropriate with how God created them to be. 

The case in point that the Lord had in mind was that the seemingly mild and harmless people which the Lord's people meet every day, were capable of persecuting and even martyring them for no real reason at all.  Therefore, they should be "as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves," by the Holy Spirit given unto them. 

Being as harmless as doves does not mean that we give place to evil or that we pretend it is not there.  But it means that we give the benefit of the doubt, and reach out to offer help to the wicked that they might mitigate their wickedness.  It has to do with a meek and gentle attitude when we might, otherwise, be harsh and cynical and manipulative. 

It means that when we are wronged, we cry:  "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do," and that, in many instances, we cry in anguish, "My hearts desire and prayer to God for them is that they might be saved" (as Paul prayed regarding the Jewish establishment, which would eventually martyr him. 

4. But the paradox is that we do not give up our serpent-like wisdom in order to be like doves.  We are always aware of the potential of the human race for evil.  We never give unrestricted, unreserved, carte blanch approval to anyone or any group of people with regard to sin and sinfulness.

1. We are to "be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves."  Francis Schaeffer, a teacher of mine at a lecture series at Covenant Seminary, often pointed out the basic antithesis between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world.  He often said, we must always draw the antithesis there and not at a point between Christian and Christian. 

The reason for this is that we have entirely different goals and values as Christians, contrasted to unbelievers. Cornelius VanTil has put it in perhaps an overly absolute way, but the idea is that the Christian sees (or at least, should see) things in a profoundly different way than all of his peers see them, because of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit and a transformed person that he is by God's regeneration.

2. It is for this reason that the advice of Schaeffer is good advice for us and an application of this passage.  We must never become allies with the world, but merely co-beligerants in some instances.  (That was Schaffer's word, which he used, meaning that we temporarily join causes with unbelievers in particular instances.)  Never before in recent centuries has this been such necessary advice as it is now on the present social and political scene. 

3. But we exercise this caution in a mentality of the symbolic graciousness and harmlessness of a dove.  We are not cynical, and not distrustful in such a way as to appear to be paranoid.  We just know and have good reasons to believe that we must eventually part ways with every person or every movement on some issue if they are not informed by God's Word and redeemed by his Spirit.

This is our calling, in our social life, in our family life, in our work activity.

III. FURTHERMORE, THE LORD'S STATEMENT IS APPLICABLE TO WHAT WE MAY EXPECT FROM MANKIND.

1. "Be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves," the Lord said.  The frailty of human character, human potential, human promises is almost a truism.  In some cases more true than in others.

2. Man is unreliable.  Even redeemed man is on an average only somewhat more reliable than "the rock out of which he was hewn."  And we can expect it!  People are going to let you down; they are going to violate your trust; they are going to disappoint you and be a cause for strong tears and crying out to God for comfort and solace. 

3. This might be used by us to become hard and cynical and to never trust anyone, but we are to use this wisdom in a "dove-like" manner, going on, giving a prudent amount of trust and risking a prudent amount of investment in the individual.  And it is of utmost importance that when and if the individual or human institution fails us, we are not wiped out by the disillusion of it all. 

Perhaps you have been hurt by a human institution you trusted in, and you were hurt very much as a result.  And you should pray to God that he will make you faithful, and you should hold your relationships in a "dove-like" manner. 

Jesus set us an example in these things.  He well knew the malevolence of mankind, the weakness and failure of individuals.  He saw it in his future in the ways that the disciples failed him at the time of the crucifixion -- all of them, except John.  But it was not in a bitter spirit on his part but in a spirit of forgiveness and mercy.  So too, he extends his divine mercy to each of us who knows him and he has sent us the dear Holy Spirit to enable us to do a better job at discipleship than we have done earlier in our Christian experience, to the praise of the glory of his grace! ("v.16")