Wise as Serpants

Mark Dunagan
06/26/16 - Sunday Evening

Wise as Serpents

As Jesus begins to inform His disciples of the future challenges they will face in spreading the gospel, including standing before powerful civil rulers or dignitaries and explaining the gospel (Matthew 10:18), He said: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). 

Sheep in the Midst of Wolves

Jesus knew that the world is a rough place.  Jesus didn’t have any naïve ideas about people or society.  The world will persecute and hound His followers.  In addition, many of these wolves are of a religious nature who will seek to corrupt the church from within (Acts 20:29; Jude 4).  “The picture of sheep in the midst of wolves reminds us of that continual condition in which the Church has always found herself” (Fowler p. 317).   Yet, this does not mean that we are forever vulnerable and powerless.  The wolves may have access to worldly, earthly and political power, but the sheep have a living God behind them and a weapon from another world, the word of God, sharper than any double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12).  We have weapons that no political power on earth can subdue, we have love, hope, truth and faith.  “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4-5).

Stepping Back for a Moment

In the midst of a trial it may seem like the world is far more powerful than the gospel.  We might see how many people are on broad way verses the narrow way.  Or, the number of professed believers that we observe that either fall away or simply never grow (Matthew 13:19ff), or how many young people we are being told in our time are losing their faith in God.  Or, how powerful evil seems to be, having become entrenched in books, magazines, on Television and Cable and on the Internet. Let’s be reminded that the Roman Empire and its opposition to the Gospel seemed very powerful and overwhelming in the First Century.  Back then it just looked like there was no way that the church was going to survive.  And the church backed then faced extreme persecution (Acts 8:1-3; Revelation 2:10), devious false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3), huge congregational problems, and moral and spiritual compromise among professed members (Revelation 2:14).

• Yet, where is the Roman Empire with all its power today?Long gone.The various Caesars that stood opposed to the truth, forgotten by the average person.
• Those who sought to corrupt or derail God’s people, like the angels that sinned, are currently under punishment until the day of judgment (2 Peter 2:4,9). The media and entertainment industry of that day and age, gone and devoid of any power. Yet, the church is still here.In fact, there are more congregations, in more places that exist today some 2000 years later.
• In like manner, it may appear that the wolves are devouring the sheep today, but just like two centuries ago when things looked similar in 100, 500 or 1000 years from now all the voices that spoke out against the truth will be silenced and the church will still be here (Hebrews 12:28).
• If living in the world is living in the midst of wolves, then we need to value time with the other sheep and stay close to the shepherd.
• When someone is tempting to you to join them in their sin, be honest, realize what they are.They are a wolf and wolves devour.They do not nourish, they do not protect, they do not give, they consume.

Innocent as Doves

This immediately follows the statement “Be shrewd as serpents” which clearly defines in some measure that statement. The shrewdness here is not sinful.  It is not manipulation.  It is not fighting fire with fire.  It is not being a clever or good liar.  The shrewdness in the verse does not use sinful or worldly tactics, attitudes or strategies.  In like manner Paul said, “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh” (2 Corinthians 10:4).

• This means that our motives are to be completely pure.We only want to serve God and spread His truth (Matthew5:6-8).
• The only praise we are seeking is the honest and true praise that comes from Him after living a life that was actually godly (Matthew 6:1).We are not trying to please men (Galatians 1:10), tickle ears (2 Timothy 4:3), live a double life, or gain our own following of disciples (Acts 20:30).
• We avoid misrepresenting error, for such is not needed.We avoid using false or weak arguments, misleading information, twisted figures or statistics for they are not needed either.We don’t stretch the truth and neither do we use falsehood to advance our position.Neither do we attempt to shout-down the opposition.
• We hold to the truth, not because it is easier on us, financially beneficial, caters to our selfishness, makes us look good, allows for some sinful pleasures or brings a certain amount of coolness or popularity.We hold to the truth because it is God’s truth, which is the only truth and we love God.
• We never have to trick or falsely lure anyone into becoming a Christian. The only lure that we use when fishing for men is the death of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world.

Shrewd as Serpents

Immediate martyrdom was not to be the goal of Jesus' servants.  They had a very important work to do, Jesus did not expect them to hazard their lives needlessly or foolishly (10:23 ; Acts 23:1-9; Philippians 1:19-26).

Applications

• When people attempt to put us on the spot concerning something that the Bible teaches and we believe, we need to put them on the spot and insist that they defend their position, “Okay, what do you believe and why?”
• When people attack our stand on a practice that the Bible says is sinful, we need to press them, “Okay, prove to me that the practice is morally good”.
• Instead of just telling someone what the Bible says or what you believe about a certain subject, have them read a section of verses that addresses that subject and ask them, “So, what does the word of God teach on that?”
• Hold unbelievers accountable for their positions and insist on consistency and point out various inconsistencies.
• When people claim there is no absolute truth, insist that they absolutely prove that claim.
• If someone does not want to follow Jesus press them for the real reason.
• When someone falls away from the faith and is tempted to complain about the church – press them for the real reason for their departure.

Beware of Men: 10:17

“Be on your guard against”(TCNT); “Do not put your trust in men” (Knox). Present imperative, always on your guard.    This doesn’t mean, “don’t trust anyone”, but rather, it reminds us of the real world in which we live.  All men are not to be trusted alike.  Here is a strong warning for people who naively believe that the gospel can be made “attractive” to the world.  The Apostles were the best preachers who ever lived, and yet every one of them was persecuted. 

• Do not attempt to win converts by watering down the gospel to attract more people in your time.People are fickle.The culture is always changing.No human view is ever permanent.
• Government never has all the answers or solutions.Do not look to it to solve your spiritual, moral and personal problems.
• Beware of following mere human solutions for spiritual problems.Man does not have the answer, God does.Men did not create and design us, God did.God is the professional in this area, all men following human theories are only amateurs.
• Avoid courting human popularity, for the world will often turn on you.
• The world enjoys building people up only to enjoy tearing them down.

Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net