Part 4 - Wise as Serpents and Harmless as Doves

“Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace,
so certain of God's favor that it would risk death
a thousand times trusting in it.
Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace
makes you happy, joyful and bold
in your relationship to God and all creatures.
The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith.
Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully
do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things,
love and praise the God who has shown you such grace.”
Martin Luther

Wise as Serpents and Harmless as Doves – Part4

“Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves;
be wary and wise as serpents,
and be innocent
(harmless, guileless, and without falsity) as doves.”
Matthew 10:16 Amplified bible

Jesus’ Examples of Subtlety:
If ever there was an example

of one being in the midst of the “wolves” it was Jesus.

The religious leaders of His time continually measured His words

looking for an opportunity to discredit His words.

They often asked Him craftily designed questions

hoping to trip Him up so that they could slander His responses.

It is noteworthy, that Jesus very often

answered their questions with a question.

When the Pharisees asked Jesus

if they should pay taxes to their Roman rulers,

Jesus simply replied, “Whose is this image and superscription [on this coin]?”

When the Pharisees answered, “Caesar’s,” Jesus gave a wise exhortation:

“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s;

and unto God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:20-21)

When Jesus’ disciples were picking corn on the Sabbath,

thus violating Jewish Law, the Pharisees challenged Him again.

Again the Lord responded with a query:
He said to them, Have you not even read
what David did when he was hungry,
and those who accompanied him,
how he went into the house of God
and ate the loaves of the showbread—
which was not lawful for him to eat,
nor for the men who accompanied him,
but for the priests only?
Or have you never read in the Law
that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple
violate the sanctity of the Sabbath
[breaking it] and yet are guiltless?
Matthew 12:3-5 Amplified Bible

On another occasion Jesus cleansed the Temple

by driving out the money changers,

and the rulers indignantly asked Him,

“By what authority do you do these things.”

Instead of answering their question he posed yet another question to them:

He replied to them, I will also ask you a question.
Now answer Me:
Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men?
And they argued and discussed [it]
and reasoned together with themselves, saying,
If we reply, From heaven, He will say,
Why then did you not believe him?
But if we answer, From men,
all the people will stone us to death,
for they are long since firmly convinced
that John was a prophet
Luke 20:3-6 Amplified Bible

In yet another instance the Pharisees wanted to see

if Jesus would heal on the Sabbath.

Note how Jesus replied:
“But He said to them,
What man is there among you,
if he has only one sheep
and it falls into a pit or ditch on the Sabbath,
will not take hold of it and lift it out?
How much better and of more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful and allowable
to do good on the Sabbath days.”
Matthew 12:11-12 Amplified Bible

To be continued…

With joy may you draw living waters from the wells of salvation!

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