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NASB | Matthew 10:16 ¶ "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 10:16 ¶ "Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda]. [Gen 3:1] |
Bible Question:
I would like to know where to read comentary on this verse. |
Bible Answer: As far as WHERE to offer you a commentary, I can only point to what I'm about to write: Jesus had just sent his disciples out into the world. He promised them that the road ahead of them would not be a smooth one ["I Am sending you out like sheep among wolves (10:16a, NIV)]. He then gives them a apparent paradox that dictates their mindset. A serpent is the craftiest of all creations (Genesis 3:1). Jesus commanded the disciples to be shrewd, which is the exact opposite of gullible. We are commanded to test the spirits (1 John 4:1), to test everything and hold to the good (1 Thes. 5:21), and not to conform to the world so that our minds might be renewed (Romans 12:2). Peter best sums it up in 1 Peter 3:15: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." On the other end of the stick, Jesus called us to be as innocent as doves. The first thing that comes to mind about doves is "peace." God is a God of peace (Romans 15:33, 1 Cor 14:33, Hebrews 13:20). We are commanded to not be angry with our brothers (Matt 5:22), to resist retaliation (Matt 5:39, 44), and not to worry (Matt 6:25). There are hundreds of other examples of peaceful lessons in the Gospel, but basically we are to edify the church and live a life pleasing to God (1 Cor 4:12, Romans 12:1). Another verse that points to the mindset that Christians should have is 1 Cor 14:20: "Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults." Hopefully this sheds a little light. Shaun |