“Wise as serpents, innocent as doves” (Matthew 9:35—10:23)

Matthew 9:35—10:23

Listen and Watch Sermon

Pastor Tom Johnson, June 14, 2020

“When Jesus saw the crowds,” our Scripture says, “had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”  Like an exposed flock of sheep—unprotected and uncared for—the wolves were having a heyday. Like an unattended nest of dove hatchlings, the serpents do not even have to fight or expend energy for breakfast—just well-executed timing. So Jesus tells us that the world can be cruel. Carnivorous creatures must hunt and kill for their meal. That is their nature. Like wolves and serpents people can be cruel and exploit one another to advance our own causes.

Jesus witnesses a downtrodden people—he sees how they were harassed by the Roman occupying government. He sees how they were over-burdened by the religious authority. He understands the full context of human depravity.  And so he has compassion on them. He empathizes. He feel the punch in his own gut. And so he warns his disciples: “I’m sending you out as sheep among the wolves. So be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

Be wise as serpents.

Don’t become a predator. Understand the predator. Learn from its cunning, crafty, and shrewd ways. As early as Genesis chapter 3 verse 2, Scripture says, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast.” This is the same word Jesus uses that was used to translate the Hebrew into the Greek: crafty. We cannot outsmart the devil. We do not have the intellectual resources to keep up with the sophistication and intricacy of evil. Jesus asks us to understand but not utilize worldly tactics. He wants us to be aware of the deceptive power of those who would do us harm so that we would be humbled and not rely on ourselves. We live in a predatory world, Jesus reminds us. Don’t let yourself be someone else’s snack. Peter tells us, “Be vigilant, be sober-minded, your adversary the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The Proverb says, “Lean not on your understanding. Fear the Lord. Turn away from evil” (Prov 3). “[Reverential awe for] the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This wisdom surpasses that of serpents and the smartest of humans. We cannot by our own reason or strength outwit the enemy. Be wise by the wisdom of Christ.

Be innocent as doves.

…not naive or ignorant. But understand the kind of innocence God created for us to enjoy. Remember our first parents in the Garden before they experienced evil and sin. They enjoyed perfect fellowship with God in paradise. Jesus says, “unless you become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” God’s will is for us to live our lives under the shelter of his wings and the comfort of his rod and staff—to experience his peace that transcends all understanding. This is the innocence of the believer who does not live under the tyranny and terror of evil and deception of sin. Because like a little child, they trust their heavenly Father with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. As the Psalmist says in Psalm 27, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” As innocent doves we know him who is greater within us than the serpents and wolves of the world. And so Jesus sends us out into the world—in the world but not to be of the world. He wants us to understand but not utilize worldly tactics.

It’s humbling to realize that we do not have the smarts nor righteous innocence. But Jesus does not tell us this to weigh us down or to harass us further. Scripture says, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness.” He looks at us as he always looks—with compassion. He comes to us in wisdom and innocence. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He comes to us as an innocent Child born in a manger. He  baffles the highly educated by his words. He stuns religious leaders by his confounding and amazing grace. And so Jesus tells us not to be surprised nor afraid when we are at a loss for words. The Holy Spirit will give us the words we need. In spite of ourselves, God speaks wisdom through us.

This is the way of the Cross. The cross is one of most cruel instruments of human history. It took the Persians, Babylonians, and Romans centuries to perfect. It’s engineered to kill as slowly, and as painfully and as publicly as possible. Jesus takes this torturous instrument of execution and turns it upside down. The serpents kill the only wise God. The wolves kill the most innocent man of history. But by his death, he outwits the devil and shames those who would call themselves wise. By his resurrection, he gives us innocence, righteousness, and forgiveness. And we are wise as serpents and as innocent as doves. We have the shrewd innocence of Christ.

He breaks the teeth of the wolves. He crushes the heads of the serpents. We can be the lambs and hatchlings that he created us to be. And so we can also have compassion on those around us—even those who wish us harm. We understand that even the predators have been deceived by the cunning lies of the enemy and robbed of their innocence. And like us, we know that only the truth will set them free. We get to tell the good news of his life-preserving and life-transforming grace. We now have the courage and strength to proclaim forgiveness and eternal life even in the face of those who wish us harm.

Though devils all the world should fill,
All eager to devour us.
We tremble not, we fear no ill;
They shall not overpow’r us.
This world’s prince may still
Scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none.
He’s judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.
          (“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” LSB 656 v. 3)