ANIMAL KINGDOM

“Behold, I send you forth as
sheep in the midst of wolves:
be ye therefore wise as serpents,
and harmless as doves.”
(Matthew 10:16)
King James Version

The Message Bible interprets this verse as “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.” Jesus gave instructions to his disciples regarding going out into the world. The job of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, healing the sick, and casting out devils, he warned, would be a high-risk occupation. Jesus used the nature of animals to depict the circumstances his disciples would face as they spread the gospel in a crooked and perverse generation. The disciples would be like sheep going among a pack of hungry wolves.
Knowing this, he armed them will invaluable information that would enable them to complete their assignment and mandate. He told the disciples to be wise as serpents. The wisdom of the serpent saves them from unnecessary exposure to danger. As Christians, we can be assured that we will have persecution (II Timothy 3:12). However, he admonished them not to go looking for trouble but rather use watchful prudence in detecting and and escaping danger. Proverbs 14:11 says, “The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways.” To be wise means to have understanding of people and situations, to have keen and unusual discernment, and a capacity for sound judgment in dealing with people and situations. Choose battles wisely under the government of the Holy Spirit. It just might not be a good day to fight!
The disciples were also to be as harmless, or innocent and inoffensive as a dove. They are called ‘peace’ doves. The disciples were to have a calm, sweet disposition and be harmless and inoffensive in motive, effect or intention. Inoffensive means to be giving no provocation.
The harmlessness of the dove tempers the serpent's wisdom, and the wisdom of the serpent instructs the harmlessness of the dove. We must follow the instructions of Jesus and detect and avoid unnecessary danger, while giving no provocation or offense even when attacked. Be wise and harmless,—always. This is the perfect balance of wisdom, understanding, prudence, and purity. †