Wise as Serpents
Published by Stanley Pouw in 2012 · 9 December 2012
As the Lord Jesus Christ is sending forth the Twelve, in verses 16-23, He teaches them how to react when the world rejects them. They need to learn to anticipate rejection. He has commissioned them and now He says in verse 16, “I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Don't expect it to be easy."
They were given divine power; with a certain invincibility in that power. On the other hand, they were sheep, and as such are very vulnerable. So, in the ministry, there is always this tension between the power of God and the weakness of man.
Verse 23 ends with the coming of the Son of Man, so this affects the history of all of God's people. Some things here are directly and specifically related to the Twelve, and others go beyond that, to relate to all of us and especially to that generation that will be alive just prior to the second coming of the Lord.
We discussed last week who the wolves are. Notice verses 17 and 22 say, "Beware of men. You will be hated by all men." Though it is true that we wrestle against demons but they find their form in the world through humans so that men become the pawns and the agents of demons. So we are attacked by the human system.
And they are vicious because they hate Christ; it is not that they really don't like us; it is that they don't like the One we represent. Jesus Christ is despised and hated by Satan and his demons. Thus men, as his agents will express that hate toward us.
And how do the wolves attack? First of all, they attack through religion. Verse 17 says, "Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you," that is, they will beat you with whips, but usually with rods strapped together, "In their synagogues." This is the key word in verse 17 because it establishes a religious context.
The Jewish people had synagogues, or meeting places, in every town and village. There they would carry out their own particular brand of law. If someone violated the laws of Moses or rabbinical tradition, he would be brought before the local synagogue. A tribunal of 2 to 3 judges would render a verdict, followed by a sentencing.
Old Testament law required no more than 40 such stripes to be given to each victim, according to Deuteronomy 25:3, so they never gave more than 39 to be sure they would not break the letter of the law. So it was a part of the function of the synagogue to discipline. They would actually beat the people in front of the whole congregation.
Our Lord told the disciples to expect to be delivered up to the councils, the local courts in the synagogues. The supreme court of the land was the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. He told them not to surprised to be scourged in the synagogues.
The apostles were scourged in the synagogue in Acts 5:40. Acts 22:19 tells us the Apostle Paul, before his conversion, went from synagogue to synagogue dragging in Christians and having them scourged for rejecting Judaism. 2 Corinthians 11:24 says that Paul himself was scourged five times, and probably all of those happened in synagogues.
The fact of the matter is that our Lord Jesus Christ was actually sentenced to death by religious men of Judaism who wanted to get rid of Him - the chief priests, scribes, Pharisees and elders. And Jewish persecution of Christians continued until the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. While the Bible shows that Jews once persecuted Christians, that is only a representation of religious persecution in general all over the world.
In the time of the Apostle Paul, the Romans persecuted the Christians terribly. In the city of Ephesus, they worshiped Diana and Artemis. When the Gospel was preached there, in Acts 19, they put the idol-makers out of business. So a riot broke out, and persecution started against Christians.
Many demons have influenced pagan people in remote areas to massacre many missionaries century after century in the history of the church. Throughout history what killed true believers was the local religion because Satan is behind all those false religious systems.
When the ultimate persecution will occur during the Tribulation in Revelation 17, true saints will be massacred all over. Revelation 17:5 names the final form of world religion as, "Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.”
This all came from Babel. When the Lord scattered the people from the Tower of Babel, they spread the roots of false religion around the globe. All pagan religions of the world can be traced back to that original, false system. At the end, they run full-circle; they started at Babel, they spread around the world, and they come together in Satanic Babylon.
In Matthew 7:15, our Lord warned of those who would come dressed in, "Sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." In other words they come in the name of religion. 2 Corinthians 2 says Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, so don't be surprised if his ministers are disguised as servants of righteousness. Such religion masks itself as respectable, but it is a persecutor of the truth, doing everything to destroy it, even taking life if it has the authority, because it is operated by Satan, who is a liar and a murderer.
A second source of attack, in verse 18, is the government, “You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles,” like Pilate, Felix and Festus, in biblical days. "And kings," such as Agrippa I and II, Herod Antipas, and others in the biblical picture.
When you are brought before them to give that testimony, whether it's a positive testimony of the Gospel, or whether it is an indicting testimony to condemn them, just do not be surprised. The Roman Empire persecuted Christians. Most of the disciples who heard Jesus' instruction in Matthew 10 died at the hands of the Roman government or some ancillary government.
In Russia, countless Christians were slaughtered after the revolution. Many were slaughtered in communist China as well. In Uganda, under the government of Idi Amin, Christians suffered horrifying atrocities. The governments of the world will persecute Christianity because Satan is the prince of this world. We already have experienced that the US government has denied us some of the freedoms we have had in the past.
Persecution also comes through the family. In verse 21 it says, ““Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.”
That's why, in Matthew 10:36-37, He says, “and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” In other words, who do you love more, Jesus or your family.
Only God knows how many people have been persecuted, betrayed, or killed by members of their own family because of their faith in Christ. Only God knows how many people in other countries throughout the history of the world have betrayed to authorities their own believing family members.
What are the sheep supposed to do? Number one: be wise. Verse 16 says, “Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” In Egyptian hieroglyphics, the serpent is a symbol for wisdom. The ancients viewed snakes as shrewd, smart, prudent and cautious, using great skill to avoid danger.
In Colossians 4:5 Paul says, "Walk in wisdom toward them that are outside." In other words, Christians are to be wise in dealing with the wolves of the world around them. What kind of wisdom? Be subtle, anticipate, be sensitive, cunning and cautious, be wary and be shrewd like a serpent.
Say the right thing at the right time in the right place. Discover the best means to achieve the highest goal. There is no sense in creating havoc all around us. We know that they are anti-Christian, they don't want to hear our message, so we must be careful in how we approach them, use discretion.
When the Pharisees asked Jesus if we should pay taxes, our Lord could have replied, "Caesar is a rotten and evil sinner, who is damned to Hell forever." But instead He said, "Give to Caesar the things which are Caesar's and to God, the things that are God's." He didn't compromise the truth, and He was very wise.
Secondly, He says, "Be harmless as doves." Christians are not to cause harm or create problems. We are not to be running through the world, always fighting back, suing and crushing people, and being intrusive, behave brash or rude. We have to be gentle and harmless.
More than that, the concept here is purity and innocence. In Song of Solomon 5:2, the husband says to his wife, "My dove, my perfect one,” this is a symbol of purity, holiness, and innocence. While we are to be wise, we also are to be pure. But when we seek a wiser method in dealing with a problem, we should never compromise the truth. Those who represent Christ are not to cause injury or employ trickery or deceit in trying to escape from danger.
In Luke 6:27, Jesus summed it up by saying, "Love your enemies, do good to them who hate you." He's saying to maintain your purity and wisdom, show a gentle spirit. In I Corinthians 9:22, Paul said, "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." Be discreet, but never compromise the truth, so that you maintain your purity. Find that balance between the two.
In 1 Peter 2:23, when our Lord was reviled, He didn't revile in return. When He was cursed, He didn't curse back. When His enemies abused Him on the cross, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. Such was the gentleness displayed by Jesus. That is a good example for us.
Thirdly, beware. Be on your guard and be perceptive. Be careful. Don't give the wolves an opportunity to condemn you or take you in their court. Their evil intention is to make you compromise. Beware constantly, Satan strikes when you least expect it.
Fourthly, do not worry. Verse 19 says, “But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak.” In other words, when they haul you into the courts, and threaten your life, don't be anxious, be calm.
Jesus told the disciples not to worry because He would take care of them; He would give them what to say. He said, "Just go about your business ministering. Don't worry about what is going to happen. Be wise, harmless, and beware. And if you come before a council, I'll take care of it." They didn't need to prepare a defense; they just needed to stay calm. In Philippians 4:6 Paul says, "Be anxious for nothing."
Jesus gave the reason for not being anxious: "For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak." When anyone in any age at any time goes before any council in the name of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God will bring to his or her mind the right things to say. Verse 20 says, “20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” All you will do is responding, but God is the one really speaking.
Fifth, be real. Verse 22, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” What is that saying? This is not saying people who can make it through persecution will hold on to their salvation. It is saying endurance is a hallmark of genuine salvation. Those who are really saved will survive.
Nothing is more purifying to the church than persecution. Essentially, it's the same principle we find in Romans 2:7, “eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality.” It's the same in Hebrews 3:14. “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.”
There is nothing that can destroy you, Paul said in Romans 8, “35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Last, keep moving. Verse 23, “When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” There is no sense in standing around taking harassment and persistent persecution until someone kills you.
That's what Paul did; he would preach, a riot would start, then he'd leave town and go to another. When a riot broke out there, he went to the next town, and so on. He just kept moving; he wasn't going to stay in one place and die - life was too precious; there were too many towns to reach and too much to be done. We have to keep moving.
So what is the sum of the Lord's instruction to us? Do not provoke animosity or destruction. There is too much work to be done and still too many places to reach. Every one of us matters in God's eyes. We have to move to the receptive places and keep moving, knowing that God is with us all the time. In the power of the Spirit, He will help us to say the right things and have the effect that He wants us to have.
A poet wrote, "Jesus is our Shepherd, guarded by His arm, though the wolves may try, none can do us harm. When we tread Death's Valley, dark with fearful gloom, we will fear no evil, victors or the tomb." No matter what Satan does, even to death, he can't win against God's sheep.
Are you willing to serve Almighty God even if the cost is high? This is the most important thing that you can ever do in your life. And you cannot lose! God Himself guarantees it. Amen?