Matthew 10:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

Matthew 10:16

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

As sheep

Luke 10:3

Acts 20:29

Wise

Colossians 4:5

Harmless

1 Thessalonians 5:22

Bible References

As sheep

[So], go on; See, I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.

[Because] I know that after I am gone [from here] there will be vicious wolves [i.e., ravaging false teachers] who will come in among you, and they will not spare the flock [i.e., the congregation].

Wise

for I will give you a mouth [i.e., the ability to speak properly] and wisdom [i.e., the knowledge of what to say], which none of your opponents will be able to resist or speak against.

For everyone has heard about your obedience [to the truth], and [because of this], I am very happy over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.

Brothers, do not be children in the way you think, but be babies in wrongdoing; yet be mature in your thinking.

But I am afraid that somehow, just as the snake tricked Eve by his cunning, your minds might [also] be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

So, be careful how you live. Do not live ignorantly, but wisely,

So, this is why, since the day we heard about these things, we do not stop praying for you and requesting that you people be filled [by God] with the knowledge of what He wants [for your lives], and with spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Be wise in the way you live in front of outsiders [i.e., non-Christians], making the most of every opportunity.

Harmless

For such men are not serving our Lord Christ but their own [unspiritual] appetites. They are deceiving the minds of innocent people by their smooth talk and flattering words.

For this is what we boast of: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, in holiness and godly sincerity, not with human wisdom, but with the favor of God.

[We made this arrangement] to avoid anyone blaming us for the way we handled this generous gift.

But I am afraid that somehow, just as the snake tricked Eve by his cunning, your minds might [also] be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

so that you will be without just blame and innocent [of wrongdoing], children of God without fault in the middle of a crooked and perverted generation of people. You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky,

You can testify, [just] as God can, how holy, righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you believers.

Avoid [the practice of] every kind of evil.