“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”— Matthew 10:16

At first glance, Jesus’ command seems like a contradiction. How can we be both shrewd like serpents and pure like doves? Yet the paradox captures something essential about Christian living in a fallen world. We’re called to navigate hostile environments with both spiritual wisdom and moral integrity intact.

 

REALITY CHECK: LIKE SHEEP AMONG WOLVES

Jesus wasn’t naïve about the world His disciples would enter. As He sent out the Twelve, He painted a stark picture: they would be “sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10:16a). This wasn’t pessimism—it was realism. The gospel message would meet opposition, persecution, and hostility.

Wise as Serpents Innocent as Doves The Reformed tradition emphasises the Bible’s realism about the world’s antagonism toward Christ’s kingdom. We live in the tension between the “already” and “not yet” of God’s reign, engaging a world that remains fallen while representing a kingdom that is holy.

 

WISE AS SERPENTS: SANCTIFIED SHREWDNESS

When Jesus said “wise as serpents,” He used the Hebrew concept of being shrewd or prudent—ironically, the same word used to describe the serpent in Eden (Genesis 3:1). But here’s the key difference: this is wisdom redeemed and redirected toward righteous purposes.

What Biblical Wisdom Looks Like This isn’t worldly cunning or manipulation. Instead, it’s the kind of practical wisdom we see throughout Scripture:

• Joseph demonstrated this wisdom when he strategically prepared Egypt for famine, using his God-given insight to serve both Pharaoh and God’s people (Genesis 41:33-40).
• Nehemiah showed shrewd planning when rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, conducting secret reconnaissance and organising strategic defences while maintaining his spiritual mission (Nehemiah 2:11-16; 4:13-23).
• Paul exemplified this balance by strategically using his Roman citizenship when it served the gospel’s advance, and by adapting his approach to different audiences without compromising the message (Acts 16:37-39; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23).

John Calvin captured this beautifully when he spoke of “holy craftiness”—using our intelligence and discernment not for selfish gain, but for gospel advancement and faithful service.

Practical Wisdom Today This biblical shrewdness applies to our daily lives in numerous ways:

• In relationships, we can be discerning about trustworthiness while remaining loving and hopeful
• In ministry, we can understand cultural contexts and choose strategic timing without compromising biblical truth
• In professional life, we can be competitive and excellent while maintaining ethical standards
• In evangelism, we can be culturally sensitive and personally engaging while remaining faithful to Scripture

 

INNOCENT AS DOVES: MORAL PURITY

The word Jesus used for “innocent” means unmixed, pure, without deceit. This isn’t naivety—it’s moral integrity. We’re called to be free from the corruption that characterises worldly wisdom.

Purity in Practice This innocence shows up in several crucial ways:

1. Truthfulness remains non-negotiable. Even when strategic thinking is required, we never resort to deception or manipulation (Ephesians 4:25).
2. Transparency in motives keeps our hearts clean. Our methods should be as pure as our goals.
3. Principled boundaries help us refuse pragmatic compromises that violate biblical commands, even when they might seem strategically advantageous.

Consider Daniel, who found creative ways to honour both his king and his God regarding dietary laws (Daniel 1:8-16). Or consider the apostles, who respectfully but firmly refused to stop preaching when commanded by authorities (Acts 4:18-20).

 

THE BEAUTIFUL BALANCE

The genius of Jesus’ command is how wisdom and innocence actually strengthen each other rather than conflict.

• Wisdom without innocence becomes manipulation and worldly cunning.
• Innocence without wisdom becomes naivety that serves neither truth nor love effectively.

But when combined, they create something beautiful: believers who can navigate complex situations with both spiritual insight and moral integrity.

 

LEARNING FROM BIBLICAL EXAMPLES

1. Rahab protected the Israeli spies through strategic deception of evil authorities while serving God’s righteous purposes (Joshua 2:1-21). The Hebrew writer later commends her faith, not her methods, but recognizes that her actions served righteousness in an impossible situation.
2. The Hebrew midwives found ways to resist Pharaoh’s murderous commands while maintaining their roles as healers, using their professional position to serve life rather than death (Exodus 1:15-21).

These examples don’t give us license for situational ethics, but they do show us faithfulness sometimes requires creative wisdom in hostile environments.

 

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

How does this balance work in our daily lives?

• In Personal Relationships: We can be discerning about people’s character and motivations while remaining genuinely loving. This means setting appropriate boundaries without becoming cynical, and being wise about vulnerability without becoming closed-hearted.
• In Professional Life: We can be strategically excellent in our work while maintaining biblical ethics. This might mean being competitive in business while treating competitors fairly, or engaging political issues with both savvy and principle.
• In Ministry and Evangelism: We can adapt our communication style to different audiences while never compromising the gospel content. We can understand cultural barriers while remaining faithful to biblical truth.

 

CHRIST AS OUR PERFECT MODEL

Ultimately, Jesus Himself shows us what this balance looks like. When hostile questioners tried to trap Him, He responded with both wisdom and truth (Matthew 22:15-22). When facing the woman caught in adultery, He navigated a complex situation with perfect justice and mercy (John 8:1-11). He demonstrated strategic timing in His ministry while never compromising His mission.

Most importantly, He promises His Spirit will give us wisdom in difficult situations (Matthew 10:19-20). We’re not left to figure this out through human cleverness alone.

 

CONCLUSION: WISE AS SERPENTS INNOCENT AS DOVES

Jesus’ command isn’t meant to be resolved into a simple formula. Instead, it calls us to mature discernment—growing in our ability to navigate complex situations with both wisdom and integrity.

Some situations will call for bold, straightforward action. Others will require more nuanced, strategic approaches. But in every case, we’re called to pursue both effectiveness and faithfulness, both practical wisdom and moral purity.

The Reformed tradition reminds us this is possible because of God’s grace. Through common grace, we can understand and engage worldly systems. Through special grace, we have the moral compass and ultimate purpose that keeps us oriented toward God’s kingdom rather than worldly success.

This is the call of Christian discipleship: to be fully engaged with the world while remaining fundamentally transformed by the gospel. To be wise enough to serve effectively, yet innocent enough to serve faithfully.

 

WISE AS SERPENTS INNOCENT AS DOVES: RELATED FAQs

Did any Reformers themselves exemplify being “wise as serpents innocent as doves”? John Calvin demonstrated this balance masterfully in Geneva, using diplomatic skill to navigate complex political situations while maintaining theological integrity. He strategically worked with city councils and foreign dignitaries to protect Reformed believers, yet never compromised core doctrines. William Wilberforce spent decades using parliamentary tactics and social networking to abolish slavery, employing shrewd political wisdom while maintaining pure moral convictions. Abraham Kuyper in the Netherlands brilliantly engaged journalism, politics, and education to advance Christian influence, showing remarkable cultural savvy alongside unwavering biblical commitment.

• How do contemporary Reformed scholars interpret this passage? John Piper emphasises this wisdom includes “Gospel shrewdness”—being strategically thoughtful about how we present Christ without diluting the message. Tim Keller argued Christians must be “bilingual,” understanding both secular and sacred languages to communicate effectively while maintaining theological purity. Albert Mohler stresses biblical wisdom means understanding the times and knowing how to respond appropriately, while Russell Moore advocates for “convictional kindness”—holding firm convictions while engaging culture with genuine love and strategic insight.
• Does this command justify deception in certain circumstances? Reformed theologians generally distinguish between deception that serves evil purposes and strategic concealment that protects innocent life or serves righteousness. John Murray argued truth-telling is contextual—we owe truthfulness to legitimate authority but not to those who would use truth for evil purposes. However, most Reformed scholars emphasise that any apparent “deception” must serve love and justice, never personal gain. The Hebrew midwives and Rahab examples suggest protecting innocent life sometimes requires strategic responses to illegitimate demands.

How does this relate to the Reformed doctrine of vocation? The doctrine of calling means Christians should excel in their worldly vocations while maintaining spiritual integrity. Gene Veith Jr argues being “wise as serpents” means understanding your profession’s best practices and cultural dynamics, while being “innocent as doves” means refusing to compromise biblical ethics for professional advancement. This applies whether you’re a businessman, teacher, politician, or artist—you pursue excellence and cultural engagement without moral compromise. Reformed theology sees this as part of our cultural mandate to transform society.

• What’s the difference between this biblical wisdom and worldly pragmatism? Biblical wisdom always serves God’s glory and kingdom purposes, while worldly pragmatism serves self-interest or human-centred goals. DA Carson notes Christian wisdom is constrained by biblical ethics and motivated by love for God and neighbour, whereas pragmatism asks only “what works?” Biblical shrewdness also trusts God’s sovereignty over outcomes, while worldly cunning depends entirely on human manipulation. Kevin DeYoung emphasises Christian wisdom seeks God’s honour even when it might cost us personally, while pragmatism prioritises personal or organisational success above all else.
• How do we avoid becoming either naïve idealists or cynical manipulators? Cornelius Plantinga Jr suggests we need what he calls “practiced wisdom”—growing in discernment through experience while staying anchored to Scripture. This means learning from failures without becoming cynical, and maintaining hope without becoming naïve. Michael Horton argues understanding both common grace (God’s goodness in all people) and total depravity (universal human sinfulness) helps us engage others with appropriate realism and genuine love. Regular study of Scripture, prayer, and wise counsel help calibrate our responses to specific situations.

How does this command apply to social media and digital engagement? Carl Trueman advocates for strategic restraint online—being wise about what platforms serve our calling while maintaining integrity in all communications. This might mean choosing our battles carefully, understanding how algorithms work, and timing our posts strategically, while never compromising truthfulness or Christian character. Trevin Wax suggests digital wisdom includes understanding our audience and cultural context without pandering, and being innocent means refusing to engage in online mob tactics or personal attacks even when opposing serious error. Reformed Christians should use digital tools strategically while maintaining the fruit of the Spirit in all interactions.

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