Contemplative Bible Reading

Matthew 10:16-17 (Holman Standard Christian Bible)

16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves. 17 Because people will hand you over to sanhedrins and flog you in their synagogues, beware of them.

I have always loved the imagery in verse 16. I can see a snake slithering in the bushes (those snakes are sneaky). I can see a fluffy white dove sitting in a shade tree (can you be more peaceful than that?).

Enough of the stereotypical images.

shrewd: having or showing sharp powers of judgment

harmless: not able or likely to cause harm

Now read on through verse 17. Why show sharp powers of judgment? Because there are people out there who will grab you and flog you. Forget the movies. Flogging usually meant death from infection, not to mention the pain.

Why be unable to harm? Because the things they were to say would not be enjoyable to every listener. There actions would have to cover how some persons would hear their words.

A great verse with great imagery.