Matthew 9:35-10:8 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 9:35-10:8 on biblegateway.com
Verse 35Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. Verse 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Verse 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; Verse 38therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
Chapter 10Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. Verse 2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Verse 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Verse 4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
Verse 5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, Verse 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Verse 7As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Verse 8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.
Devotion
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves.” (v. 10:16)
Sheep, wolves, serpents and doves: all in one sentence! There’s got to be a mixed metaphor in there somewhere! Maybe it’s a couplet. Sheep and doves could go together, and so could wolves and serpents.Yet in the last half of the sentence we are told to be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves, so it isn’t just two categories: one group good and the other bad. One is tempted to argue with the text, instead of reverently struggling with it. What could it all mean?
Remember the time and the tests that faced infant church when this was written. They were being dragged before governors and kings, and forced to defend themselves and the gospel. Brothers were betraying brothers, and children were condemning their parents. So early on, Jesus gave them some common sense advice about persecution. Be smart, be crafty, be wise and use your wiles to survive. You must be innocent sheep and doves, but you must also be wise. It is good advice, even for today.
Prayer
Watch over us, Jesus, and help us to endure. Amen.