I send you forth as sheep among wolves
be as wise as serpents, and as simple as doves.
But beware of men
Matthew. ch. 10.
Sheep among wolves?
One could hardly imagine a more futile mission. It seems even comic. In terms of fighting power, it would be like sending out bugs to do battle against windshields. How can sheep witness to wolves? Only in the way they are conquered, subdued and overcome- or else only in the way that they can manifest how they are protected by another.
Wise as serpents?
Augustine takes this as speaking to how the serpent will protect its head by throwing out its body, the way a man will throw up his hands to defend his face. Because the serpent can only throw out its whole body, it is a particularly good metaphor for the Church n which all sacrifice to defend the head. Such a reading flows naturally from the previous line about “sheep”, and it keeps with what Christ says next about the Christian life as an expectation of condemnation “by men”.
One expects that there is some reference to “the serpent” who was “the wisest” of all the creatures, but I don’t see draw the parallel. Interestingly, Christ will also compare himself to a serpent: as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man shall be lifted up.
Simple as Doves
“Simple” means singular, as opposed to complex or mixed. Simplicity connotes purity in the sense of what is neither diluted nor confused [poured together]. Christ mentions apologetics only to tell us a.) not to worry about them and b.) they will come from the work of God “[when you are accused] do no think of how or what you will say, for in that same hour it will be given to you”
Beware of men
After a string of wolves, sheep, serpents, and doves, “men” sounds like it is speaking of another species.
