The wisdom and words of Jesus
“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:16-20
Jesus is sending out his apprentice ambassadors. But it won’t be a champagne reception. There will be no red carpet, five finger food, light piano accompaniment.
No, there will be reticence, refusal, and rejection. Some will welcome them, others will not. Some will listen, many will not. Some will even provide the clothing, foot wear, and foods they need, but others will actively persecute them.
It will not be easy. In fact, Jesus says, “Behold, I am sending you out like sheep amongst wolves” — Like mice into the cat cafe! Therefore, be wise, be aware, be on your guard. Be like a snake, darting this way and that, shrewd and cunning. But also be gentle and harmless as the dove, bringing life, peace and the favour of God. Recall how the holy spirit landed on Jesus at the start of his ministry in Matthew 3? This is a similar picture. Jesus was incredibly shrewd, but also perfectly gentle.
Then when they do catch up with you, fear not as my father in heaven will give you the words to say! This is the way God works. From Moses through Elijah and Elisha to John the Baptist, he been giving his ambassadors the words to say and now he promised to do the same.
Therefore, just as they were commanded not to rely on their own food, clothes or footwear, Jesus reminds them not to rely on their own words. All this would be give through the power of the Holy Spirit, the “Spirit of your Father” as Jesus describes him in v20.
Here the apprenticeship continues! This outward manifestation of the Spirit’s power, as with the healing, and authority over evil spirits, could only accessed through private dependence on, and relationship with Jesus.
In the same way Jesus depended intimately on his Heavenly Father, these apprentice ambassadors would depend intimately on their rabbi Jesus, and thus his Father God to speak the words, and perform the actions he called them to.
What are their most important words though? Words that proclaimed the goodness of Jesus and his love. Words that healed. Words that encouraged. Words that brought life. These are the words of Jesus, the ultimate Word, who is God (John 1:1)
Later in the chapter Jesus says those who receive, or welcome you, welcome me, and those who welcome me, welcome my Father who send me (v40) These are ambassadors of Jesus who is in turn an ambassador of his father. We’ll think more about this in another post, but that is the whole idea here—the love of the Father spreads ever outwards! He is drawing to himself a bride for his Son.
For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10
