Wise as Serpents, Harmless as Doves
The Sapphire Review Vol. 2 | No. 46 • October 10, 2025
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
(Matthew 10:16, KJV)
INTRO
This verse is one that has perplexed me at times to think about. Particularly, the call to be “wise as serpents.” The other three animals (wolves, sheep, and doves) have much more easily made sense in my mind regarding their applications within the context of this verse. The serpent, however, has required further thought due to the obvious connections with Satan in scripture, as well as all the negative references surrounding a serpent.1
We do have another reference in the Bible with wisdom and a somewhat negative but positive context in Luke 16:8 where children of the world are called wiser than the children of light. Yet, the way wisdom is used here doesn’t provide direct contextual help to our current verse.
THE WAY OF A SERPENT
So, why are we called to be “wise as serpents?” As we reflect on this, let us consider another interesting scripture:
“There be three things which are too wonderful for me, Yea, four which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent upon a rock; The way of a ship in the midst of the sea; And the way of a man with a maid.”
(Proverbs 30:18–19, KJV)
Here we find another thought provoking verse about a serpent. Its “way… upon a rock” is considered too wonderful and not known.
Let’s begin here and think about a literal snake lying upon a rock and basking in the sun. In general, due to the enmity that exists between man and this particular creature, a snake will only remain being seen in a vulnerable position upon a rock as long as it has not yet seen a person itself. Typically, as soon as an exposed snake sees an approaching human, it will scramble and slither away. At this point, snakes are then experts at cloaking themselves and remaining undetected while being searched for.
WISE AS SERPENTS
Now, let us consider why Jesus has called us to be “wise as serpents:” it is because we are as “sheep in the midst of wolves.” In the literal animal world, a sheep would be in great danger in an area that is filled with wolves. Wolves would set out to devour a sheep once it has been spotted. So, in this sense, it would be unwise for a sheep to go trotting up alone into a den of wolves. This sheep would become nothing more than a meal for the wolves in such a case.
Now, with all these things in mind, we find our connection. As Christians, we cannot escape the reality of living in a world that is filled with evil and hostility toward the light of Christ. We are called to bring the gospel to all the world.2 It is true that some have been called to preach the gospel in life threatening circumstances. Others have found themselves thrust into life threatening circumstances despite their own efforts to avoid them. In these cases, the call to be harmless as doves comes into play. When cornered or threatened, a snake will eventually strike; not so with a dove.
At times in our lives, we may find ourselves in contact with people who have no care at all for our best interests or even our wellbeing. They may lie, cheat, steal, manipulate, abuse, or afflict in order to accomplish their own selfish motives and ambitions. In such cases, where one has not been specifically called by God to bring forth the gospel, it is not Christian love to place oneself continually and unnecessarily as endless fodder to be devoured and preyed upon by wolves.
In being wise as a serpent, we will find that certain circumstances and relationships are simply best to be avoided so that we can have the physical, mental, and emotional energies that are needed to share the gospel and light of Christ where God has individually called us.
HARMLESS AS DOVES
When seeing a particular danger, confrontation, or manipulation approaching, a wise serpent will hide itself before such things have a chance to make an impact upon its life. Yet, a harmless dove will not strike back nor escalate matters whenever these things come upon it, and neither should we.
PRAYER
May Jehovah,3 our Heavenly Father, help us to be wise as serpents in avoiding the severe and/or toxic people and circumstances where He has not called us, and to be harmless as doves so that the light and love of Christ may shine forth whenever we are pressed upon.
God Bless,
Charles
Loved your breakdown on this verse Charles. Very insightful and helpful!