Jesus makes a very strange remark to his disciples when he is sending them to preach. He tells them that they needed to be as wise as serpents. We know that wisdom comes from God, so what did he mean, and what is the wisdom of the serpent?
Matthew 10:16-18 (ESV)
16. “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18. and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
The context of this statement was given when Jesus was warning his apostles concerning persecution from evil men. At that point they would need to be as wise as serpents. At a later stage in this teaching we shall go into the book of acts and see examples of the wisdom of the serpent in actual use.
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