Peter Barnes | Matthew 10:16
SERMON NOTES
WISE AS SERPENTS, INNOCENT AS DOVES
2 Samuel 12:1-23; Matthew 10:16
– four zoological terms to illustrate the life of the Christian in the world; similar words with the 72 sent out in Luke 10:3
1. Christians live as sheep among wolves.
– begins with ‘Behold’; Jesus draws attention to what He is about to say.
– the sheep are sent to the wolves!
2. We are to be as shrewd as serpents.
– ‘shrewd’ or ‘keen’ (Hendriksen) or ‘sensible’ (R. T. France, Leon Morris)
– see Gen.3:1; Eph.5:15
– three examples: Acts 16:1-3, 35-40; 23:1-10
Charles Spurgeon: ‘We are called to be martyrs, not maniacs; we are to be simple-hearted, but we are not to be simpletons.’
3. We are to be as innocent as doves.
– William Wilberforce is a good example
– Christ is perfectly innocent and perfectly shrewd in every situation