Biblically Speaking

Doves and Serpents
 
By Rev. Joseph Graber
 
In Matthew 10:16, our Lord tells us to "Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves".  Christ is speaking here of the Christian possessing that innocency expressed in the dove and the wisdom and crafty understanding expressed by the serpent.  We should have the "serpent's eye" , a Grecian proverbial saying denoting quick understanding, but the soft, malleable, and faithful heart of a dove. 
 
We should endeavor to be the dovish serpent in all our interactions with this world.  We should be humble and think low thoughts about ourselves (dovishly), but we should not make ourselves dishonorable or vile (serpently).  We should not resist our superiors which God has placed above us (dovishly); however, we must never fulfill sinful wishes they may have (serpently).  We should not pridefully do things to make our enemies hate us (dovishly), but we should also not do such base and humiliating things as to make our enemies despise and ridicule us (serpently).  We are to be the dove and the serpent united.
 
Paul was all things to all people, but he withstood Peter and his Judaizing error to his face.  Daniel was a consummate, faithful servant of several kings during the exile, but he would not forsake his God for them.  "Be it known unto thee, O king, we will not serve thy Gods" (Daniel 3:18).
 
"A good Christian will not do anything below himself; though he is for obeying laws, yet he will not prostitute himself to men's lusts.  He is humble -- there he shows the innocency of the dove; but not base -- there he shows the wisdom of the serpent."  (Thomas Watson, a great Puritan writer).