Title Like a snake, like a dove (2006.3.19)
Contents
Date: March 19, 2006
Word: Matthew 10:16-23
Title: Like a snake, like a dove
Contents :
The text expresses the heart of Jesus who calls the 12 disciples and sends them to the evangelism site, and teaches a few things to keep in mind. This is an important lesson because it is a heart and a teaching for Christians living in the world.
He compared the wolf and the sheep. (It is like sending out sheep among wolves).
The wolf is a cunning and evil beast that harasses others and tramples the weak. In the text, it refers to the powers that have vested powers such as governors, kings, and councils to destroy Jesus Christ and the truth and persecute the church. It means the cultures and civilizations of the world you want to go to. The sheep is a weak, gentle beast that is helpless before the evil beast, which refers to the followers of Christ.
Jesus compares the disciples to hearing the gospel and sending them into the world like sending out innocent sheep to a den full of wolves, and tells them not to be afraid or be afraid. He says that the gospel of the Lord will be preached through it.
Snakes and doves. (Be wise as snakes and innocent as doves)
Snakes are characterized by their agility, discernment, adaptability, and prudence. Snakes are, in fact, conditionally the worst animals. It has no wings, no feet, no hands, and can neither walk nor run. Still, mountains, fields and rivers. Hot sandy deserts, rocks, tall branches of trees, etc., there is no place left unattended, with high adaptability and coping ability, as well as wise flying through the seasons.
The text tells us that the serpent must learn this form when the disciples and the saints do the Lord's work. It means to jump in blindly without wisdom as if you were single-minded, to pray, to preach the gospel carefully, and to live your life as a Christian without getting discouraged or failing. You should be a person who thinks and lives, not blindly living.
Pigeons are pure and innocent. Therefore, it was also used as a sacrifice for sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit came in the form of a dove when Jesus was baptized. The phrase “be pure as doves” means the church’s ecclesiastical qualities. The gospel is spread like the gospel, and the more the world changes, the more beautiful and clean the church is, keeping the purity of the words of the Lord who established the church.
A Christian must be wise, but he must not lose his purity.
When wisdom and purity are combined, wisdom and purity can shine. Wisdom without chastity becomes cunning, cunning. Also, chastity without wisdom is foolishness. It is not because we did not love life because of our foolishness, foolishness, and lack of courage, but only because of the gospel.
That's how Jesus and his disciples lived. We hope to live that way too.