Our lord Jesus Christ admonished his sheep (Christians) to be wise like a snake and at the same time harmless. How possible is this? What message was Jesus trying to pass to his sheep ( Christians) whom Jesus referred to as being in the midst of wolves and lions?

Matthew 10:16

Behold I send you forth as sheep (sheep is known not to be violent harming other animals, unlike lions and wolves) in the midst of wolves. Be you therefore WISE as SERPENTS (snakes are generally known to be dangerous and poisonous) harmless as dove.

Christians around the world just as Jesus predicted, are living in the midst of lions and wolves that are ever willing to devour them. Jesus knowing the danger ahead for his sheep, he instructed them to do what is in Matt 10:16.

Now, before we proceed, we need to understand the obvious meaning of this instruction, and why Jesus gave his sheep (Christians) this instruction.

Jesus said to his sheep (Christians) be practically WISE like a serpent (snake) and at the same time “harmless “ when in the midst of wolves. Why? It is because Jesus wants his sheep (Christians) safe in the mission he sends them to execute in the world full of lions and wolves. Let us unravel the understanding in “snake and dove” comparism Jesus made use of.

In this context, Jesus referred to a snake as being WISE while using the “snake dove comparism”. But how is a snake wise according to Jesus? Snakes are known to be dangerous and they act in such a way that when someone steps on them, they feel their lives are threatened then strike the individual to ensure safety of their lives. Snakes are not known to attack (though dangerous) but defend when their lives are threatened. God commanded snakes to crawl on their belly which make them a victim of being easily stepped upon by human and animals alike. When this happens (being stepped upon by human or animals) God commanded snakes to strike.

Genesis 3:15

15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring[a] and hers;
he will crush[b] your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

Remember Jesus telling us that when we do the right thing or obey God’s instructions we are wise. So therefore snakes are WISE according to Jesus because they do a sensible thing that God commanded them to do.

Matthew 7:24
Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise (here in this context, it is the snake that is wise) man, who built his house upon a rock.

Luke 11:28
28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey (in this context it is the snake that obeys) it.”

Now that we have been able to recognize what a snake is and the characters that make a snake WISE, we now need to understand the harmlessness of Dove part of the instruction, Jesus gave his sheep (Christians) that dwell in the midst of lions and wolves.

The dove represents INNOCENCE, purity and gentleness.What is it to be harmless? To be harmless does not mean “ harm is not done”. It means to be “BLAMELESS”. I will say to be “BLAMELESS” is to be “HARMLESS”. YES! Is possible I send someone to prison and yet my action will be viewed as being “harmless”. This is supported by Jesus as found in the scriptures.


Matthew 5:25 In-Context
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

Here, to summarize the verse, Jesus was simply saying if you are guilty of a crime and the offended person decides to harm you by taking you to court where you will be thrown into prison (harmed), settle with him while you can to avoid being harmed. If you refused to do this and the offended person succeeded in harming you (takes you to court to be punished), then the offended person action is “HARMLESS” or “BLAMELESS” towards you.

Using this illustration that Jesus gave, one gets to see the true picture of what Jesus was trying to say when he said “ Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be you therefore WISE as SERPENTS harmless as dove”. To be harmless like a dove means to be blameless in your actions before God.

This explains why in the modern world today, Christian nations have HARMED ARMED FORCES (soldiers, navy, Air Force and special forces) to do the right thing deemed fit in God’s presence against lions and wolves. That is why a nation that wants to prosper should not joke with God’s laws lightly. All these terrible laws (same sex marriage and others) practiced by these Christian nations may make them to suffer in the hands of wolves and lions that surround them.

To buttress this point further, let us take another example of the application of what Jesus was saying when he said "be wise like a serpent and harmless like a dove.

Matthew 21:12-13

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[a] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.

As written in the passage, were the people concerned harmed by Jesus considering their businesses and properties? Who damaged their properties and destroyed their businesses them in a layman understanding? The obvious answer is JESUS. One may ask, is this not the same JESUS that “says we should be harmless like a dove and wise like a serpent in the midst of wolves”? The truth is that you are the one misconstruing his message. Jesus will not confuse his sheep. NEVER!! Here jesus action was HARMLESS or BLAMELESS. The concerned people brought the problem upon themselves. He wouldn’t had done that If they were selling and buying in the designated Market space.

That is why as Christian, you need to be WISE like a serpent and harmless like a DOVE. Don’t say God will send down ANGELS from heaven to do the job HUMAN BEINGS are conditioned to easily do. Let’s look at another scripture of what happened to Jesus and what he did.

Mark3:9

9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him.

This is our lord Jesus Christ, as POWERFUL and MIGHTY as he was/is didn’t wait on the angels from heaven to come solve problem HUMAN BEINGS could easily solve. Some of the crowd were determined to touch Jesus to get healed. Was Jesus wicked that he didn’t want the sick among the crowd healed by ensuring that they don’t touch him? No ! ! Jesus was being wise as a serpent and harmless in his decision like a DOVE (he wouldn’t die before his time comes) as seen in this case study.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are encouraged by Jesus to uphold the wisdom of the serpent and harmlessness (blamelessness) of the dove to navigate our world that is filled with LIONS AND WOLVES successfully.

JESUS CHRIST IS THE LORD AND SAVIOR OF THE WORLD LOCATE HIM TODAY AND BE SAFED !

Happy Sunday!!

Happy new year, welcome into 2025.

Happy weekend...

Happy Sunday!!!

Morning..

Corrections:
Morning..

Take note.

Gentle does not mean lack of inability to harm.

Corrections:
Our lord Jesus Christ admonished his sheep (Christians) to be wise like a snake and at the same time harmless. How possible is this? What message was Jesus trying to pass to his sheep ( Christians) whom Jesus referred to as being in the midst of wolves and lions?

Matthew 10:16

Behold I send you forth as sheep (sheep is known not to be violent harming other animals, unlike lions and wolves) in the midst of wolves. Be you therefore WISE as SERPENTS (snakes are generally known to be dangerous and poisonous) harmless as dove.

Christians around the world just as Jesus predicted, are living in the midst of lions and wolves that are ever willing to devour them. Jesus knowing the danger ahead for his sheep, he instructed them to do what is in Matt 10:16.

Now, before we proceed, we need to understand the obvious meaning of this instruction, and why Jesus gave his sheep (Christians) this instruction.

Jesus said to his sheep (Christians) be practically WISE like a serpent (snake) and at the same time “harmless “ when in the midst of wolves. Why? It is because Jesus wants his sheep (Christians) safe in the mission he sends them to execute in the world full of lions and wolves. Let us unravel the understanding in “snake and dove” comparism Jesus made use of.

In this context, Jesus referred to a snake as being WISE while using the “snake dove comparism”. But how is a snake wise according to Jesus? Snakes are known to be dangerous and they act in such a way that when someone steps on them, they feel their lives are threatened then strike the individual to ensure safety of their lives. Snakes are not known to attack (though dangerous) but defend when their lives are threatened. God commanded snakes to crawl on their belly which make them a victim of being easily stepped upon by human and animals alike. When this happens (being stepped upon by human or animals) God commanded snakes to strike.

Genesis 3:15

15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring[a] and hers;
he will crush[b] your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

Remember Jesus telling us that when we do the right thing or obey God’s instructions we are wise. So therefore snakes are WISE according to Jesus because they do a sensible thing that God commanded them to do.

Matthew 7:24
Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise (here in this context, it is the snake that is wise) man, who built his house upon a rock.

Luke 11:28
28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey (in this context it is the snake that obeys) it.”

Now that we have been able to recognize what a snake is and the characters that make a snake WISE, we now need to understand the harmlessness of Dove part of the instruction, Jesus gave his sheep (Christians) that dwell in the midst of lions and wolves.

The dove represents INNOCENCE, purity and gentleness.What is it to be harmless? To be harmless does not mean “ harm is not done”. It means to be “BLAMELESS”. I will say to be “BLAMELESS” is to be “HARMLESS”. YES! Is possible I send someone to prison and yet my action will be viewed as being “harmless”. This is supported by Jesus as found in the scriptures.


Matthew 5:25 In-Context
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

Here, to summarize the verse, Jesus was simply saying if you are guilty of a crime and the offended person decides to harm you by taking you to court where you will be thrown into prison (harmed), settle with him while you can to avoid being harmed. If you refused to do this and the offended person succeeded in harming you (takes you to court to be punished), then the offended person action is “HARMLESS” or “BLAMELESS” towards you.

Using this illustration that Jesus gave, one gets to see the true picture of what Jesus was trying to say when he said “ Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be you therefore WISE as SERPENTS harmless as dove”. To be harmless like a dove means to be blameless in your actions before God.

This explains why in the modern world today, Christian nations have HARMED ARMED FORCES (soldiers, navy, Air Force and special forces) to do the right thing deemed fit in God’s presence against lions and wolves. That is why a nation that wants to prosper should not joke with God’s laws lightly. All these terrible laws (same sex marriage and others) practiced by these Christian nations may make them to suffer in the hands of wolves and lions that surround them.

To buttress this point further, let us take another example of the application of what Jesus was saying when he said "be wise like a serpent and harmless like a dove.

Matthew 21:12-13

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[a] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.

As written in the passage, were the people concerned harmed by Jesus considering their businesses and properties? Who damaged their properties and destroyed their businesses them in a layman understanding? The obvious answer is JESUS. One may ask, is this not the same JESUS that “says we should be harmless like a dove and wise like a serpent in the midst of wolves”? The truth is that you are the one misconstruing his message. Jesus will not confuse his sheep. NEVER!! Here jesus action was HARMLESS or BLAMELESS. The concerned people brought the problem upon themselves. He wouldn’t had done that If they were selling and buying in the designated Market space.

That is why as Christian, you need to be WISE like a serpent and harmless like a DOVE. Don’t say God will send down ANGELS from heaven to do the job HUMAN BEINGS are conditioned to easily do. Let’s look at another scripture of what happened to Jesus and what he did.

Mark3:9

9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him.

This is our lord Jesus Christ, as POWERFUL and MIGHTY as he was/is didn’t wait on the angels from heaven to come solve problem HUMAN BEINGS could easily solve. Some of the crowd were determined to touch Jesus to get healed. Was Jesus wicked that he didn’t want the sick among the crowd healed by ensuring that they don’t touch him? No ! ! Jesus was being wise as a serpent and harmless in his decision like a DOVE (he wouldn’t die before his time comes) as seen in this case study.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are encouraged by Jesus to uphold the wisdom of the serpent and harmlessness (blamelessness) of the dove to navigate our world that is filled with LIONS AND WOLVES successfully.

JESUS CHRIST IS THE LORD AND SAVIOR OF THE WORLD LOCATE HIM TODAY AND BE SAFED !

So In the war between Russia and Ukraine, which country is the serpent and which country is the lion and wolves?

Truthseeker10:

So In the war between Russia and Ukraine, which country is the serpent and which country is the lion and wolves?

Ask GOOGLE it will tell you !!

Happy weekend.

Corrections:



Ask GOOGLE it will tell you !!

Lol....na wa oo....pastor is telling his members to use Google after been given a question that has shaken his doctrine.

Truthseeker10:

Lol....na wa oo....pastor is telling his members to use Google after been given a question that has shaken his doctrine.

How do you mean, can you pls explain?

Patiently waiting for your clarification!!!

Corrections:


How do you mean, can you pls explain?

Patiently waiting for your clarification!!!

Pastor answer the question below.

In the war between Russia and Ukraine, which country is the serpent and which country is the lion and wolves?

HAVE FAITH AND BE SAFE.

Truthseeker10:

Pastor answer the question below.

In the war between Russia and Ukraine, which country is the serpent and which country is the lion and wolves?

Ask Google it will tell you, you clown.

You actually acting like one!!!

We talking about food you came in and started talking about stone (something completely different from the topic). Now, this is exactly how clown like you behave.


I believe the TRUTH scared the hell out of you, hence the reason for your CLOWNISH behaviour.

Corrections:


Ask Google it will tell you, you clown.

You actually acting like one!!!

We talking about food you came in and started talking about stone (something completely different from the topic). Now, this is exactly how clown like you behave.


I believe the TRUTH scared the hell out of you, hence the reason for your CLOWNISH behaviour.

🤣🤣🤣🤣So you are telling me that Christians are not involved in the war between Russia and Ukraine?

Truthseeker10:

🤣🤣🤣🤣So you are telling me that Christians are not involved in the war between Russia and Ukraine?

What as that got to do with the topic pls? You are a bigger clown than I envisaged.

Corrections:



What as that got to do with the topic pls? You are a bigger clown than I envisaged.

You are talking about why and how Christians can defend themselves na.....are the Christians in Russia and Ukraine war not defending themselves?

Truthseeker10:

You are talking about why and how Christians can defend themselves na.....are the Christians in Russia and Ukraine war not defending themselves?

You just read an headline but will refuse to read completely what the headline is about before commenting. The two brothers of same religion and family are fighting each other because of territory/land and NOT because of RELIGIOUS differences. A Christian biblically WILL NOT carry out an act of terrorism against another Christian because of religious doctrine differences. Never!!

So the question is on what basis is Russia and Ukraine fighting? Religion /territory basis?

Go back to the article and READ IT AGAIN, this time around do so "slowly and calmly"

Corrections:


You just read an headline but will refuse to read completely what the headline is about before commenting. The two brothers of same religion and family are fighting each other because of territory/land and NOT because of RELIGIOUS differences. A Christian biblically WILL NOT carry out an act of terrorism against another Christian because of religious doctrine differences. Never!!

So the question is on what basis is Russia and Ukraine fighting? Religion /territory basis?

Go back to the article and READ IT AGAIN, this time around do so "slowly and calmly"

So is it proper for Christians in Russia and Ukraine to join in the war for territory/land or Christians should not partake in such wars?

Truthseeker10:

So is it proper for Christians in Russia and Ukraine to join in the war for territory/land or Christians should not partake in such wars?

Debunk all that is written in the article above "biblically" that non is true. If you can't please stop acting funny shifting the goal post by asking funny questions.

Corrections:


Debunk all that is written in the article above "biblically" that non is true. If you can't please stop acting funny shifting the goal post by asking funny questions.

What is written in the article is biblical according to you. So please help us with the practicality of your biblical doctrine.

Answer the question below.

is it proper for Christians in Russia and Ukraine to join in the war for territory/land or Christians should not partake in such wars?

Truthseeker10:

What is written in the article is biblical according to you. So please help us with the practicality of your biblical doctrine.

Answer the question below.

is it proper for Christians in Russia and Ukraine to join in the war for territory/land or Christians should not partake in such wars?

Are you accepting that what is written in that article biblically is true? Yes or No?

Corrections:



Are you accepting that what is written in that article biblically is true? Yes or No?

No because you can't use that doctrine to answer the question below:

is it proper for Christians in Russia and Ukraine to join in the war for territory/land or Christians should not partake in such wars?

Truthseeker10:

No because you can't use that doctrine to answer the question below:

is it proper for Christians in Russia and Ukraine to join in the war for territory/land or Christians should not partake in such wars?

You said No!!
Can you back up your " NO claim" biblically? I want to learn from you.

Corrections:



You said No!!
Can you back up your " NO claim" biblically? I want to learn from you.

You are the teacher. You said the practicality of Jesus teaching is the reason why Christian nations have armed forces today to fight lion and wolves.

Is Russia and Ukraine among the Christian nations with armed forces? Should a Christian participate in their war?

Truthseeker10:

You are the teacher. You said the practicality of Jesus teaching is the reason why Christian nations have armed forces today to fight lion and wolves.

Is Russia and Ukraine among the Christian nations with armed forces? Should a Christian participate in their war?

Since you can't backup your NO answer biblically, it means you don't kNOW what you are saying.

The question you asking has nothing to do with the topic in the article, you just want to hypocritically mock christianity the way people like you always do.


Should a Christian in Nigeria armed forces join in fighting the Christian unknown gun men kidnappers in Eastern Nigeria?

Corrections:



Since you can't backup your NO answer biblically, it means you don't kNOW what you are saying.

The question you asking has nothing to do with the topic in the article, you just want to hypocritically mock christianity the way people like you always do.


Should a Christian in Nigeria armed forces join in fighting the Christian unknown gun men kidnappers in Eastern Nigeria?

Do you mean that either Russia or Ukraine is like the unknown gunmen in Nigeria?

Truthseeker10:

Do you mean that either Russia or Ukraine is like the unknown gunmen in Nigeria?

You heard the TRUTH and it SCARED the HELL out of you, hence the reason for this your cheap meandering replies.

You opened a new account on nairaland this January 7, 2025 and you already started behaving like a clown everywhere.

You come here and started saying gibberish things that you can't back up biblically most likely because you are not a Christian.


It is clear you have nothing reasonable to say and it will be a waste of time discussing with you.

Corrections:




You heard the TRUTH and it SCARED the HELL out of you, hence the reason for this your cheap meandering replies.

You opened a new account on nairaland this January 7, 2025 and you already started behaving like a clown everywhere.

You come here and started saying gibberish things that you can't back up biblically most likely because you are not a Christian.


It is clear you have nothing reasonable to say and it will be a waste of time discussing with you.

The only thing I have done here is to ask questions. I never made any point that I should back up biblically.
Kindly answer my question.

is it proper for Christians in Russia and Ukraine to join in the war for territory/land or Christians should not partake in such wars?

Truthseeker10:

The only thing I have done here is to ask questions. I never made any point that I should back up biblically.
Kindly answer my question.

is it proper for Christians in Russia and Ukraine to join in the war for territory/land or Christians should not partake in such wars?

Corrections:

🤣🤣🤣🤣 Pastor Don hook oo