Now, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
In this saying Jesus reveals the realistic conditions of apostolic ministry, sending the disciples into a hostile environment where they are vulnerable, like sheep among wolves. “To be wise as serpents” means vigilance, wisdom, and a right assessment of situations, while “to be innocent as doves” means purity of heart, impartiality, and conduct free from deceit. Christ unites these two qualities, showing that a servant of the Gospel can be neither naively defenseless nor crafty with moral compromises, but is called to act with wisdom and purity together, remaining faithful to the truth amid dangers.