Wise As Serpents

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August 1, 2020 • 07:30

Wise As Serpents

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
–Matthew 10:16

So, what did Jesus Christ mean when he uttered some of the most famous words of advice almost 2000 years ago?

What did Jesus mean when he advised his disciples to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves“?

Simply put, he was warning his disciples to be aware of the many tricks and deceptions used by Satan and the workers of iniquity. The disciples of Jesus would NOT be very effective if they were continuously snared by the tricks, deceptions and wiles of Satan.

Jesus was also warning his disciples not to use such tricks and deceptions when they learned of them.

The apostle Paul later alluded to such tricks and strategems when he wrote Ephesians 6:11.

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
–Ephesians 6:11

During a recent discussion, someone asked, “What are the wiles of the devil?”

At the time, the answer was given, “The wiles of the devil are the deceptions Satan uses to TRICK and TRAP the unwary.”

Is there a better definition?

The wiles of the devil – Τας μεθοδειας του διαβολου· The methods of the devil; the different means, plans, schemes, and machinations which he uses to deceive, entrap, enslave, and ruin the souls of men. A man’s method of sinning is Satan’s method of ruining his soul.
—Adam Clarke’s Commentary

It is appropriately rendered here as “wiles,” meaning cunning devices, arts, attempts to delude and destroy us. The wiles “of the devil” are the various arts and stratagems which he employs to drag souls down to perdition. We can more easily encounter open force than we can cunning; and we need the weapons of Christian armor to meet the attempts to draw us into a snare, as much as to meet open force. The wiles of the devil are the various arts and stratagems which he employs to drag souls down to perdition. We can more easily encounter open force than we can cunning; and we need the weapons of Christian armour to meet the attempts to draw us into a snare, as much as to meet open force. The idea here is, that Satan does not carry on an open warfare. He does not meet the Christian soldier face to face. He advances covertly; makes his approaches in darkness; employs cunning rather than power, and seeks rather to deceive and betray than to vanquish by mere force. Hence the necessity of being constantly armed to meet him whenever the attack is made. A man who has to contend with a visible enemy may feel safe, if he only prepares to meet him in the open field. But far different is the case if the enemy is invisible; if he steals upon us slyly and stealthily; if he practices war only by ambushes and by surprises. Such is the foe that we have to contend with–and almost all the Christian struggle is a warfare against stratagems and wiles. Satan does not openly appear. He approaches us not in repulsive forms, but comes to recommend some plausible doctrine, to lay before us some temptation that shall not immediately repel us. He presents the world in an alluring aspect; invites to pleasures that seem to be harmless; and leads us in indulgence, until we have gone so far that we cannot retreat.
—Albert Barnes’ New Testament Notes/Commentary

Against the wiles of the devil: the devil useth arts and stratagems, as well as force and violence, and therefore, if any part of your spiritual armour be wanting, he will assault you where he finds you weakest.
—Matthew Poole’s Commentary

The devil is a clever fellow.
—The Wiles of the Devil

Be aware of the deceptions of the devil: they are many and they are usually clever and hard to see through–if one doesn’t look too closely. But, that being said, KNOW the schemes of the enemy, do not PARTICIPATE in the schemes of the enemy.

In other words, “Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves.”

IS the reader a big believer in the philosophy of “Fight fire with fire“?

HAS the reader ever tried battling a REAL fire with fire?

It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: July 27, 2020.]

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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

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