Martin Luther King Jr. once preached a memorable sermon on being “tough minded and tender hearted”. He drew his inspiration from Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:16 – “Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves.”
King encouraged a good balance of compassion mixed with thoughtfulness. His cautions against the dangers of ignorance are just as relevant today as they were back in 1963 when his sermons were published. King wrote these words: “One of the great needs of mankind is to be lifted above the morass of false propaganda… There is little hope for us until we become tough minded enough to break loose from the shackles of prejudice, half-truths, and downright ignorance. The shape of the world today does not permit us the luxury of soft mindedness. A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on an installment plan.” In its context Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:16 are part of His discourse on missionary outreach that was given to His twelve disciples, who are identified by name (in 10:1-4). Some of these instructions can seem strange by contemporary standards. Jesus had an exclusively Jewish focus at that stage (10:5-6). He emphasized both preaching and works of deliverance. He felt confident that His disciples’ ministry would offer a blessing to the people who received them (10:7-8). He also gave some specific instructions on the details of their provision for daily needs – both in terms of what not to rely on, and what to take (10:8b-10). This part includes the promise of the blessing of peace to those who receive them (10:13a), as well as confidence in eventual divine judgment for those who don’t (10:13b-15). The experience of rejection can come in many forms – including being shunned, getting the silent treatment, or even outright contempt and violence. Hence in anticipating it, Jesus warned that He was sending out His disciples as like sheep among wolves. Four animals are mentioned in Matthew 10:16 – sheep, wolves, serpents, and doves.
The verses that follow Matthew 10:16 warn of possible dangers for His disciples (e.g. floggings, court trials, family betrayals, etc.). The list can make our lives seem easy by comparison. But even with these kinds of trials, there are manifestations of God’s grace mixed in: a powerful testimony (10:18), the Holy Spirit’s guidance for facing tough questions (10:20), and new opportunities in other places (10:23). Hence the popular expression that says that when God closes one door, He opens another. All this lends itself to Jesus’ larger exhortation for endurance (in 10:22). God is good. He equips us for challenging times. Our hope for the task ahead of us is not hinged on expectations for some particular kind of result, but in the promise that ultimately God’s grace will have the final word. Knowing that much, we can be faithful to His leading. God is good, and He has the end in store. God bless you. Andrew McHenry - Pastor First Congregational Church Trinity Presbyterian Church
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Andrew McHenryI am a husband, a Congregational pastor, and a native Kansan currently living in Thermalito, California. In the past I have also been a prison chaplain and a youth pastor. Interests include reading, railroads, prog rock, KU, and the KC Royals. Archives
March 2024
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