1. Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
Among those who are not very familiar with the Bible, there are some who, upon reading this passage or Jesus’ words to the Syrophoenician woman (Matthew 15:24, Mark 7:27), claim that Jesus came only for the Jews. However, this is a misunderstanding of who Jesus is. When you read the Bible, you will see that Jesus sometimes deliberately speaks certain words or performs specific actions to emphasize a particular teaching. For example, although He could have healed someone on another day, He intentionally chose to heal on the Sabbath; or, while He could have simply said, “Get up, take your mat, and walk,” He instead said, “Your sins are forgiven.” In the same way, to challenge people’s preconceptions, Jesus sometimes intentionally says things that are contrary to expectations or even potentially offensive.
But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24, WEB)
Even these words spoken to the Syrophoenician woman do not mean that Jesus came only for the Jews. Rather, it seems to me that He was laying the groundwork to emphasize that even Gentiles could be saved if they believed. Seen in this light, the intention behind Jesus’ words after hearing the woman’s response becomes clear.
Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour. (Matthew 15:28, WEB)
The instruction in today’s passage to go only to the towns of the Jews can be understood even more simply: at that time, the mission entrusted to the twelve disciples was still limited to the Jews. The door for the disciples to minister to the Gentiles was opened only after the vision shown to Peter in Acts 10. For the Samaritans, Philip—one of the seven deacons—was chosen, and for the Gentiles, Paul was chosen. Therefore, this instruction in no way means that Jesus came only to save the Jews.
2. Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
It is easy to understand why doves are described as innocent, since they were animals offered as sacrifices instead of sheep or cattle. However, the instruction to “Be wise as serpents” is not so easy to grasp. Normally, this is explained by saying that serpents were symbols of wisdom, prudence, and discernment in ancient society, which is why Jesus used this expression. To be honest, though, I have never found this explanation very convincing. Apart from the scene in the wilderness where those bitten by fiery serpents were healed by looking at a bronze serpent (Numbers 21), serpents in the Bible are usually depicted with negative imagery. Even Jesus Himself, in other passages (Matthew 7:10, 23:33; Mark 16:18; Luke 10:19, 11:11), speaks of serpents in a negative light. The negative image is also present in Genesis, where the serpent is described as more cunning than any animal God had made (Genesis 3:1). Therefore, this saying of Jesus to His disciples as they were about to set out on their mission seems all the more difficult to understand.
That is why I would like to offer a slightly different perspective on this verse. Jesus must have had a specific intention in saying this, and if we can understand that intention, we will be able to grasp His words more fully.
First, let’s consider the environment the disciples were entering. The disciples were being sent out on their mission with authority conferred upon them by Jesus. In the places where they would go, there would be people who would welcome them and accept the gospel, but there would also be those who would reject them, prompting the disciples to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against them. To these people, the disciples had to proclaim the gospel. This can be seen as bringing God’s values to people who are firmly entrenched in the values of the world.
It is precisely in this context that the wisdom of the serpent in Genesis is needed. When explaining original sin, I have often said that Adam and Eve, who had been judging according to God’s standards, sinned because they began to judge and act according to the serpent’s standards. Although Adam and Eve had the free will to sin, the fact that before then they had no reason to hide from God implies that, up to that point, they had not sinned. The serpent presented its own values to Adam and Eve, telling them that this was actually right. Although it was a lie, Eve, upon hearing it, became tempted and abandoned God’s standards to act according to Satan’s values. This is exactly what can be called cunning, or wise, behavior.
The strategy the serpent used at that time is now to be used by the disciples, who are to tell people entrenched in the world’s values that God’s standards are right. By doing so, some will begin to think, “Is God’s standard and value really right?” and then act according to God’s values, including repentance.
What do you think? Although the situation is completely reversed, isn’t the disciples’ situation very similar to that of Genesis? If we think this way, the instruction to “be as wise as serpents” is not so difficult to understand. This interpretation may not be absolutely correct, but rather than giving up on understanding because it is difficult, it is good to consider that such interpretations are possible.
