Skilled as Serpents; Making Friends with the Morally Unrighteous; Unmixed Doves; Shrewd Virgins

There is no question that Jesus said some weird things at times. It is doubtful we will ever hear a sermon on making friends with the unrighteous so that they can help us just in case we are out of work. But Jesus did say that. He also told us to be wise or skilled like serpents, but our imagery is that serpents are evil. So was Jesus saying be evil or deal corruptly? No, he was actually giving us some pointers so as to be able to survive in society for the years to come. Wise, crafty, prudent, shrewd, and intelligent, are just some of the ways we are to live. We are the lamps in this crooked and distorted world so our hearts should be like doves. We are not on the same level as serpents but Jesus make us superhuman over serpents. We will explore Jesus’ odd suggestions and stories.  

In context, here in Matthew 10, Jesus is going to send out his twelve disciples. The word for sending out is the word apostello where we get our word apostle, they are “sent ones”. The difference in being sent, apostello, as compared to going out to disciple of one’s own accord, is the power behind the one sent. If I go out to tell people about the kingdom on my own, I do not have the power of the King backing me up. If I tell people about the kingdom after being sent by the King, I have the power of the King behind me. Being an apostle for the King means that the things an apostle says are the things that the King wants people to know, as opposed to someone speaking about a kingdom from their own ideas or experiences. Jesus sends the apostles to the lost sheep. We studied the lost sheep, they are the people who were not of the Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes or the prophets, but were of the tribe of Jacob who compromised on the priesthood some two hundred years earlier. At that time the lost sheep were the Pharisees and those who followed the Pharisees, those are the people Jesus spoke to and sent the disciples to, but notice where they are.

Matt 10:16 "Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.  (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Notice that Jesus says this is hazardous work for them. It was hazardous for Jesus as they crucified him, but the twelve were like sheep among wolves, but the wolves were among the lost sheep. It seems strange to send the twelve to the lost sheep and then tell the twelve they are the sheep among wolves. What we see is that the lost sheep were so lost they were living among wolves, in so much that there were probably more wolves dressed up in sheep’s’ clothing than lost sheep. Then the twelve apostles who are true sheep, are searching for the lost sheep but have to be careful because there are too many wolves among them. The next statement that Jesus makes is for the twelve to be cunning as snakes.

Matt 10:16 Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves; be wary and wise as serpents, and be innocent (harmless, guileless, and without falsity) as doves. [Gen 3:1.] AMP

Wary and wise as serpents and innocent as doves. That is how the twelve apostellos, sent ones, were to become. Even though they are going to try and find lost sheep, it will be as if they are dinner among wolves, so they should be intelligent as serpents and harmless as doves. Let’s look at these words.

Matt 10:16G2400Behold, G1473I G649send G1473you G5613as G4263sheep G1722in G3319the midst G3074of wolves. G1096Be G3767then G5429skilled G5613as G3588the G3789serpents, G2532and G185unmixed G5613as G3588the G4058doves!

649 ἀποστέλλω  apostellō ap-os-tel'-lo  From G575 and G4724; set apart, that is, (by implication) to send out (properly on a mission) literally or figuratively KJV Usage: put in, send (away, forth, out), set [at liberty].

5429 φρόνιμος  phronimos  fron'-ee-mos  From G5424; thoughtful, that is, sagacious or discreet (implying a cautious character; whileG4680 denotes practical skill or acumen; andG4908 indicates rather intelligence or mental acquirement); in a bad sense conceited (also in the comparative) KJV Usage: wise (-r).

3789 ὄφις ophis of'-is Probably from G3700 (through the idea of sharpness of vision); a snake, figuratively (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan KJV Usage: serpent.

185 ἀκέραιος akeraios ak-er'-ah-yos From G1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G2767; unmixed, that is,(figuratively) innocent KJV Usage: harmless, simple.

4058 περιστερά  peristera per-is-ter-ah'  Of uncertain derivation; a pigeon KJV Usage: dove, pigeon.

Isn’t it interesting that the lost sheep were living among wolves? The twelve apostles were going to be among lots of wolves looking for lost sheep. Therefore they needed to be perceptive and knowledgeable, like a serpent, and innocent or pure in heart, not mixed with guile, as doves. Snakes feel vibrations around them, perceiving an approaching danger or meal. So in the midst of wolves, they were to be perceptive about who was around them and knowledgeable as to how to proceed. They were also to be innocent towards the lost sheep who were living along with wolves, as the lost sheep probably didn’t know there were wolves among them. Remember that these people lost the Holy Spirit when they stayed in Jerusalem instead of leaving because of the defilement of the priesthood.

Since Jesus read and quoted from the Septuagint, we can track the Greek words he used. The first occurrence of serpent and skilled or wise is found in Genesis 3.

Gen 3:2 Now the serpent was the most crafty of all the brutes on the earth, which the Lord God made, and the serpent said to the woman, Wherefore has God said, Eat not of every tree of the garden? http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Genesis/index.htm

Gen 3:1G3588But the G1161 G3789serpent G1510.7.3was G5429most skilled G3956of all G3588the G2342wild beasts, G3588of the ones G1909upon G3588the G1093earth G3739whom G4160[³made G2962¹ the lord G3588 G2316²God]. G2532And G2036[³said G3588¹the G3789²serpent] G3588to the G1135woman, G5100For why G3754 G2036said G3588 G2316God, G3766.2No way G2068should you eat G575from G3956all G3586of a tree G3588of the G3857paradise?

Since Jesus is telling the twelve to be skilled like a serpent, they would have thought back to this story. The way the serpent approached Eve; the way the serpent used skilled words to trick her, the way the serpent led her in the conversation to believe him. Today we have classes that people can take to learn to “sell” or “persuade” others. Think of the way a lawyer uses words to twist and spin an argument to win. Regardless of the lawyers’ moral conviction, and no matter what side of the fence the lawyer argues for, the lawyer is to make a case to win. Many politicians gain their skills from first being lawyers and learning to litigate. Then there are business people who are interested in selling. They want us to buy what they have even if we don’t need it. They highlight the best aspects of a product or service and convince others that it is the only product or service worth utilizing. The business person learns to make a skilled pitch and to overcome objections. These are wise and crafty ways the twelve sent ones were to share the Kingdom, while they cured the sick, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers and drove out the demons.

Schools for learning communication skills were not available at that time so Jesus gave them an illustration that they could follow for their mission to preach the Kingdom of Heaven. Another visual understanding they would have had is with Joseph, when Pharaoh heard his dream interpreted.

Gen 41:39 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, Forasmuch as [your] God has shown you all this, there is nobody as intelligent and discreet and understanding and wise as you are.  AMP

Gen 41: 39G2036[³said G1161¹And G*²Pharaoh] G3588 G*to Joseph, G1894Since G1166God showed G3588 G2316 G1473to you G3956all G3778these things, G3756there is not G1510.2.3 G444a man G5429more intelligent G2532and G4908more discerning G1473than you

The way Joseph listened to the Spirit of God, the way Joseph communicated the revelation of Pharaoh’s dream, and the way he stood with confidence declaring the interpretation of the dream, is the way the sent ones were to carry themselves. These are the ways in which we are to carry ourselves as well. We may find ourselves attempting to bring salvation and the good news of the Kingdom to lost sheep who are surrounded by wolves and we are to use these same skills and techniques to speak to others and to share the words of the Holy Spirit. Since the twelve would have heard Jesus’ stories, they would have also heard him say that being intelligent and wise is like building your house on a rock.

Matt 7:24 So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock. AMP

Matt 7:24G3956Every one G3767then G3748whoever G191hears G1473[²my G3588 G3056³words G3778¹these], G2532and G4160does G1473them, G3666I shall liken G1473him G435[²man G5429¹to a practical], G3748one who G3618built G3588 G3614his house G1473 G1909upon G3588the G4073rock

Be sensible, practical, and prudent, have confidence and articulate ideas well. That is the message of being like a serpent. Another idea of being like a serpent is in the story of the ten virgins.

Matt 25: 8G3588And the G1161 G3474moronish G3588[²to the G5429³practical G2036¹said], G1325GiveG1473to us G1537from G3588 G1637your oil! G1473 G3754for G3588 G2985our lamps G1473 G4570are extinguishing

Shrewdness in preparation. If a foolish person asks for some of our oil, we are to be wise and say no. We need to be prepared with what is required for the task at hand. The anticipation of the Bridegroom coming at any point in time meant that the virgins had to be ready at a moment’s notice. Since it was night, the markets were closed, therefore they had to have the oil on hand, ready to go, as soon as the announcement of the Bridegroom’s coming was made. It would be like having an emergency kit ready in case of a storm. There will always be those people who did not prepare and expect others to help them out, but we cannot be unwise waiting for the bridegroom.

The serpent was not wise all by himself, he was the mouth piece of satan. We are the mouthpiece of the Holy Spirit. Therefore like Joseph, the sensible builder, and the five smart virgins, we have to rely on the Holy Spirit. Then we can be called wise. Paul tells us we are not to be ignorant, but intelligent as to this mystery of the age. 

Rom 11:25-26 I want to lay all this out on the table as clearly as I can, friends. This is complicated. It would be easy to misinterpret what's going on and arrogantly assume that you're royalty and they're just rabble, out on their ears for good. But that's not it at all. This hardness on the part of insider Israel toward God is temporary. Its effect is to open things up to all the outsiders so that we end up with a full house. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Rom 11: 25G3756For I do not G1063 G2309want G1473you G50to be ignorant, G80brethren, G3588 G3466of this mystery,G3778 G2443that G3361you should not G1510.3be G3844[²in G1438³yourselves G5429¹intelligent], G3754that G4457callousness G575[²in part G3313 G3588³ to G*⁴Israel G1096¹has happened] G891until G3739of which time G3588the G4138fullness G3588of the G1484nations G1525should enter in.

The idea that Israel is hardened for now is to the benefit of the nations. Paul reminds us not to be intelligent of ourselves but to understand this mystery. Angels wished to look into the mystery of this age and were not permitted to see what this mystery was, that the nations would be fellow heirs and of the same body. This is part of the wisdom and subtlety we are to have; a sensitivity to this issue. Like a serpent sensing the vibrations on the ground, we are to sense and understand the season we are in, it is the season of the nations coming to know the Messiah. We have all walked into places where we could sense the emotional or spiritual atmosphere among all the people. That is the keenness we are to have among all people searching for the Messiah, whether Jew or non-Jew. Skilled as serpents and harmless as doves. Paul helps us understand this idea of not being mixed like doves.

Rom 16:19 For while your loyalty and obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I would have you well versed and wise as to what is good and innocent and guileless as to what is evil.  AMP

Rom 16: 19G3588For the G1063 G1473obedience of yours G5218 G1519[²unto G3956³all G864¹reached]. G5463I rejoice G3767then G3588 G1909over G1473you. G2309But I want G1161 G1473you G4680[²wise G3303³indeed G1510.1¹to be] G1519unto G3588the G18good, G185but unmixed G1161 G1519unto G3588 G2556evil. 20 G3588But the G1161 G2316God G3588 G1515of peace G4937will destroy G3588 G*Satan G5259under G3588 G4228your feet G1473 G1722quickly. G5034 G3588The G5484favor G3588 G2962of our Lord G1473 G*Jesus G5547Christ G3326be with G1473you.

Being unmixed unto evil is a good example of being unmixed like doves. Doves build nests in the clefts of rocks, where many predators can’t reach, and they find a partner and mate for life. They live innocently. They are not aggressive, nor predatory, nor flagrant. They are simple in color, and in their general manner. They are also gentle and teachable; a friend to mankind. When the Holy Spirit descended as a dove on Jesus at his baptism, the people understood the connotation of the Holy Spirit being like a dove. I like the enthusiasm of this verse in the Message.

Rom 16:19-20 And so while there has never been any question about your honesty in these matters — I couldn't be more proud of you! — I want you also to be smart, making sure every "good" thing is the real thing. Don't be gullible in regard to smooth-talking evil. Stay alert like this, 20 and before you know it the God of peace will come down on Satan with both feet, stomping him into the dirt. Enjoy the best of Jesus!  (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Paul’s message here is to become unmixed children of God. And just like the twelve sent ones, we find ourselves in the middle of a perverted and putrid society.

Phil 2:14-15 Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves], 15 That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world, AMP

Phil 2:14-16 Do everything readily and cheerfully — no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! 15 Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Phil 2: 14G3956Do all things G4160 G5565without G1112grumblings G2532and G1261arguings!

15G2443that G1096you should becomeG273blamelessG2532and G185unmixed, G5043children G2316of God, G298without blemish, G1722in G3319the midst G1074of a generation G4646crooked G2532and G1294perverted, G1722among G3739whom G5316you appear G5613as G5458luminaries G1722in G2889the world,

4646 σκολιός skolios skol-ee-os' From the base of G4628; warped, that is, winding; figuratively perverse KJV Usage: crooked, froward, untoward.

1294 LSJ Gloss: διαστρέφωto turn different ways, to twist about, distort

διαστρέφω diastrephō dee-as-tref'-o  From G1223 and G4762; to distort, that is, (figuratively)  misinterpret, or (morally) corruptKJV Usage: perverse (-rt), turn away.

5458 φωστήρ  phōstēr  foce-tare'  From G5457; an illuminator, that is, (concretely) a luminary, or (abstractly) brilliancy KJV Usage: light.

Look at these words. We are in the middle of skolios, “crooked” (where we get our word for scoliosis), and diastrepho, “distorted time period”, but we are the lanterns. The disciples were in the middle of wolves, we are living in the middle of a warped and twisted time. We have to become wise as serpents and harmless as doves or else no one will hear the gospel. We are luminaries to the nations and the Jews.

Jesus was not advocating for his twelve sent ones to be evil or deceitful, but they had to be smart about how they talked to others, and how they spoke for the Holy Spirit. We likewise have to be good communicators, crafty, eloquent, and intelligent like lawyers and business people. We also have to be honest and without evil intent. But there is more to Jesus’ odd sayings. He seems to also tell us to befriend the unrighteous, mentioning that the sons of light are a bit behind in shrewdness.

Luke 16:8-9 And [his] master praised the dishonest (unjust) manager for acting shrewdly and prudently; for the sons of this age are shrewder and more prudent and wiser in [relation to] their own generation [to their own age and kind] than are the sons of light.

9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), so that when it fails, they [those you have favored] may receive and welcome you into the everlasting habitations (dwellings). AMP

Luke 16:8G2532And G1867[³praised G3588¹the G2962²master] G3588the G3623[²manager G3588 G93¹unrighteous] G3754for G5430[²with practicality G4160¹he acted]. G3754For G3588the G5207sons G3588 G165of this eon G3778 G5429are more practical G5228than G3588the G5207sons G3588of the G5457light G1519[²in G3588 G1074⁴generation G3588 G1438³their own G1510.2.6¹are].

165 αἰών aiōn ahee-ohn' From the same as G104; properly an age; by extension perpetuity (also past); by implication the world; specifically (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future)KJV Usage: age, course, eternal, (for) ever (-more), [n-]ever, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, without end).

5429 φρόνιμος phronimos fron'-ee-mos From G5424; thoughtful, that is, sagacious or discreet (implying a cautious character; whileG4680 denotes practical skill or acumen; andG4908 indicates rather intelligence or mental acquirement); in a bad sense conceited (also in the comparative) KJV Usage: wise (-r).

5457 φῶς phōs foce From an obsolete φάω phaō (to shine or makemanifest, especially by rays; compare G5316and G5346); luminousness (in the widest application, natural or artificial, abstract or concrete, literal or figurative) KJV Usage: fire, light.

1074 γενεά  genea  ghen-eh-ah' From (a presumed derivative of) G1085; a generation; by implication an age (the period or the persons) KJV Usage: age, generation, nation, time.

Let’s look at verse 8 first. The comment at the end of Jesus’ story is that the sons of this eon are just like the serpent Jesus told the twelve to be like. It’s the same word here, phronimos, “wise, intelligent, and skillful”. The business people of this age are more intelligent and skillful than the sons of light are in their own generation. A generation is their own lifetime as compared to the age, eon we live in. The difference is that the word generation implies a “life span”, whereas eon implies “many life spans”. We are presently in the age of the Holy Spirit and have been since the first Pentecost, roughly 2000 years. 

Jesus says the people of God are the sons of phos while Paul says we are the phoster. Now that the Holy Spirit can indwell mankind, we become the lamp for others to see in the darkness. We are still sons of the light but we are now also the light to others.

Let’s think of this as if we lived in the present century instead of the first century. Let’s say there is a CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of a business and the President of the business believes the CFO might be embezzling money. The CFO is called to the President’s office and asked to show the President the business’ books. The President wants to see exactly where the money is being spent. Since the CFO cannot do anything to change the fact that he will get fired because he has been spending the business’ money for his own personal use, he decides to go to the people who owe the business money and change their debt. Instead of sending the businesses’ debtors to collections, he tells them to re-write what they owe. In other words, the CFO gives all the businesses’ outstanding accounts a 50% break on what they owe. This is not to settle the business debt but to make the CFO a popular guy with all the other businesses’ who owed money. This way the CFO can get a job with one of those other businesses, since he is about to be fired. Essentially the CFO discounted all the debt so that the people owed less than they really did. Well that CFO was a smart guy, he made a lot of friends that day and will probably have a job in no time. This is why the President praised the crooked CFO, because he knew how to take care of himself. The CFO was crooked, and what he did in discounting the debts was wrong, but the CFO was smart in preparing for his future. The CFO was practical about making friends with other business owners so that he could get another job.

Just as the Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes were business people buying and trading in the communities, they learned to be shrewd in business dealings. They prospered in their communities and took care of one another as well as the widows and orphans. This is the way everyone in the body of Christ should be. Let’s look at the words in verse 9.  Now verse 9 seems like Jesus really went off the deep end when he says to make friends with the rich unrighteous people.

Luke 16:9G2504And I G1473say to you, G3004 G4160Make G1438to yourselves G5384friends G1537from out of G3588the G3126mammon G3588of the G93unrighteous, G2443that G3752whenever G1587you fail, G1209they should receive G1473you G1519into G3588the G166eternal G4633tents.

3126 Dodson: μαμωνᾶς riches, money, possessions (Aramaic), riches, money, possessions, property.

Strong's: μαμμωνᾶς mammonas, i.e. avarice (deified) Derivation: of Chaldee origin (confidence, i.e. wealth, personified);KJV Usage: mammon.

μαμμωνᾱς  mammōnas mam-mo-nas'  Of Chaldee origin (confidence, that is, figuratively wealth, personified); mammonas, that is, avarice (deified) KJV Usage: mammon.

93 LSJ Gloss: ἀδικία wrong-doing, injustice

Dodson: ἀδικία unrighteousness injustice, unrighteousness, hurt.

Strong's: ἀδικία (legal) injustice (properly, the quality, by implication, the act); morally, wrongfulness (of character, life or act) Derivation: from G94; KJV Usage: iniquity, unjust, unrighteousness, wrong.

Thayer: 1) injustice, of a judge  2) unrighteousness of heart and life  3) a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness

ἀδικία  adikia ad-ee-kee'-ah From G94; (legal) injustice (properly the quality, by implication the act); moral wrongfulness (of charater, life or act) KJV Usage: iniquity, unjust, unrighteousness, wrong.

1587 LSJ Gloss: ἐκλείπω to leave out, omit, pass over

Dodson: ἐκλείπω I fail utterly, cease, die I fail, die out, come to an end, am defunct.

ἐκλείπω  ekleipō  ek-li'-po From G1537 and G3007; to omit, that is, (by implication) cease (die) KJV Usage: fail.

1209 LSJ Gloss: δέχομαι to take, accept, receive

Dodson: δέχομαι I take, receive, accept, welcome.

δέχομαι  dechomai  dekh'-om-ahee  Middle voice of a primary verb; to receive (in various applications, literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: accept, receive, take.

166 LSJ Gloss: αἰώνιος lasting for an age

αἰώνιος  aiōnios  ahee-o'-nee-os  From G165; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well) KJV Usage: eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).

4633 LSJ Gloss: σκηνή a covered place, a tent

Dodson: σκηνή a tent, tabernacle a tent, booth, tabernacle, abode, dwelling, mansion, habitation.

Strong's: σκηνή a tent or cloth hut (literally or figuratively) Derivation: apparently akin to G4632 andG4639; KJV Usage: habitation, tabernacle.

σκηνή  skēnē  skay-nay'  Apparently akin to G4632 and G4639; a tent or cloth hut (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: habitation, tabernacle.

Jesus says to make friends with morally wrong wealthy people so that when you get fired the wealthy unjust people will receive you, to take you into their dwelling for the rest of your life. In context Jesus is saying to be shrewd and an exceptionally skilled communicator like lawyers, business people, and the serpent, when working with the wealthy unrighteous people of our communities so that if we get fired, or laid off, we will have connections to other places of employment, and the rich unjust business owners will offer us a job in their business. Jesus is not suggesting to be fake or deceitful in business, nor is Jesus advocating embezzlement. Jesus is saying that we have to learn how to take care of ourselves in our communities. This is how the world works, therefore we have to be like the serpent in the garden, who could skillfully communicate. We have to be like Joseph who could confidently and intelligently speak to Pharaoh and secure a job even though the interpretation of the dream came from the Holy Spirit. We have to be like the sensible builder who chose to build on a stable surface. We have to be like the five cunning and prudent virgins who prepared ahead of time to see the bridegroom. We also have to be unmixed in heart like a dove. The unrighteous business owner will see these characteristics in us as well as the light we shine in this crooked and perverse world. The unjust business owner may not fully comprehend Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but our astute intelligence will attract us to them as capable and wise employees. The Message says it this way:

Luke 16:8-9 "Now here's a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. 9 I want you to be smart in the same way — but for what is right — using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior."  (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

So while Jesus did say to be like skillful serpents and make friends with unrighteous wealthy people, he also said we have authority to do battle in the heavenly realm against serpents. This tells us that we can be smart, skillful, crafty, like a serpent but we also have more power than serpents. We have looked at our power and authority before but let’s look at these words again. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/11/gods-among-men-unraveling-satan.html

Luke 10:19 Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you. AMP

Luke 10:19G2400Behold,G1325I giveG1473to youG3588theG1849authorityG3588 G3961to treadG1883uponG3789serpentsG2532andG4651scorpions,G2532andG1909uponG3956allG3588theG1411powerG3588of theG2190enemy;G2532andG3762nothingG1473[³youG3766.2¹in any wayG91²shall injure]

1849 ἐξουσία  exousia ex-oo-see'-ah  From G1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, that is, (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence KJV Usage: authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.

3961 πατέω  pateō  pat-eh'-o From a derivative probably of G3817 (meaning a “path”); to trample (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: tread (down, under foot).

3789 ὄφις ophis of'-is Probably from G3700 (through the idea of sharpness of vision); a snake, figuratively (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan KJV Usage: serpent.

4651 σκορπίος skorpios  skor-pee'-os  Probably from σκέρπω skerpō , an obsolete word, (perhaps strengthened from the base ofG4649 and meaning to pierce); a “scorpion” (from its sting) KJV Usage: scorpion.

1411 δύναμις  dunamis  doo'-nam-is  From G1410; force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself) KJV Usage: ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

2190 ἐχθρός  echthros  ekh-thros'  From a primary word ἔχθω echthō (to hate);hateful (passively odious, or actively hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan) KJV Usage: enemy, foe.

91 ἀδικέω  adikeō  ad-ee-keh'-o  From G94; to be unjust, that is, (actively) do wrong (morally, socially or physically) KJV Usage: hurt, injure, be an offender, be unjust, (do, suffer, take) wrong.

We have superhuman power, authority like a potentate, to trample on sly cunning and artful serpents and stinging scorpions, as well as all the force of the hateful adversary. Absolutely not one thing will morally, socially, or physically, hurt us. Now let’s put this together. Jesus says to be skillful communicators like the serpent was with Eve. Be intelligent and confident in communicating revelation to important people like Joseph did. Be shrewd and build on a solid place like a rock. Be prudent like the five virgins who were prepared while waiting for the bridegroom. Paul then suggests that we be wise in the Holy Spirit, and sensitive to the time period of the mystery and be unmixed in our hearts because we are the lamps in a crooked and perverse time. We also have to be street smart using these skills to do what is right so that in a time of need, we have a good reputation among the wealthy unjust business community so that if we are laid off, the rich unrighteous business owners will offer us a position in their company.  So yes, let’s be like serpents, and let’s make friends with the wealthy morally unrighteous. These are Jesus’ instructions for us to live in our generations.