My husband often says, “Jesus commands us to love everyone but not to trust everyone.” He says this when I am too quick to trust others without first using Godly wisdom and discernment to assess their true intentions.

Unfortunately, we live in a broken world with imperfect beings, where people are disingenuous and selfish, thus will trample on others’ hearts and characters for personal gains. As Christians, we are taught to be kind and “turn the other cheek” when we are wronged. However, many brothers and sisters in Christ misconstrue that for being gullible and a pushover; allowing others to blatantly take advantage of them without as much of a push back or opposition. Moreover, many people mistaken kindness for weakness and seek to exploit others. Where do we draw the line between naivete and prudence?

Matthew 10 verse 16 says “behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (NKJV). Other Bible translations replace “wise” with “shrewd” and “harmless” with “innocent.” What exactly does this mean? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines shrewd as “clever, acute or sharp sound in judgment, and farsightedness.” Harmless means having no intention to cause harm. Based on these definitions, when we find ourselves in hostile or deceitful situations we are to be clever, applying Godly wisdom, and have a keen sense of discernment to avoid falling into the traps set for us. We must exercise assertiveness, set boundaries, advocate for ourselves, and know when to walk away from toxic situations. At the same time, we must be innocent and harmless by displaying kindness, compassion, gentleness, and living a blameless life before men and God.

Jesus modeled shrewdness and innocence very well throughout the new testament when he discerned the many traps and tests the pharisees and scribes prepared for him. He knew exactly how to answer and avoid being caught in their snare. For example, in the book of John chapter 8, verses 1-12, in an attempt to challenge Jesus and find “something of which to accuse Him,” the scribes and pharisees brought a woman who was caught in adultery to the crowd and Jesus. They knew that according to the old testament law, Moses stated, women caught in adultery were to be stoned. So they were expecting Jesus to command the crowd to stone the woman, hence, they would then use that as a reason to accuse Him of wrongdoing. Jesus, being as wise or shrewd as a serpent, already knew their intentions and answered them appropriately, by saying, ” he who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her” (NKJV). Jesus was harmless and innocent in this story because, although He knew the ill intentions of the scribes and pharisees, he was neither offensive or defensive toward them. He could have easily used that knowledge to confront them and humiliate them even. But He used the scenario to display grace and mercy to the woman and allow the others to self reflect on their own lives.

Though we must love everyone and practice humility, as my husband often says, “trust is earned.” We must ask God for the ability to discern others’ intentions and for guidance on where to place our trusts. When the Lord reveals to us the wrong intentions of someone, we must take heed and use caution in our dealings with said individual. Our ultimate aim is to respond like Jesus.

Relatable Verses:

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.10.16.NKJV

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:1‭-‬12 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.8.1-12.NKJV

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/heb.4.12.NKJV

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. I Corinthians 2:14‭-‬16 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/1co.2.14-16.NKJV

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9‭-‬11 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/php.1.9-11.NKJV

Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, And teach me Your statutes. I am Your servant; Give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies. Psalms 119:124‭-‬125 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.119.124-125.NKJV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. Matthew 5:38‭-‬42 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.5.38-42.NKJV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, Matthew 5:43‭-‬44 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.5.43-44.NKJV