Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 10].
10:16 {As sheep in the midst of wolves} (\h•s probata en mes•i
luk•n\). The presence of wolves on every hand was a fact then and
now. Some of these very sheep (10:6) at the end will turn out
to be wolves and cry for Christ's crucifixion. The situation
called for consummate wisdom and courage. The serpent was the
emblem of wisdom or shrewdness, intellectual keenness (Ge 3:1;
Ps 58:5), the dove of simplicity (Ho 7:11). It was a proverb,
this combination, but one difficult of realization. Either
without the other is bad (rascality or gullibility). The first
clause with \arnas\ for \probata\ is in Lu 10:3 and apparently
is in a _Fragment of a Lost Gospel_ edited by Grenfell and Hunt.
The combination of wariness and innocence is necessary for the
protection of the sheep and the discomfiture of the wolves. For
"harmless" (\akeraioi\) Moffatt and Goodspeed have "guileless,"
Weymouth "innocent." The word means "unmixed" (\a\ privative and
\kerannumi\), "unadulterated," "simple," "unalloyed."
10:17 {Beware of men} (\prosechete apo t•n anthr•p•n\). Ablative
case with \apo\. Hold your mind (\noun\ understood) away from.
The article with \anthr•p•n\ points back to \luk•n\ (wolves) in
10:16.
{To councils} (\eis sunedria\). The local courts of justice in
every Jewish town. The word is an old one from Herodotus on for
any deliberative body (\concilium\). The same word is used for
the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. {In their synagogues} (\en tois
sunag•gais aut•n\). Here not merely as the place of assembly for
worship, but as an assembly of justice exercising discipline as
when the man born blind was cast out of the synagogue (Joh
9:35). They were now after the exile in every town of any size
where Jews were.
10:19 {Be not anxious} (\m• merimn•s•te\). Ingressive aorist
subjunctive in prohibition. "Do not become anxious" (Mt 6:31).
"Self-defence before Jewish kings and heathen governors would be
a terrible ordeal for humble Galileans. The injunction applied to
cases when preparation of a speech would be impossible"
(McNeile). "It might well alarm the bravest of these simple
fishermen to be told that they would have to answer for their
doings on Christ's behalf before Jewish councils and heathen
courts" (Plummer). Christ is not talking about preparation of
sermons. "{In that hour}" (\en ekein•i t•i h•r•i\), if not
before. The Spirit of your Father will speak to you and through
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