Sent Out as Sheep Amidst Wolves

The twelve apostles were sent out into a world hostile to Jesus’ message of a coming kingdom. False teachers who couldn’t recognize the King and secular authorities who would do anything to protect their kingdoms were willing to persecute anyone who threatened them. So Jesus prepares His disciples for being dragged into scenarios where their earthly fate would be determined by their words by telling them: “Be wise; be innocent; and do not worry...”