Being as innocent as doves, and as shrewd as vipers When Jesus commissions his disciples, he offers them this piece of advice: “I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Wisdom and innocence don’t always go hand-in-hand, but Jesus tries to make those near-opposites work together. I love the paradox. I love the mystery of it. I love the impossibility of it too.