The Difference Between Sheep and Wolves

What are we missing?

Jesus tells his disciples, I’m sending you out as sheep among wolves.

Not wolves among wolves. Not wolves disguised as sheep. But sheep. Vulnerable, exposed, unarmed.

Yet, somewhere along the way, parts of the Church have misunderstood the assignment. Instead of sheep in the midst of wolves, some have decided the only way to survive is to become wolves. Always on the prowl. Quick to attack. Eager to dominate.

But that’s not Jesus’ way. He sends his followers as sheep—yes, with wisdom like snakes and innocence like doves—but still sheep. Not because he wants us to be naïve or weak, but because his kingdom isn’t built through force, power plays, or predation. It’s built through faithfulness, endurance, and trust that God’s Spirit speaks even in our vulnerability.

Remember that incredible scene in the book of Revelation? Everyone’s expecting some great creature to come out and break the scroll’s seal because no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could do it. And so a lion is announced as the powerful thing that can do it. But is that what emerges? No. It’s a lamb.

A bloody, sacrificed lamb.

Jesus doesn’t deny the danger. He warns of betrayal, persecution, hatred. But his command isn’t to fight back harder. It’s to endure. To bear witness. To trust the Spirit to give us the right words at the right time.

So when Christians today seem eager to posture like wolves—ready to strike, to conquer, to own—we should pause. Because the Shepherd of the sheep doesn’t send us out to win like the world does.

We’re sent as sheep.
And yes, it’s dangerous.
But it’s also the way of Christ.

Matthew 10:16-25

Look, I’m sending you as sheep among wolves. Therefore, be wise as snakes and innocent as doves. Watch out for people—because they will hand you over to councils and they will beat you in their synagogues. They will haul you in front of governors and even kings because of me so that you may give your testimony to them and to the Gentiles. Whenever they hand you over, don’t worry about how to speak or what you will say, because what you can say will be given to you at that moment. You aren’t doing the talking, but the Spirit of my Father is doing the talking through you. Brothers and sisters will hand each other over to be executed. A father will turn his child in. Children will defy their parents and have them executed. Everyone will hate you on account of my name. But whoever stands firm until the end will be saved. Whenever they harass you in one city, escape to the next, because I assure that you will not go through all the cities of Israel before the Human One comes.

“Disciples aren’t greater than their teacher, and slaves aren’t greater than their master. It’s enough for disciples to be like their teacher and slaves like their master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, it’s certain that they will call the members of his household by even worse names.

Psalm 23:1-4a

The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He lets me rest in grassy meadows; he leads me to restful waters; he keeps me alive. He guides me in proper paths for the sake of his good name.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger because you are with me.

Prayer

God,

How is it that so many get this wrong? I mean, I want to stay humble and confess that I don’t have everything right, but this one seems pretty obvious. How has the sheep become an insult for many who follow you today? And how has the lion become the image of who you are, as a ravenous predator, conquering all evil?

How have we lost sight of the cruciformity of Jesus? …the gentleness, yet strength of the shepherd?

Sheep among wolves—that was the call. But instead, too many of us have become wolves ourselves: defensive, suspicious, hungry to devour and destroy.

Shepherd me back to the way of the Lamb. Give me eyes to see what is true strength, and a heart to endure with grace, not aggression.

Keep me sheepish in the best sense—attentive to your voice, content in your protection, willing to suffer rather than kill.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.