Wise and innocent

Matthew 10:16 - Behold, I send you as sheep among wolves. Therefore become wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

I have always thought that wisdom and innocence are contrasted here. Yet, this morning, I think they are complementary. Wise being prudent and thoughtful, innocence being authentic, honest. (guileless) So, Jesus is telling the apostles (the ones sent) to become, to cultivate wisdom and innocence. I think he is asking the same of us.

I find it interesting here that serpents are given a good quality. They are described as wise, yet, in the garden the serpent was wise yet deceitful - sly, wily. So, here we can see that the good qualities of serpents are desired and the bad quality, guile, is explicitly rejected in favor of the innocence and honesty, openness of doves.

The kind of wisdom he wants is street smarts, although I'm sure many would reject that idea. Jesus knew which way the political wind blew in his time. He knew about human nature - that is street smarts; being able to read situations and respond accordingly. He is asking us to become, to cultivate an awareness of our nature as well as others. Yet, he doesn't want us to use this information against others or ourselves as the serpent in the garden did. He wants us to be honest, guileless. The wisdom we cultivate should be used to build up rather than destroy and our purity, our innocence should likewise be used to build up others. Possibly to be an example of living an honest, open life. Possibly this is a good verse for my CPE?
B