"Behold," said Jesus, "I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Christ Himself did not suppress one word of truth, but He spoke it always in love. He exercised the greatest tact, and thoughtful, kind attention in His intercourse with the people. He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness. He fearlessly denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity, but tears were in His voice as He uttered His scathing rebukes. He wept over Jerusalem, the city He loved, that refused to receive Him, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. They rejected Him, the Saviour, but He regarded them with pitying tenderness, and sorrow so deep that it broke His heart. Every soul was precious in His eyes. While He always bore Himself with divine dignity, He bowed with tenderest regard to every member of the family of God. In all men He saw fallen souls whom it was His mission to save.

Se, sagde Jesus, jeg sender jer som får blandt ulve; vær derfor snilde som slanger og uden svig som duer. Kristus selv undlod aldrig at sige sandhedens ord, men han sagde dem altid i kærlighed. Han udviste den største takt, hensynsfuldhed og venlige omtanke under sin samtale med andre. Han var aldrig grov, sagde aldrig uden grund et strengt ord og smertede aldrig uden årsag et følsomt sind. Han dalede ikke mennesker for deres svagheder. Frygtløst fordømte han hykleri, vantro og uretfærdighed, men hans hjerte blødte, når han fremkom med sine svidende, skarpe irettesættelser. Han græd over Jerusalem, den by, han elskede, men som nægtede at tage imod ham, som var vejen og sandheden og livet. De forkastede ham, deres Frelser, men han betragtede dem med medlidende ømhed og en sorg, der var så dyb, at hans hjerte var ved at briste. Enhver sjæl er dyrebar i hans øjne. Skønt han altid optrådte med guddommelig værdighed, bøjede han sig med den kærligste omsorg ned til ethvert medlem af Guds familie. I hvert eneste menneske så han en falden sjæl, som han var udsendt for at frelse.