Jesus’ image of the apostles as sheep in the midst of wolves (vulnerable: Matthew 9:36; Isaiah 11:6, Isaiah 65:25) echoes the Jewish tradition that Israel is a herd of sheep among seventy wolves (the Gentile nations). As the Good Shepherd (John 10:1–42), he sends out his disciples (the true Israel) to the lost sheep (Matthew 10:6) and protects them in the midst of the Jews’ hostility (see Matthew 9:36).
Matthew 10:16 does not say that Jesus is sending them to (eis) the wolves, but rather that he is sending them as sheep among or in the midst of (en mesooi) wolves. Since Jesus is the actual target of the wolves, the apostles can trust that he will be with them, for they are his sheep.
The vulnerability of the sheep (as lambs) with regard to the dangerous wolves is an image that is found on multiple occasions throughout Scripture (see Isaiah 11:6,Isaiah 65:25) The Jews had been taught that Israel is a herd of sheep among seventy wolves (representing the Gentile nations). It is against this background that Jesus’ characterization of the apostles as sheep in the midst of wolves
needs to be understood. As the Shepherd of the people of God he sends out his disciples (the true Israel) and protects them in the midst of antagonism from the Jews (see Matthew 9:36, Matthew 10:6).1
Matthew 10:16 describes the position the apostles will find themselves in once they have been sent out. This verse does not say that Jesus is sending them to (eis) the wolves, but rather that he is sending them as sheep among or in the midst of (en mesooi) wolves. The actual target of the wolves is Jesus himself. Ultimately, therefore, when Jesus speaks of the apostles being sent out among the wolves, he is actually encouraging them, for he highlights that the situation in which they will find themselves is hostile precisely because of the One who sent them, and this is in whom they should place their trust.2
16 Voici, je vous envoie comme des brebis au milieu des loups. Soyez donc prudents comme les serpents, et simples comme les colombes.