Shrewdness

Astuteness or craftiness in dealings with others, especially in using one's understanding and judgment to one's own advantage. Scripture commends it when it is seen in wise words and actions directed towards a worthy goal, but condemns it when it takes the form of cunning and deceitful scheming for sinful and selfish ends.

Shrewdness as astuteness

It is encouraged in believers

Matthew 10:16; Luke 16:8–9 Jesus Christ explains the parable of the dishonest manager (Luke 16:1–7) and urges his disciples to be shrewd in their use of worldly wealth.

Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.

Practical demonstrations of astuteness

Matthew 7:24–25 parallel Luke 6:47–48 See also Proverbs 12:23, Proverbs 14:15, Proverbs 15:5, Proverbs 18:15; Matthew 24:45–47 parallel Luke 12:42–44

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.

Jesus Christ's wisdom in answering his enemies

Matthew 22:18–22 parallels Mark 12:15–17, Luke 20:23–26 on the matter of paying taxes to Caesar; Matthew 22:31–32 parallels Mark 12:26–27, Luke 20:37–38 on the question of the resurrection; John 8:7 regarding the woman caught in adultery

Further examples of astuteness

1 Samuel 23:22–23 David's shrewdness in fleeing from Saul; 2 Samuel 14:1–3 Joab's ruse to persuade David to call Absalom back from exile; 1 Kings 3:28 Solomon's wise judgment; 2 Chronicles 11:23 Rehoboam acts wisely to secure his kingdom; Daniel 1:11–13 Daniel avoids eating royal food and wine; Matthew 2:16 Herod is outwitted by the Magi; Mark 7:27–29 parallel Matthew 15:26–28 the Syro-Phoenician woman's wise response

Shrewdness as crafty and deceitful scheming

It demonstrates human sinfulness

Psalm 64:6 See also Job 15:5; Psalm 83:3, Psalm 140:1–3; Proverbs 7:10; Acts 13:10; Ephesians 4:14

They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious.

It is condemned by God

2 Samuel 22:26–27 parallel Psalm 18:25–26 God is shrewd in dealing with those who cleverly deceive others; Job 5:12–13 See also Psalm 94:11; Proverbs 6:12–15, Proverbs 12:2; Isaiah 5:21, Isaiah 44:24–25; 1 Corinthians 1:19; Isaiah 29:14; 1 Corinthians 3:19–20

To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless; to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd.

He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success. He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.

Others dislike it

Proverbs 14:17, Proverbs 25:23

It is a characteristic of Satan

2 Corinthians 11:3 See also Genesis 3:1; 2 Corinthians 2:11, 2 Corinthians 11:13–15

I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

The craftiness of Jesus Christ's enemies

Matthew 22:15–17 parallels Mark 12:13–15, Luke 20:20–22 The Pharisees try to trap Jesus Christ over paying taxes; Matthew 26:3–4 parallels Mark 14:1–2, Luke 22:1–2 The religious leaders plot Jesus Christ's death.

Further examples of crafty scheming

Genesis 25:31–33 Jacob buys Esau's birthright; Genesis 27:15–16 Isaac is tricked into blessing Jacob; Exodus 1:10 Pharaoh plans to reduce the number of Israelites; Joshua 9:3–6 The Gibeonites deceive Joshua; 2 Samuel 13:3 Jonadab plots for Amnon against Tamar; Nehemiah 6:2–13 schemes against Nehemiah; 2 Corinthians 12:16 Paul sarcastically echoes the slander against him that he tricked people into giving him money.