Bible Reading: Genesis 7; Ezra 7; Matthew 7; Acts 7
Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
This strange saying of Jesus causes frustration and questions when it is read. The saying must be taken in context to understand what our Lord meant when he said it. He began by talking about judging others with an unequal standard. Whatever standard you want to be judged by, that is the standard to use when judging others. We must judge the spiritual condition of others. We must not be critical and condemning. Jesus reminds us to check ourselves before we attempt to point out the inconsistencies in someone else. We tend to knit-pick a person with a small speck in their eye while we have a huge beam in our own eye.
However, we must have discernment to know who it is we are talking with. Some will not or cannot understand the holy things we are talking about. Jesus' example of dogs and swine is used to speak of those who are lost. Jesus here is saying that we are not to expect lost people to understand the holy things of the Word of God. It will do no good to try and convince a lost person that they should live according to the Lord's Sermon on the Mount. That is like giving a holy thing to a dog. They will just tear it up. It is like giving a pearl necklace to a wild hog. It will just destroy it and you.
The apostle Peter uses the same images to speak of the true nature of a lost person. They may learn some of the things of Christ, but they have not been truly converted.
2 Peter 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
So what do you do? Are you not to talk about God with lost people? Of course you are, but you need to start at the beginning. You need to realize they are lost (swine and dogs). Then you need to pray for them! Look at the very next verse:
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you…
Instead of arguing over holy things with someone who cannot understand and value them Jesus says you need to pray. Discern who you are talking with and pray. Then you must start at the beginning. They need to hear the gospel so they can be saved. Once they are saved then they can begin to understand holy spiritual things. Jesus is not being derogatory but being direct and honest. You and I need to ask God for our lost friends!
In Christ,
Rody
