Hey All,
Jesus said this:
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.
It's just a simple verse. So this should be easy to understand. Let's define some terms for greater understanding.
Holy means set apart, pure.
The dog is used as a symbol, in the Bible, that is often associated with uncleanliness, sin, and unrighteousness. Dogs represent people who are unfaithful to God. (Rather ironic considering the dog is defined as man's best friend.) In the Bible, dogs are seen scavenging on the streets, feeding on the remains of the deceased.
Pearls represent purity through transformation.
As we know a natural pearl starts out a a grain of sand, or other foreign body, that enters the oyster. It is an iritent. The oyster coats it with calcium carbonate (called nacre) to stop the irritation. The calcium carbonate coating then continues to grow as the oyter grows providing continuous protection. Pretty cool!
It's interesting that the pearl is formed from suffering.
The grain of sand was once part of a rock. (Satan was once an angel.)
Now when the grain of sand (sin) enters into the oyster, it causes pain and suffering ( the irritation).
The calcium carbonste, or nacre (grace), covers the grain of sand (sin) so it is no longer effective (because of the covering --forgiveness) in the oyster's life. The irritation still exists (the old sin nature) in the oyster. But through the new creation, the nacre (grace, and salvation), stops the effectiveness of the irritation. (Grace saves us from spending eternity in suffering -- hell).
Now let's pull out the words in parentheses.
Grace covers sin with forgiveness, and allows one to live without fear of eternal suffering.
Did you see that when you first read the verse?
You will never look at a pearl as something simple ever again.
The pearl is also prominent in heaven as it one of the first things you see; the pearly gates.
Revelation 21:21
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
So the pearl symbolizes the purifying effect on us rendering sin as being ineffective in condemning us, through grace, in the believer.
Swine represent that which is unclean. It i used metaphorically in Matthew 7:6.
We see a command in Leviticus.
Leviticus 11:7-8 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
We see a comparison made in Proverbs.
Proverbs 11:22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
So when Jesus says, " . . . neither cast ye your pearls before swine . . . " Jesus means that those who do are wasting their time by offering something that is lifechanging, and so precious, to someone who does not value, or perceive the significance of it.
Matthew 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Jesus uses a pearl to represent salvation. We see the analogy of selling all we have as completely surrendering our lives to obtain it.
There will be no lukewarm believers in heaven.
It's all in, or nothing.
So simply put, don't invoke someone's anger over the gospel. The last part of the verse tells us if we do rile someone to anger over the gospel, we can expect persecution. So don't let your witness degrade into anger. Besides, have you ever heard of salvation through anger? Anger, by its very nature, is unreasonable. Think of how many stupid things you have done in your life. How many were done out of anger? A lot, probably the majority, because it's hard to think straight when your angry.
Does this then mean that we are not to share the gospel?
No way!
It means don't get into a heated argument over the gospel. If someone gets mad, stop and apologize for making them angry. Do not pursue them with the gospel any further. The person will feel like they are being pressured. Just know, they are not actually mad at you. So don't take the rejection of Jesus personally. Leave their rejection with them. Our calling is to provide an answer for our hope.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
God graciously allows us to plant the seeds. So that is how we should plant them; with grace. It is God's job to water, grow, and harvest the fruit.
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Did you think Matthew 7:6 was all that?
Maybe it's not so simple after all.
Keep walking everybody.
May God bless,
Taz
Jesus said this:
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.
It's just a simple verse. So this should be easy to understand. Let's define some terms for greater understanding.
Holy means set apart, pure.
The dog is used as a symbol, in the Bible, that is often associated with uncleanliness, sin, and unrighteousness. Dogs represent people who are unfaithful to God. (Rather ironic considering the dog is defined as man's best friend.) In the Bible, dogs are seen scavenging on the streets, feeding on the remains of the deceased.
Pearls represent purity through transformation.
As we know a natural pearl starts out a a grain of sand, or other foreign body, that enters the oyster. It is an iritent. The oyster coats it with calcium carbonate (called nacre) to stop the irritation. The calcium carbonate coating then continues to grow as the oyter grows providing continuous protection. Pretty cool!
It's interesting that the pearl is formed from suffering.
The grain of sand was once part of a rock. (Satan was once an angel.)
Now when the grain of sand (sin) enters into the oyster, it causes pain and suffering ( the irritation).
The calcium carbonste, or nacre (grace), covers the grain of sand (sin) so it is no longer effective (because of the covering --forgiveness) in the oyster's life. The irritation still exists (the old sin nature) in the oyster. But through the new creation, the nacre (grace, and salvation), stops the effectiveness of the irritation. (Grace saves us from spending eternity in suffering -- hell).
Now let's pull out the words in parentheses.
Grace covers sin with forgiveness, and allows one to live without fear of eternal suffering.
Did you see that when you first read the verse?
You will never look at a pearl as something simple ever again.
The pearl is also prominent in heaven as it one of the first things you see; the pearly gates.
Revelation 21:21
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
So the pearl symbolizes the purifying effect on us rendering sin as being ineffective in condemning us, through grace, in the believer.
Swine represent that which is unclean. It i used metaphorically in Matthew 7:6.
We see a command in Leviticus.
Leviticus 11:7-8 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
We see a comparison made in Proverbs.
Proverbs 11:22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
So when Jesus says, " . . . neither cast ye your pearls before swine . . . " Jesus means that those who do are wasting their time by offering something that is lifechanging, and so precious, to someone who does not value, or perceive the significance of it.
Matthew 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Jesus uses a pearl to represent salvation. We see the analogy of selling all we have as completely surrendering our lives to obtain it.
There will be no lukewarm believers in heaven.
It's all in, or nothing.
So simply put, don't invoke someone's anger over the gospel. The last part of the verse tells us if we do rile someone to anger over the gospel, we can expect persecution. So don't let your witness degrade into anger. Besides, have you ever heard of salvation through anger? Anger, by its very nature, is unreasonable. Think of how many stupid things you have done in your life. How many were done out of anger? A lot, probably the majority, because it's hard to think straight when your angry.
Does this then mean that we are not to share the gospel?
No way!
It means don't get into a heated argument over the gospel. If someone gets mad, stop and apologize for making them angry. Do not pursue them with the gospel any further. The person will feel like they are being pressured. Just know, they are not actually mad at you. So don't take the rejection of Jesus personally. Leave their rejection with them. Our calling is to provide an answer for our hope.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
God graciously allows us to plant the seeds. So that is how we should plant them; with grace. It is God's job to water, grow, and harvest the fruit.
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Did you think Matthew 7:6 was all that?
Maybe it's not so simple after all.
Keep walking everybody.
May God bless,
Taz