The Dog's Bread or The Swine's Pearls

[JohnDB]

What do you think about when Jesus said for us to not cast pearls before swine or give bread to dogs?

What do you think that He meant? One was said as part of the Sermon on the mount...the other in another location.

I know what got questions dot org says and what Matthew Henry says....and what the world thinks (don't be extravagant and waateful.... LOL as if)

But what do you think?
And most importantly WHY?

 

[childeye]

There are those whose hearts are open to hear the Gospel, and there are those who are not.

 

[JohnDB]

There are those whose hearts are open to hear the Gospel, and there are those who are not.

And we know this how?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Don't give the word of God to people who will only trample it underfoot and abuse it in their relentless pursuit of their worldly appetites.

6“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6 NASB)

Pigs always have their snoots down in the 'earth' rooting out the things in the earth that they like, and dogs like all things dead and smelly. They're carnal creatures who can't and won't have any appreciation for anything truly good or valuable and will only trample on those things in the pursuit of what they do like. And if you get in their way you may well have a fight on your hands.

 

[th1b.taylor]

John,

Edit
I do not for a moment believe it means we should do as I was and as I am want to do and to place the man on Ignore because all of the light of God's Word must be seen at the same time and there is always the very last three verses of the Book of Matthew that must never be forgotten.

That draws a conflicted picture, however, making it very difficult to discern this, seemingly, never stationary line of debarkation. But in every case, with every person, there is the line where we must cease treating any given person as a possible fellow and move them, not into the enemy slot, but move them into, my label, the incouragable and not worthy of some discussion except they meet some level of purity.

In my case here, I have drawn the line at honesty and finding less than that I might insert foot notes because these forums are read worldwide by new Christians, children and those seeking God. In short, this is one step in the walk with God that requires discernment.

 

[childeye]

And we know this how?

Because swine can't appreciate pearls.

 

[JohnDB]

Sooo
Sometimes in interaction with people we understand that they are going to reject the Gospel...

But strangers?
Is there a way to tell about them?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Sooo
Sometimes in interaction with people we understand that they are going to reject the Gospel...

But strangers?
Is there a way to tell about them?

Not always.
You take your lumps and you move on. You don't continue to try to give them that which they have no appetite or appreciation for. If you do you will just arouse their vicious bloodthirsty ways and get abused by them. The difficulty comes in knowing when to stop sharing the bread and pearls of God with someone who claims they are a Christian but who then shows themselves by how they act to probably not be one at all.

I do not continue theological discussions with those who tell you themselves that they are 'dogs' and 'swine' (unregenerate unbelievers) right from the beginning and who then react accordingly to the word of God. It really is a waste of time, and they will get very vicious if you press in. But like I say, it's the 'dog' or the 'swine' pretending to be a Christian that requires the discernment to know when to stop sharing. The point does come when you have to realize they are not Christian but instead the very swine and dogs Jesus says not to share the word with.

 

[th1b.taylor]

Sooo
Sometimes in interaction with people we understand that they are going to reject the Gospel...

But strangers?
Is there a way to tell about them?

Only through obedience to the Great Commission.

 

[JohnDB]

What about Romans 1:29 +?

Do you think that it will apply?

 

[th1b.taylor]

What about Romans 1:29 +?

Do you think that it will apply?

yep!

 

[JohnDB]

yep!

So don't bother witnessing to Homosexuals?

 

[Sinthesis]

What do you think about when Jesus said for us to not cast pearls before swine or give bread to dogs?

What do you think that He meant? One was said as part of the Sermon on the mount...the other in another location.

I know what got questions dot org says and what Matthew Henry says....and what the world thinks (don't be extravagant and waateful.... LOL as if)

But what do you think?
And most importantly WHY?

Your two examples are not given in the same place, so they need not convey the exact same message.

Mat 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.​

Swine do not ask for pearls. Dogs do not ask for that which is holy.

Mat 15:22 - And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Mat 15:23 - But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Mat 15:24 - But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 15:25 - Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
Mat 15:26 - But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
Mat 15:27 - And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
Mat 15:28 - Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great isthy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.​

Yet a dog will ask for bread. It would be wrong to feed dogs before children, but that doesn't mean dogs who beg can't be fed.

Mat 7:8 - For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
​

In context 'dogs' and 'swine' refer only to the Gentiles of Jesus' day, as compared with the Jewish people to whom Jesus was originally sent. Ever since the stoning of Stephan that distinction no longer applies. If you as a Christian desire to look down on other people as subhuman dogs or swine, then that vanity is on you.

 

[JohnDB]

Your two examples are not given in the same place, so they need not convey the exact same message.

Mat 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.​

Swine do not ask for pearls. Dogs do not ask for that which is holy.

Mat 15:22 - And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Mat 15:23 - But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Mat 15:24 - But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 15:25 - Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
Mat 15:26 - But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
Mat 15:27 - And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
Mat 15:28 - Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great isthy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.​

Yet a dog will ask for bread. It would be wrong to feed dogs before children, but that doesn't mean dogs who beg can't be fed.

Mat 7:8 - For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
​

In context 'dogs' and 'swine' refer only to the Gentiles of Jesus' day, as compared with the Jewish people to whom Jesus was originally sent. Ever since the stoning of Stephan that distinction no longer applies. If you as a Christian desire to look down on other people as subhuman dogs or swine, then that vanity is on you.

What about Revelation 22:15 (NIV)?

It's not got a positive response to dogs.

 

[Douglas Summers]

What do you think about when Jesus said for us to not cast pearls before swine or give bread to dogs?

What do you think that He meant? One was said as part of the Sermon on the mount...the other in another location.

I know what got questions dot org says and what Matthew Henry says....and what the world thinks (don't be extravagant and waateful.... LOL as if)

But what do you think?
And most importantly WHY?

In 2 Peter chapter 2. There are those today, even as back then who have heard the Gospel on how to escape the corruption of the ages (world) Through the KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but instead thought it not worthy, but trample it under foot, are the same as a dog who regurgitated what made him sick, then went back to it and consumed it, returning to the same state he was in to begin with. Same example with the swine, on how to be cleansed by the Gospel of God in Jesus Christ, But instead, returns to wallow in the mud (his old former self). These are not saved men. These are men who heard the Gospel and at once received it with joy, but never took root (Matt. 13:18-21) or those who hear the word and try to clean their souls by self reformation with out Christ (pride) (Matt. 12:43-45) Out of these men become the tares of the sown field. Who go to Church , take positions in an unawares church body, and draw to the senses of the unstable man by the pride of life, who defile the Gospel with the gospel of pleasing the flesh. They know the Gospel, but have settled down to where Satan's throne is. (The worlds principles)

In Matthew Chapter 7 reference is to believing the teaching of Christ, then allowing yourself to trust men for the knowledge and answers of that you would get from Christ through His Spirit and word. Do not trust the work of Christ to men. A pearl is an example of the sacrifice or wounded Christ forming His Body (The Church). A pearl is created by a wound in the shell of the clam. Out of the wound is something created beautiful. Dogs and swine is also referred to Gentile nations at times .

 

[Sinthesis]

What about it? It is in a different context. How is a dog like a sorcerer, pervert, murderer, idolator, or liar? I read Rev 22:15 as saying sorcerers, perverts, murderers, idolators, and liars are like beasts. But I don't know any sinner who hasn't lied, and I only know One who hasn't sinned.

There is also...

Phl 3:2 - Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

2Pe 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.​

...where the context explains how being as a dog is negative.

But we also have scripture where being as a dog can, in context, be positive.

Jdg 7:5 - So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
Jdg 7:6 - And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
Jdg 7:7 - And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

Ecc 9:4 - For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.​

 

[th1b.taylor]

So don't bother witnessing to Homosexuals?

Nope, it does not say that when read in context.

 

[JohnDB]

Then...
On top of this...

Jesus quoted Psalms and said, "ye are gods ..."

Paul says, " we are More than conquerors in Christ Jesus"

Also 1 Corinthians 6:2

What about it? It is in a different context. How is a dog like a sorcerer, pervert, murderer, idolator, or liar? I read Rev 22:15 as saying sorcerers, perverts, murderers, idolators, and liars are like beasts. But I don't know any sinner who hasn't lied, and I only know One who hasn't sinned.

There is also...

Phl 3:2 - Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

2Pe 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.​

...where the context explains how being as a dog is negative.

But we also have scripture where being as a dog can, in context, be positive.

Jdg 7:5 - So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
Jdg 7:6 - And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
Jdg 7:7 - And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

Ecc 9:4 - For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.​

Don't forget Deuteronomy 23:18...
The wages of a dog are unacceptable to God.

 

[Free]

Your two examples are not given in the same place, so they need not convey the exact same message.

Mat 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.​

Swine do not ask for pearls. Dogs do not ask for that which is holy.

This, I think, is getting very close to what Jesus is actually saying. An explanation of this verse which I find makes the most sense, is given by Dallas Willard in The Divine Conspiracy:

"The long-standard use of [Matt. 7:6] is directly opposed to the spirit of Jesus and his teachings. That use suggests that we may have certain wonderful treasures, of truth and of service perhaps, that we could give to others. Perhaps the "treasure" is the very gospel itself. But there are some who are not worthy of those treasures. We have to watch for such people. Normally they are thought of as people who will not accept our "treasure" or would not use it rightly. They are the "pigs" or the "dogs" in question....But it is hard to imagine anything more opposed to the spirit of Jesus than this. Indeed, the very coming of Christ, the pearl of God, into the world, would be a case of pearls before pigs thus understood." (p. 228)

That does away with the typical understanding of the passage. To a correct understanding then:

"The problem with pearls for pigs is not that the pigs are not worthy....Pigs cannot digest pearls, cannot nourish themselves upon them. Likewise for a dog with a Bible or a crucifix. The dog cannot eat it. The reason these animals will finally "turn and rend you," when you one day step up to them with another load of Bibles or pearls, is that you at least are edible....And what a picture this is of our efforts to correct and control others by pouring our good things, often truly precious things, upon them--things that they nevertheless simply cannot ingest and use to nourish themselves. Often we do not even listen to them. We "know" without listening...The point is not the waste of the "pearl" but that the person given the pearl is not helped." (p. 229)

 

[JohnDB]

Many of Jesus' parables and lessons are encoded with heavy symbolism and metaphors.

Pearls came from oysters...a shellfish.
Shellfish are unclean but the pearls were considered valuable to the Greeks and Romans. But also the gates of heaven are said to be made of them.

There also were several "dogs" mentioned in the Bible as well. Some were pets and some were wild . Some of the wild ones would go after the maggots in the burning trash piles where they would get burned and then howl...
But dogs also are a euphemism for Homosexuals too

Bread...the word for basic food...as in "give us our daily bread"

Swine were used in Baal worship...strangled pigs were the object of the exercise...then barbeque.