Issue 04> Mon, 19th November 2001
This Week's Question : Why did Jesus say, "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs" (Matthew 7:6)

The words "pigs" and "dogs" portray that which is vicious and unclean. The terms seem appropriate ways of describing the enemies of the gospel.
It would seem that in Matt 7:6 Jesus was communicating to His followers that in their relationships with enemies of the gospel, they were to be very cautious, recognizing that these enemies may turn on them and even kill them. The teaching that is given to others should always be in accordance with their spiritual capacity.

For those who have little or no spiritual capacity (enemies of the gospel), one must be cautious in what one says and not "throw your pearls to pigs". One must be cautious not to pass on the sacred to that which is profane. One should be careful not to pass on holy things to unholy people who will have nothing but disdain for the things of Christ.

An example of this would be when Jesus sent out 70 disciples to proclaim the gospel. He instructed them that if they came to a village and the people there rejected their teachings, they were to shake the dust off their feet and go elsewhere (Luke 10:10,11). The idea Jesus communicated to them was, "Don't throw your pearls before swine. Move on to another city and share your pearls there."

Even Jesus put this maxim into practice. He gave no answer to Herod Antipas when Herod "plied him with many questions." (Luke 23:9). Jesus no doubt knew it would have been useless to proclaim His message to Herod.

BUT, do not read more into Jesus words than is warranted. Jesus is not speaking against evangelism. Elsewhere in scripture, Jesus very clearly talks about the call of evangelism on our lives (Matt 28:19,20). The point Jesus was making in Matt 7:6 is that we must be discerning in what we share with whom. The warning is against giving the pearls of the gospel to those who have vicious scorn and hardened contempt against the gospel.

"Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces"
(Matt 7:6) NKJV

 

Jesus Is Your EVERYTHING!!

 Lake What??

20 " Now to Him who is able to do
exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask
or think, according to the power
that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ
Jesus to all generations, forever
and ever." Eph 3 : 20-21(NKJV)

17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation; old things have
passed away; behold, all things have
become new." 2 Cor 5:17 (NKJV)

 

Sea Of Galilee. This freshwater lake is also referred to in the New Testament as the "Sea of Tiberias" (Jn 21:1) and the "Lake of Gennesaret" (Luke 5:1). Several of the apostles worked as fishermen along its shores. It measures up to 10km wide and 24km from north to south. Along the shores of the lake were many towns such as Capernaum, where Christ conducted much of His ministry. In His time, these towns formed an almost continous belt of settlements around the lake.
All references taken from RBC, Pat Robertson, Ron Rhodes, Kenneth/Gloria Copeland, Charles Slagle, Smith Wigglesworth, Selwyn Hughes, Charles Spurgeon, Manners and Customs of Bible Times, The Complete Bible Handbook, The Spirit Filled Bible(NKJV), The NIV Bible, God's Promises for your every Need.