Pearls to the pigs...or to someone else

Matthew 7:6 (KJV) 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 does sound like she has trampled them underfoot but it doesn't sound like she has turned on you.

But a little help from John Gill (for what it's worth)..

Give not that which is holy to the dogs,… Dogs were unclean creatures by the law; the price of one might not be brought into the house of the Lord, for a vow, De 23:18 yea, these creatures were not admitted into several temples of the Heathens1. Things profane and unclean, as flesh torn by beasts, were ordered to be given to them, Ex 22:31 but nothing that was holy was to be given them, as holy flesh, or the holy oblations, or anything that was consecrated to holy uses; to which is the allusion here. It is a common maxim2 with the Jews,

שאין פודין את הקדשים להאכילן לכלבים, "that they do not redeem holy things, to give to the dogs to eat".''

Here the phrase is used in a metaphorical sense; and is generally understood of not delivering or communicating the holy word of God, and the truths of the Gospel, comparable to pearls, or the ordinances of it, to persons notoriously vile and sinful: to men, who being violent and furious persecutors, and impudent blasphemers, are compared to "dogs"; or to such, who are scandalously vile, impure in their lives and conversations, and are therefore compared to swine;

neither cast ye your pearls before swine. But since the subject Christ is upon is reproof, it seems rather to be the design of these expressions, that men should be cautious, and prudent, in rebuking and admonishing such persons for their sins, in whom there is no appearance or hope of success; yea, where there is danger of sustaining loss;

lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you: that is, despise the admonitions and reproofs given, and hurt the persons who give them, either by words or deeds; see Pr 9:7. The Jews have some sayings much like these, and will serve to illustrate them3

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I think it's nice to lend a hand to people, especially where the Gospel is concerned. But God is all powerful and He works through those whose hearts are willing. People may be unperceptive to our efforts at this time, however, I think it's the Holy Spirit that will, or will not reconcile people. Sometimes He is using us in His process, and other times we are throwing pearls to pigs. In summary, if you stop helping this woman that doesn't seem to "get it", it makes no difference. The relationship between her and God is personal, if and when it blossoms is in God's hands. Maybe just quietly praying for these people is best?

I get 'rended' routinely here before I actually cast my pearls.

You've brought her into your fold. You've sown your seed. After that, she's on her own. Don't be afraid to say so.

ChicanaRose said:

First of all, the phrase "pearls to the pigs" should not be used loosely. It would be an abuse of the phrase to use it against someone because of disagreements (i.e. saying that it's "pearls to the pigs" just because some people can't see the value of your side of the argument).

So what are the real and legitimate cases of pearls to the pigs? Our time, energy, and resources are limited and we want to focus them on the right people.

For example, say you go to a big church and your Christian sister goes to a small church and she comes complaining to you that there is nothing for young folks at her church. So you take her to your church groups but every time she comes, she merely seeks social and business connections. In fact, the first time you took her to one of your groups, she pulls you aside and tell you to ask around the group to see if anyone knows about vacation discounts, placing you in an uncomfortable position.

You also pay for her Bible study group materials, but you find it unwrapped by the magazines across from her toilet when you visit her home months later.

Since she has shown that she always wants something other than the spiritual things from your church groups, would you keep spending your gas money to bring her in hopes that her heart will change someday? Would you keep paying for her materials in hopes that she will unwrap them and read them someday? Or would you take your pearls and give them to someone else who diligently seek spiritual things?

Where is the dividing line between patient and optimistic sacrificial giving and pearls to the pigs?

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The bible says to not tire of good doing because you will reap a harvest if you persist. So, I don't think (stopping) being nice to ungrateful people is what is meant by pearls to pigs.

Pearls are like stuff God teaches you specific to your purpose that only you can appreciate.

ChicanaRose said:

First of all, the phrase "pearls to the pigs" should not be used loosely. It would be an abuse of the phrase to use it against someone because of disagreements (i.e. saying that it's "pearls to the pigs" just because some people can't see the value of your side of the argument).

So what are the real and legitimate cases of pearls to the pigs? Our time, energy, and resources are limited and we want to focus them on the right people.

For example, say you go to a big church and your Christian sister goes to a small church and she comes complaining to you that there is nothing for young folks at her church. So you take her to your church groups but every time she comes, she merely seeks social and business connections. In fact, the first time you took her to one of your groups, she pulls you aside and tell you to ask around the group to see if anyone knows about vacation discounts, placing you in an uncomfortable position.

You also pay for her Bible study group materials, but you find it unwrapped by the magazines across from her toilet when you visit her home months later.

Since she has shown that she always wants something other than the spiritual things from your church groups, would you keep spending your gas money to bring her in hopes that her heart will change someday? Would you keep paying for her materials in hopes that she will unwrap them and read them someday? Or would you take your pearls and give them to someone else who diligently seek spiritual things?

Where is the dividing line between patient and optimistic sacrificial giving and pearls to the pigs?

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Hm.

Ok, so... there's a guy named Jeff Allen. His story was, he met this guy Phil golfing, that asked him if he wanted a Bible, and if he wanted study tapes (cassette tapes back in the day).

Jeff said sure, as long as he doesn't have to pay for it. So a Bible arrived in the mail, and these study tapes showed up in the mail, and for almost 2 years, he dumped them in a junk drawer, and ignored them. He didn't care about that stuff... he just wanted to go golfing and Phil was a member of these expensive golf clubs.

If you were Phil right now, you'd be thinking this guy is using me to go golfing.

Fast forward almost 2 years later, he has this Bible and all these tapes. He pops one in, and fishes out the Bible, and G-d takes over his life.


Generally speaking, when I think about the pearls before swine statement, I thinking more along the lines of the overt G-d hating pagan. You meet someone, and they hate you, because you are a Christian. There is no reason to sit there and argue with someone.

I am also on some pagan forums, and I routinely get people who are jumping on me, because I'm pretty open about my faith. I get people screaming about the crusades, or some other wacky nonsense, and "what about this!" and "So and so said that!" and throwing all this stuff at me.

Instead of arguing with those people I simply reply "And nevertheless I believe in G-d", or some other discussion closing response. Because why are argue with swine?

You can generally tell the difference between someone who is just asking you a question, and someone who is just an overtly hostile swine. Don't cast your pearls before swine.

Now back to your specific situation....

First, whether your sister claims to be Christian, will change my advice.

If your sister is a non-christian, then you need to consider for yourself whether the cost is worth the chance of converting her.

If she is pagan, then bringing her to Church is fine, and so is giving her material.

Years ago there was a video of a Muslim who converted, and his story was fascinating. He moved to a western country, I don't remember which, and tried to start a business with a fellow immigrant. This guy got a bunch of his money, and fled. Well he was a member of a Christian congregation, and this guy went to the Church to find out where this guy was. They had connections, and started trying to track this ex-business partner of his. In the mean time, he started showing up every Sunday, to keep looking for this guy.

Over the course of a year, the man ended up becoming a Christian.

Now think about that... he only had one single reason for going to that church... money. He wanted his money. That's it. I had no interest in G-d or Jesus at all.

So you don't know what might work to convert your sister.

On the other hand...

If you sister is a Christian already, or claims to be a Christian...

Then you need to ask what you are doing this for. She is not going to convert because she already believes she's got it. If she thinks she's got it already, then you are wasting your time.

Remember what Jesus said when the 'religious' people were asking him why Jesus didn't spend time with them, but rather with the 'sinners'? Jesus said "the sick need a doctor, not the well".

Jesus understood the so-called religious people thought they already had everything figured out. So they were not going to turn to him for salvation, because they believed they were saved.

Because of that, Jesus didn't waste much time with the fake religious people, and neither should you in my opinion. Save the lost people, not the found people. Don't waste your time with someone who is convinced they got it all figured out.

Now I don't know which one of those your sister is. Only you can make that call. But if your sister really is lost, I might keep doing what you are doing. Maybe one of the people that has a "discount" you are talking about, might be a positive influence on your sister, just like Phil was to Jeff Allen.