What does Matthew 7:6 mean?

[mark kennedy]

I think he is saying we shouldn't share the pearls of wisdom from the Word of God with those who are self indulgent or hostile. The gospel is for those who are called to repentace, faith and service. This is not for the obstinant sinner who is indifferent or hostile to the things of God.

 

[Ancient of Days]

"I'm just waiting for one of those people with a dog avatar to respond..."

Ah, the old I hate dog avatar tricks. Next thing you know someone with a cat avatar shows up...

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Matthew 7:6 reads:

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."


What exactly does this mean? Can somebody help me understand what this verse means? Because I haven't the foggiest idea.

I have come to discover that this is in reference to not sharing your deep found treasures concerning the Word of God with atheists, agnostics, or scoffers of God's Word. This would also include not sharing with them moments you experienced with God that are precious, as well. For example: God talks to me through His Word in life situations, a book, a sermon, a video, etc. God repeats the same message over and over to me so as to communicate to me something He wants me to know. I would not share these experiences with atheists because they are a testimony of my walk with God that they would not appreciate. They would just turn around and try to use it against me in some way. The only thing that will work with atheists is preaching to them the Lord Jesus Christ and His love for them and to walk holy (thereby showing that we are not a hypocrite).

Anyways, swines were considered an unclean animal. Gentiles are a picture or symbol of unclean animals. God's Word talks about how it is like treasure. So it is pretty easy to figure out with enough time in studying the Scriptures with your walk the Lord.

Side Note:

Usually if I do not understand something, I usually pray about it and then I read about 5-10 Christian articles until I am satisfied on the subject.

 

[Halbhh]

I think he is saying we shouldn't share the pearls of wisdom from the Word of God with those who are self indulgent or hostile. The gospel is for those who are called to repentace, faith and service. This is not for the obstinant sinner who is indifferent or hostile to the things of God.

The 'gospel' though -- the message about Christ the Redeemer -- we are instructed to go and spread to all the world (Mark 16:15). Some will turn. He came for those that would turn:
“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

That all would have a chance to hear, even though only some will choose to hear. We don't have to worry which will choose, but we are to tell the good news. This isn't the same though as sharing the more sublime and holy passage that is altering me today with just anyone regardless of their attitude, of course.

 

[rockytopva]

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. - Matthew 7:6

I would call this our bodies and the pearls our virtues. Giving yourself to the party scene, with all the drugs and sexual pleasure, is equivalent to casting your pearls before the swine.

 

[redleghunter]

Matthew 7:6 reads:

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."


What exactly does this mean? Can somebody help me understand what this verse means? Because I haven't the foggiest idea.

@1an has it right IMO.

Now a real world application can be found here:

Discussion and Debate

There are loads of threads in that open sub forum where the verse in question comes alive each day.

 

[Hidden In Him]

That doesn't happen here on the forum.
Can you think of any way that those who speak the truth are accosted/ "silenced" on the internet ?

Actually, Jeff, if I were to have answered your question seriously, I think too much personal application of the scriptures takes place at the expense of accurate interpretation of what the passages actually referenced in their own time. Jesus was referring to physical persecution, such as takes place in some parts of the world today. Of course, in American culture, it can be and usually is watered down to apply to being verbally accosted, but this is in my opinion a prostituted and superficial application of the words "lest they turn and tear you to pieces."

 

[mark kennedy]

The 'gospel' though -- the message about Christ the Redeemer -- we are instructed to go and spread to all the world (Mark 16:15). Some will turn. He came for those that would turn:
“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

That all would have a chance to hear, even though only some will choose to hear. We don't have to worry which will choose, but we are to tell the good news. This isn't the same though as sharing the more sublime and holy passage that is altering me today with just anyone regardless of their attitude, of course.

Jesus did preach the message to whosoever will, the sinners and publicans just happened to be the ones responding in repentance. Jesus even made converts of the Samaratins early in his ministry and one Phonician woman toward the end. His enemies were the more pious and zealous. They were saying he cast out demons by the power of Satan early, in response to the Sermon on the Mount, later Jesus would call that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, the unforgivable sin Jesus spoke clearly to the crowds early but later when he taught the kingdom parables he didn't tell the crowd the interpretation.

My point is this, yes we share the gospel with whosoever will but when confronted with the unrepentant and hostile we are under no obligation to continue casting our pearls before swine. The dogs that turned and attacked him he judged, when he called them hypocrites he used the normal Greek word for an actor. The implication being not only Jesus knew they were children of perdition, the crowds knew and they knew it was all just an act

 

[Tayla]

"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."

What exactly does this mean?

It means to not waste your time sharing wisdom and knowledge to someone incapable of benefiting from it or unwilling to benefit from it. They will shred your precious words of wisdom and they will turn and attack you.

 

[Neostarwcc]

@1an has it right IMO.

Now a real world application can be found here:

Discussion and Debate

There are loads of threads in that open sub forum where the verse in question comes alive each day.

Thank you for the link I'll check it out now.

@Others:

So basically Jesus is saying don't share the gospel with people you know aren't going to listen to you? But Aren't we also commanded to share the gospel? So shouldn't we share the gospel to people who aren't going to listen?

 

[RaymondG]

Thank you for the link I'll check it out now.

@Others:

So basically Jesus is saying don't share the gospel with people you know aren't going to listen to you? But Aren't we also commanded to share the gospel? So shouldn't we share the gospel to people who aren't going to listen?

The gospel is for the world....it is the mysteries of the kingdom of God that are not for everyone. These should be revealed by God.....If man were to tell you these things, you wouldn't believe them anyway....you'd call tthemliars and blasphemers....And maybe try to crucify them.....

To those who are without all things are done in parable.....and for good reason.

 

[Neostarwcc]

The gospel is for the world....it is the mysteries of the kingdom of God that are not for everyone. These should be revealed by God.....If man were to tell you these things, you wouldn't believe them anyway....you'd call tthemliars and blasphemers....And maybe try to crucify them.....

To those who are without all things are done in parable.....and for good reason.

So it's just sharing certain things about heaven? The gospel should be spread throughout the whole world?

 

[~Anastasia~]

Thank you for the link I'll check it out now.

@Others:

So basically Jesus is saying don't share the gospel with people you know aren't going to listen to you? But Aren't we also commanded to share the gospel? So shouldn't we share the gospel to people who aren't going to listen?

I disagree (not sure if I'm in that "others") that we should not share the Gospel. The Gospel is to be shared widely.

But HOW we share it is an essential point. Some techniques are almost guaranteed to invite opposition, sometimes even by those who might otherwise be receptive.

Around here we have a particular group who stands on the corners of streets with very imprecatory signs, waving Bibles at people and shouting they are going to hell. There's a little more to it than that. This group also openly advocates physically beating your wife if she disagrees with you on anything. But even someone with a somewhat open heart is very likely going to recoil from that kind of approach, and if it causes them to assume this is the "Gospel" and results in them being even more closed or completely opposed afterwards - how can we justify such an approach to God? We are effectively barring the way to Christ, not leading people to Him.

That's an extreme example, just to make my point. There are many gradients. With wisdom and discernment, hopefully we can proceed in the best way for each person - at least as God enables us.

 

[Athanasius377]

Good points. The explanation I would offer is to put the verse back into its context.

Mat 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
Mat 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?
Mat 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Mat 7:6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

After Jesus gives warning about hypocritical judgement in verses 1-5 He follows it with what appears to be a proverbial saying regarding pigs and dogs. Using hypocritical judgement does damage to the Gospel and is like throwing precious jewels to filthy animals.

 

[RaymondG]

So it's just sharing certain things about heaven? The gospel should be spread throughout the whole world?

You can share everything that you know about the gospel. When you receive something you shouldn't share, you will know it. Jesus usually tells you to go and tell no man.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

That which is holy is the objective truth while the subjective truth would be your own experiences with Christ as your pearls recieved in most likelihood. Both dogs and pigs are unclean according to OT law. 2 Peter 2:12, Philippians 3:2 points to religious people that are uncircumcised in heart. Hypocrites. They are heartless and quite capable of trampling you underfoot if not careful.

 

[Neostarwcc]

I disagree (not sure if I'm in that "others") that we should not share the Gospel. The Gospel is to be shared widely.

But HOW we share it is an essential point. Some techniques are almost guaranteed to invite opposition, sometimes even by those who might otherwise be receptive.

Around here we have a particular group who stands on the corners of streets with very imprecatory signs, waving Bibles at people and shouting they are going to hell. There's a little more to it than that. This group also openly advocates physically beating your wife if she disagrees with you on anything. But even someone with a somewhat open heart is very likely going to recoil from that kind of approach, and if it causes them to assume this is the "Gospel" and results in them being even more closed or completely opposed afterwards - how can we justify such an approach to God? We are effectively barring the way to Christ, not leading people to Him.

That's an extreme example, just to make my point. There are many gradients. With wisdom and discernment, hopefully we can proceed in the best way for each person - at least as God enables us.

Right because Jesus commanded us to share the gospel in Mark 16:15. I see your point that it is HOW we share the gospel that matters. So if Jesus isn't saying "don't preach the gospel to those who won't listen to you" just what is he saying in Matthew 7:6?

 

[Neostarwcc]

I found an interesting article on got questions about it:

What did Jesus mean when He said to not cast your pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6)?

That answers my question pretty well.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Right because Jesus commanded us to share the gospel in Mark 16:15. I see your point that it is HOW we share the gospel that matters. So if Jesus isn't saying "don't preach the gospel to those who won't listen to you" just what is he saying in Matthew 7:6?

I found an interesting article on got questions about it:

What did Jesus mean when He said to not cast your pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6)?

That answers my question pretty well.

I see you asked me but then read the article. The article gives a pretty good treatment to what it addresses. And since it's only an article (and not a book) it meets its goal, so I'm not criticizing.

The only thing I would have said is ... try to understand everything that is said as a whole. Don't pull out the one verse and try to stake your whole activity on it. I'm not saying you are actually doing that, and it is good to study Scripture in little bites too. But the whole message, the whole Gospel, points to living a life of faith. There is a great deal to that - though Christ well sums it up in the simple "love God, love people - all the rest tells us HOW to do that. And all of the how is important, and each part informs the rest.

That's all I would add. And it's not something we read once, synthesize, and forever live. It's something we grow into, are transformed into. Continually, never "arriving". But by the grace of God, we hopefully keep getting closer to being like Christ, and as a result, become more effective - as far as it depends on us. Of course the other person and God Himself figure into it too, so we alone aren't so important. We just do our little part faithfully, hopefully.

God be with you.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I found an interesting article on got questions about it:

What did Jesus mean when He said to not cast your pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6)?

That answers my question pretty well.

About this article Battlestar, how can it be about spreading the gospel when the gospel didn't exist yet? This is in the Sermon on the Mount. No one knew He was even the Messiah yet, nor is it the focus of the Sermon, nor is it even addressed in the Sermon.