Waynesboro Church Of Christ
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Here are some articles and sermon outlines you may find interesting. Click on any title for the full text.
2DOGS AND SWINE
June 9, 2006
Jesus’ discourse, called the Sermon on the Mount, offers an interesting statement to his listeners. During His lecture on the biblical model of judging, He illustrates His point by making this statement: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces” (Mat. 7:6). This section of scripture has lead to some erroneous interpretations in Christendom. The verse was never intended to exult some groups above other groups; the verse was spoken to warn people of pushing the things of God upon people who do not or are not ready for the ways of God.
The topical application of Matthew 7:6 suggests that Christians have these wonderful treasures of truth, service, and correct living that Christians would give to others if they only would accept them. But some people are not worthy of these great treasures because they will not automatically conform to what is said. Sometimes people who do not comprehend religious or moral truth as quickly as others are referred to as dogs or swine. Many Christians feel justified in not wasting time by trying to convert these people because they appear to be worthless and evil. One can clearly perceive that this view is opposed to the spirit of Christ. Just think about it. Christ, the pearl of God, coming into this world, would be a case of pearls before pigs. As the Gospel states: “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him” (John. 1:11). Holding the view that some people are dogs or swine because they argue with one’s judgments is falling directly into the sin of self-righteousness and smugness.
Christians are to be like the Heavenly Father “for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men” (Luke 6:35). Some people are not ready for the judgments that Christians are sharing. Plainly, pigs cannot digest the pearls and the dogs cannot nourish themselves on Bibles. The reason that these animals will “turn and tear you” when one offers more religious platitudes is that the Christian is the source of the agitation. When Christians are expecting and commanding lifestyles and conduct that a person is not ready to handle, the Christian is only agitating and annoying the person. Disciples of Christ must have the discernment to know when to judge someone and when to not judge someone. The timing of the judging is crucial if one is to gain a desirable response. If the other person is unable to bear the truth, what is the point of making him or her cognitive of it? The proper application Jesus is making is the Christian is selective in the people and in the situation that he or she judges. A disciple cannot haphazardly judge people.
Many Christians have experienced the hurtful ramifications of inaccurate judgments of others. A Christian approached a brother or sister in Christ about a particulate issue. After the confrontation, the person approached becomes sinister and standoffish. The reason is that the person felt misjudged. That person may have needed a talking to, but the responsibility of the Christian is to know when and how to approach that person in order to keep the bond of unity between them. A wise Christian should study people enough to reasonably predict the reactions to his or her judging.
Matthew 7:6 is not a justification for Christians to feel superior to others or deem others to be unworthy of the treasures of God. Also, this text does not free the Christian from his God given discipline of judging others in order to help them grow. The text illustrates the terrible results of judging without using discernment. Christians are to be as “shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves” (Matt. 10:16).