can someone tell me what this bible verse means?

Question

Matthew 7:6 (Jesus talking)

"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 then turn and tear you to pieces."

I've never really thought about it before, but my mormon friend was telling me how he took an oath of secrecy for a lot of things in his religion and he used the verse as his explination of why.
what he says seems logically sound, but I don't believe it and it doesn't feel right for some reason. I don't believe that Jesus is saying that we have to be silent about something in our faith and i don't believe that he's excluding people from Heaven (as pearls have been representative of heaven in other verses). So what is he saying?

the verses sbefore it talk about judging others, but I don't see how this fits in with those.

someone help me with this.

ps. I'm not mormon, I'm protestant christian. so I'd like to hear other protestant christian responses, though anyone is certainly welcome.

Answer 1

Paul said (1 Cor 3:2): I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it; neither yet now are ye able.

Paul is not keeping secrets from the the saints of Corinth. He simply recognizes that they are not prepared spiritually to receive all that he understood about the Gospel.

Jesus did the same thing on a regular basis. He continually used parables to teach so that only "he who hath ears" could hear his message. He wasn't purposefully trying to hide things, but recognized that not everyone was ready or even wanted to learn what he had to teach. Those who were ready and willing to follow the spirit would understand his message.

While, it might sound harsh to use this verse it is simply another example of how all of the prophets, apostles and Christ himself recognized that sometimes people are not spiritually mature and that it is better to offer milk before meat. Thus, you can help people stregthen their spiritual foundation so that they may one day be ready for meat.

Answer 2

Just being curious isn't a valid argument to be intrusive. That's why most people knock before entering someone else's home. If you want to know what your friend is talking about, then change your life as he's done and be ready and willing to make the covenants with God that he's made. Then you'll know.
The Apostles did talk about feeding the new Christians milk before meat, just as a little child can't learn in a day the things a parent knows.
You'll hear a lot of negative comments about Mormons. From my experience most are from people who've heard something from someone who heard something etc. Those folks don't really have much of an understanding of our religion. Yes, we keep a few things about our beliefs quiet, because they are sacred to us.
No, 'pearls' in this case doesn't mean non-Mormons can't get into heaven. And 'swine' doesn't mean someone who doesn't believe as you should be insulted. It means someone who is un-informed (as 'ignorant' means,) will probably not appreciate something that you value highly. Instead, try sharing some of the simpler beliefs of you faith, and see how they respond.

Answer 3

"4 [6] Dogs and swine were Jewish terms of contempt for Gentiles. This saying may originally have derived from a Jewish Christian community opposed to preaching the gospel (what is holy, pearls) to Gentiles. In the light of Matthew 28:19 that can hardly be Matthew's meaning. He may have taken the saying as applying to a Christian dealing with an obstinately impenitent fellow Christian (Matthew 18:17)."

Answer 4

I wonder why he would say this to you & if he truly understands the meaning of it. I wonder this, because I would feel insulted if someone said that to me, especially after saying he had vowed to secrecy, ut it could have been the verse he was told to quote if questioned. I don't know....Anyways what the verse is saying is telling people not to give to dogs what is sacred- meaning don't give lesser beings (people of other religions..) your sacred words' meanings, if they do not understand for his/her self than they do not deserve to know, do not throw your pearls to pigs, don't try to help them into Heaven because it will end up with you regretting it. I hope this helps some....?

Answer 5

It means when you find yourself among a group of non-believers who are more than just non-believers, but mockers of the faith, then the best thing to do is keep silent. People of this character could care less if they humilate you and your faith and thump their noses in the face of the very God we serve. If they do not want to hear or refuse to listen, then do not continue to put a Holy God before them.

Answer 6

It's talking about witnessing to others about Jesus when they have no desire for Him and continually reject the Truth.
A good example would be what Christians go through on this website when answering questions from Atheists, Pagans, Agnostics, etc. Doesn't matter what you say, they aren''t going to believe it no matter what; even if it is something black and white.

Answer 7

This means we should use common sense and tact in talking about our religion. Else we may do our cause more harm than good.

You are right not to believe the Mormon and for recognizing that it didn't feel right!

Answer 8

You are not to "waste" your time or knowledge on someone who does not want to hear it. I do not think your relationship with God should be secretive. But you are not going to go up to someone and just start talking about theolgical facts with someone who is not interested in worshipping God. You give your wisdom, gifts and time to "fertile ground".

Answer 9

There is NO logic in the bible it's all gibberish just like that verse.

Answer 10

Everything in the bible has many different meanings. It's all how an individual translates it.