Matthew 7:6 interpretations?

Question

Please, list some examples of how you think this parable/metaphor can be made manifest.

Yeshua talking, says this in a small one verse lesson called Don't Throw Pearls to Pigs:

"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."

Baruch,
David.

Answer 1

Verse 6 proves that Jesus did not intend to forbid every kind of judgment. He warned His disciples not to give holy things to dogs or to cast ... pearls before swine.

Under the Mosaic Law dogs and swine were unclean animals and here the terms are used to depict wicked people. When we meet vicious people who treat divine truths with utter contempt and respond to our preaching of the claims of Christ with abuse and violence, we are not obligated to continue to share the gospel with them. To press the matter only brings increased condemnation to the offenders.

To be effective in ministry, we must make judgments—not for condemnation, but for identification. Is this person open? Is he sensitive? Is he hungering? Or does he just want to argue and discuss endlessly? The Lord loves to see us effective, and Satan would love to see us sidetracked. How do we know what is wise in these matters? How can we know what we should do and where we should invest our time? How does this work out practically? Jesus gives the answer in the next verse.

Needless to say, it requires spiritual perception to discern these people. Perhaps that is why the next verses take up the subject of prayer, by which we can ask for wisdom.

Answer 2

Even When You Are Right, Do Not Impose the Truth on Others (7:6)

This saying seems to make little sense in this context; hence varied interpretations of verse 6 abound. Some think that dogs here are the Gentiles (15:26) and the pearls the gospel of the kingdom (13:45). But Jewish teachers used dogs to represent different things (not just Gentiles) in their parables, and even in 15:26 "dogs" is not wholly negative as it is here. Other attempts to narrow the saying's object to prohibiting sinners from the Eucharist (as in Did. 9:5) also go beyond the evidence.

In its most general sense 7:6 was probably simply a wisdom saying like Proverbs 23:9: "Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words". Dogs may refer to the wicked or oppressors more generally (compare Ps 22:16, 20; 59:14-15; Prov 26:11). It was also commonly known that stray scavenger dogs-the main kind encountered in the towns of Jewish Palestine-growled at those feeding them as much as at passing strangers (Isoc. Demon. 29, Or. 1). Clearly these are people who do not value what we have to offer them; swine also proverbially lacked appreciation of value (Prov 11:22).

But why did Matthew include this saying here? Some connect the saying to the preceding context by suggesting that it means it is worthless to try to correct (7:1-5) one unwilling to listen. Others note that while we should not judge, some people should be avoided or we must exercise discernment. Yet taken by themselves, none of these suggestions explain the lack of disjunction in verse 6.

Most likely verse 6 provides a transition between the preceding and following contexts. Correcting those who will not receive correction is futile (vv. 1-5; Prov 9:8; 23:9); we should discerningly continue to offer wisdom (or the gift of the kingdom) only to those willing to receive what we offer, just as God does (Mt 7:7-11). In this case the text sounds a note of reciprocity to be repeated in verse 12. If verse 6 means something along these lines, it does not allow us to prejudge who may receive our message (13:3-23), but does forbid us to try to force it on those who show no inclination to accept it.

Answer 3

There are some things which are just sacred, special, we, as Christians hold in high esteem, respect etc. That, unfortunately, other people will not treat so respectfully as it should be.

I think it means don't share these sacred, special things with people who won't know how to give it the proper respect. For example, it would be a bad idea to give sacrament (or the lord's supper) bread to someone who is just going to make fun of it, and throw it away.

Answer 4

Mat 7:6 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. kjv

Spiritly is talking about casting your pearls of truth to bunch of pigs/scorners.

Also Proverbs 9: 7; He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: And he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

blot 3971 m'uwm moom usually muwm {moom}; as if passive participle from an unused root probably meaning to stain; a blemish (physically or morally):--blemish, blot, spot.

When you try to preach to a wicked man, he will mock you for even trying. He doesn't have any sense or knowledge concerning God's Word.

Proverbs 9:8; Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: When we criticize a mocker of Scripture, he in turn, turns that scorn back on us.

Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

The subject is God's Word (Pearls), and your eye being able to see, or understand what is written in that Word. This is describing how you gain wisdom, and knowing God and His plan is wisdom. You have to go to that Word, before you can seek, and the knocking is the asking for help by the right sources. It is keeping the Word in true perspective, and rightly dividing it for the message God is relating to us.

Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Answer 5

I think it's pretty self-explainitory. Do not give/share what you hold sacred to those who either do not hold those same things sacred, (and)or to those who don't have a clear enough understanding of the sacredness of the thing. They may respect that you hold it sacred, and they may even hold it as a special thing, but they don't understand it's meaning well enough to hold it sacred themselves. Therefore Christ is saying don't share the sacred with them. Just as you would not give expensive jewlery to swine, who are careless, doleful creatures who don't even notice that what they are doing, or to dogs who can be sweet but who do not understand fully our reasoning, and just as you wouldn't give a newborn baby a steak dinner and expect them to be able to stomach it, don't give the sacred to those who can't bear it responsibly. Instead give them what they can handle.

It's part of a principle that says don't give meat when all they can bear is milk. Give them what they can handle and add to it line upon line, precept upon precept. Hear a little and there a little. But not all at once, because they don't have the spiritual maturity to accept it.

Answer 6

--Christs words are indeed strong & apply if in the Christian ministry someone acts extremely hateful against the message & teachings of Christ about God, then if one would continue to try & preach it would be as the text states!
--OTHER TEXTS--Coincide with this in a less blunt way by Christ:

(Matthew 10:11-15) “11 “Into whatever city or village YOU enter, search out who in it is deserving, and stay there until YOU leave. 12 When YOU are entering into the house, greet the household; 13 and if the house is deserving, let the peace YOU wish it come upon it; but if it is not deserving, let the peace from YOU return upon YOU. 14 Wherever anyone does not take YOU in or listen to YOUR words, on going out of that house or that city shake the dust off YOUR feet. 15 Truly I say to YOU, It will be more endurable for the land of Sod´om and Go·mor´rah on Judgment Day than for that city.”

--Here again Jesus is making a strong analogy of the lack of response by the generation he was preaching to in reference to wicked Nineveh:

(Luke 11:29-33) “29 When the crowds were massing together, he started to say: “This generation is a wicked generation; it looks for a sign. But no sign will be given it except the sign of Jo´nah. 30 For just as Jo´nah became a sign to the Nin´e·vites, in the same way will the Son of man be also to this generation. 31 The queen of the south will be raised up in the judgment with the men of this generation and will condemn them; because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Sol´o·mon, but, look! something more than Sol´o·mon is here. 32 The men of Nin´e·veh will rise in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it; because they repented at what Jo´nah preached; but, look! something more than Jo´nah is here. 33 After lighting a lamp, a person puts it, not in a vault nor under a measuring basket, but upon the lampstand, that those stepping in may behold the light. . .”

Answer 7

The swine and dogs represent certain types of people. The pearls are wisdom and 'what is sacred' is knowledge or spiritual insights.

Answer 8

Slightly different wording in my Bible - "Don't cast your pearls before swine." Same interpretation...
This is presented in the context of safeguarding what is holy. God is, first and foremost, holy. Anything we identify as 'holy' is only holy by virtue of its relationship with God. Desecrating what is good and holy - pearls in the parable - is considered blasphemy, a grave sin against God.

Answer 9

Well, I think I am guilty of doing that a lot, but if you look at Jesus' teachings, some were directed at the general populace, some to his special disciples and some to Pharisees, Saducees and scribes, etc. I believe it is along similar lines to the "milk and meat" analogy - you don't tell people deep doctrine until they have sonmething upon which to base their faith - ie a witness from the Holy Spirit.

Answer 10

PERHAPS.. It could be said this way?

(John 12:39-to-43) Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

(Joh 12:40) He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

(Joh 12:41) These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

(Joh 12:42) Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

(Joh 12:43) For they loved the praise of men = = more than = = the praise of God.

Thanks, RR