“DO NOT CAST YOUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE”
AND YOU SHALL BE MY DISCIPLES – Lesson #16
Do Not Cast Pearls before “swine”
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6).
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Jesus has just finished teaching His followers, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”
Now Jesus is telling us to make a judgment on what is Holy, who are the “dogs”, what is a “Pearl” and who or what are the “swine”.
It is important to understand the words and the context being used.
Jesus is NOT SAYING we should never make judgments. He IS SAYING we should not judge people unfairly but we are to make right judgments. THIS IS IMPORTANT, especially in our world. I will define terms so we can begin to understand the differences between being judgmental and making righteous judgements.
“Holy” is the word hagios (hag’-ee-os) which refers to the Holy characteristic of God, or being separated to God, who is worthy of veneration.
Its highest application is to God himself, in His purity, majesty and glory. It is also applied to persons as separated to God’s service and is in regards to Christ, of Christians and in the moral sense of sharing God’s purity, including sacrifices and offerings.
“Pearls” are referred to as a Proverb or a word of Great Value.
A “Dog” is a metaphor for an impudent person. Someone who shows no respect for another person.
A “Swine” is colloquially, the ultimate symbol of loathing by ancient Jews. Pigs were considered as symbols of disease, filth and hypocrisy.
We learned, in Lesson #14, the we are not to “judge hypocritically”. Jesus teaches us that we are not to pronounce judgment on someone and that we, as Jesus’ disciples, correct our own attitudes and behaviors. At the same time, we are told to judge, and “judge righteously”. That is to say, we are to judge using righteous discernment. “Do not judge according to appearance, but do judge with righteous judgment.” John 7:24
Discernment is the word, dokimazo (dok-im-ad’-zo ) which means to “prove” or to try, to discern and to examine. To test, examine, prove, scrutinize to see whether a thing is genuine or not, such as metals. To recognize whether it is genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy.
Judgment is the word, krino (kree’-no ) which means to determine, to condemn, go to law and to call in question. It involves esteem. It is to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong.
RECAP:
Disciples of Jesus are not to judge hypocritically. We are to judge righteously using righteous Discernment.
DISCIPLE OF JESUS, are to judge righteously.
We are to pray for and use righteous discernment
We are to determine (judge) who is worthy of the things of God.
We are to Determine what is Holy and Pure, His majesty and glory.
We are to determine who are the people of God and Christ and in His service.
We are to know who is sharing the Truth of God’s purity, including sacrifices and offerings.
We are to determine what are the “Pearls” of God, which is a Proverb or The Word of God, which is of Great Value.
Disciples of Jesus are not to give what is Holy or of Great Value to those those who prove to be impudent people full of hate and hypocrisy.
“Do not judge according to appearance, but do judge with righteous judgment.” John 7:24
Now, it is your turn:
HOW MUST YOU DO IT? _____________________________________________
HOW YOU MUST TEACH IT? __________________________________________
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young