A Time to Move On

⁶ “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Matthew 7

This is a tough one. What does Jesus mean? Many commentators believe this verse is a continuation of the first five verses where Jesus talks about judgment. Many Bible translations include this verse under the same heading as verses on judging. If you look at the flow of thought in Matthew 7, it seems likely that verse six would be included with the preceding five verses. They deal with judgment, the next five deal with prayer. It’s possible, though not probable that Jesus would introduce a subject for a single verse and move on.

If you connect the preceding verse, verse five, to it, “First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye,” you get a sense of where this is going. In other words, “Take care of your own walk first, and then offer Biblical truth to others.” Then followed by “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” In other words, if they do not receive it, and reject truth, move on.”

Jesus is saying “Don’t offer God’s truth to those who just laugh at it.” The problem is, how do you tell who is a dog or pig? At least in the spiritual sense, some people who seem the furthest from the Kingdom of God readily receive the Gospel. On the other hand others who seem as if “they would be good Christians,” reject the truth of God and proclaim their own righteousness.

The answer is found in the individual’s response to God’s truth. If an individual hears the truth and rejects it, or mocks it, you have your answer. If someone is scoffing at, or mocking God’s truth, move on.  This interpretation is in accordance with Matthew 10. Jesus sent His disciples out bearing the Gospel, and told them that if  they are received, great! However, if they were rejected, and thus the Gospel, they were to move on and shake the dust from the town off their feet.  

We must offer people God’s truth. However, if God’s truth is ridiculed we must also realize the only thing happening is that God’s truth is being trampled by dogs. Shake the dust off and move on.