Christian Art | Pearls Before Swine
Matthew 7: 6, 12-14 – Week 12 Ordinary Time, Tuesday (King James Audio Bible KJV, Spoken Word)
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.
12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
13 ¶ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine. This is difficult text. The dogs, the pigs – these would be terms to describe the non-Jewish, yet in acknowledging this we are aware of Jesus’ ministering to everybody, gathering crowds of disparate people, and enjoining them to coexist peacefully, while he walked in the land of the Gentiles.
It may be strange additionally that Jesus seems to be telling us to keep back from the world some part of our Christian faith, in case that which is precious should be scorned, trampled upon, and, further to this, our act of giving become a weapon against us in an enemy’s hands, our defences having been lowered. Perhaps we may wonder: is this a teaching against martyrdom? And: is our expression of Christian faith not always good?
Why is Jesus telling us to be careful, to be worldly wise, and to hoard our treasures of faith, not always giving and displaying our treasures openly?
We can begin to answer such questions by considering today’s Gospel reading as a whole. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, and do to others as you would have them do to you. We can think of these as two aspects of the same lesson.
Faith can seem very strange and quite forbidding from the outside. Joy, the knowledge of God, is not something automatically communicated. When a person is filled with the Spirit and feels compelled to tell others about his or her sense of being newly alive, it is entirely possible that those others, who do not know God, who are atheists, will think that person is crazy. We may remember that Jesus’ mother Mary and his family sought to have Jesus put away – we would now call this sectioned – as the Bible tells us.
Faith, then, is clearly not always being communicated by those who hope to be doing so. The message is being lost. Indeed, a contrary message, not intentionally sent, might be being received, this being that Christians are wrong. It would seem a different approach might be necessary. Assuming we actually do want to communicate Christian joy, it would seem a little thought is required as to how we do this.
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine. And now we bring in the rest of the message, which is most explicitly about taking care of other people, and is about the fact that this is not always easy. If I have a truth that I wish to share with you, then I have to take care of you, to show respect to you, to help you to know that the message is about you – in the case of Christian truth, it is about all people equally, and it so happens that this is a message about care, respect, and love. I have to speak your language.
Christianity is all about love. God is love. In these Bible verses, Jesus teaches us that love is not easy. It requires quite a lot of restraint, this because love is not about inflicting ourselves on those we love; rather we withhold our own needs, including our emotional needs, in order to serve the beloved better. We restrain ourselves so as to magnify the other, our loved ones.
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs. By maintaining our sense of what is sacred, and by being alert to just how precious this is, we become more able to share our joy, our relationship with God, our love with God, and for this to be communicated. God helps us in this way to bring other people to faith, rather than putting them off faith and driving them further away.
God wants us to attract other people to Christianity because it is what’s right – because living with God is our natural way of living – and to do so by taking immense care of our gifts. If we live well, and as we give our lives to Jesus, then we can be sure that others, who perhaps do not yet know God, will come to us. This is a delicate evangelization.
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55: 1)
Concluding Prayer
As we pray before you, Lord,
we ask you, in your mercy, for the grace
always to ponder in our hearts
what we proclaim with our lips.
We make our prayer through our Lord.
King James Audio Bible | Endnotes
Give Not That Which Is Holy Unto The Dogs
The verse Matthew 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,’ has been a source of contemplation for Christians. Its meaning is both profound and complex.
In Matthew 7:12-14, Jesus teaches the Golden Rule, saying: ‘Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.’ Jesus then goes on to warn his listeners that the path to eternal life is narrow and difficult, saying: ‘Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.’
Taken together, these Gospel verses paint a picture of a world in which the pursuit of holiness and righteousness is a difficult and narrow path, and in which there are those who would seek to distract and undermine those who are walking that path. It is in this context that the admonition ‘give not that which is holy unto the dogs’ should be understood.
In the Bible, dogs and swine are often used as symbols of impurity and uncleanliness. As such, there is a racism entailed in referring to people as dogs or pigs. The reference to casting pearls before swine suggests the futility of presenting valuable and precious things to those who are unable to appreciate their worth. It is also a warning about the dangers of giving something sacred or holy to those who are unworthy or disrespectful.
In his commentary on this passage, John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, writes that the dogs and swine mentioned in this verse represent those who are ‘wholly incapable of receiving or knowing the things of God’. John Wesley suggests that it is the responsibility of the faithful to discern who is deserving of their time and attention, and who is not.
Christian theologian Saint Thomas Aquinas writes in his Summa Theologica that the reference to dogs and swine ‘signifies those who are steeped in sin and have no reverence for spiritual things’. Aquinas suggests that the warning against casting pearls before swine is a call to exercise discernment in sharing the Gospel message, so as not to waste one’s time on those who are not receptive.
The idea of discernment is central to understanding the meaning of this verse. It is a reminder that the faithful must exercise wisdom and judgment in deciding how to share the teachings of the Bible with others. While it is important to spread the message of Christ, it is equally important to be aware of those who may not be receptive or who may actively seek to undermine that message.
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Christian Art | Life Of Jesus In The Gospels | King James Audio Bible KJV The Gospel Of Saint John 14: 1-7 | King James Audio Bible YouTube: Connection With The Life Of Jesus In The Gospels | King James Audio Bible The Gospels are not just a collection of stories or teachings, but a window into the life of Jesus. By reading and reflecting on the Gospels, we gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus was and what he came to do. As we read the Gospels, we see that Jesus was a man of great compassion and love. Jesus showed mercy to the outcasts and the marginalized, and he offered healing and hope to those who were in need. He also taught with authority, challenging the religious leaders of his day and offering a new way of living based on love and service. But the Gospels are not just a history lesson. They are also an invitation for us to enter into a relationship with Jesus. By reading and meditating on the Gospels, we can come to know Jesus more personally and deeply. We can learn from his example and seek to follow in his footsteps. So we may be encouraged to read the Gospels, perhaps starting with the Gospel of Mark or the Gospel of John, as we read paying attention to how Jesus interacted with others and how he responded to different situations. We may ask ourselves what you can learn from his words and actions, and how we can apply them to our own lives. And as we read, we can allow ourselves to be drawn into a closer relationship with Jesus. There truly is an historical Jesus. May the Gospels be a source of guidance, inspiration, and transformation for us all. How Much In The Gospels Is Historical, And How Much Is Myth, Legend, Trope, Figurative Thinking? It is difficult to say with certainty how much of the Gospels is historical in the modern sense of the word and how much is myth, legend, trope, or figurative thinking. The Gospels were written some years after the events they describe, and they were written from the perspective of the early Christian community. This means that the Gospels may contain a mix of historical facts and interpretation, as well as elements of myth, legend, and figurative thinking. That being said, scholars believe that the Gospels contain a good deal of historical information. For example, the Gospels describe specific places and events, such as the places where Jesus preached and the events of his trial and Crucifixion. These details suggest that the writers of the Gospels had access to historical information and intended to provide an accurate account of what happened. On the other hand, the Gospels also contain elements that are not seen by all as historical, howsoever this goes to the root of the faith, such as the miracles performed by Jesus and the accounts of his resurrection. Some see these as legends or myths that were added to the Gospels to help convey the message of the early Christian community. The question of how much of the Gospels is historical and how much is myth, legend, or figurative thinking is complex. What is important is that we approach the Gospels with an open mind and a willingness to engage with the stories and teachings they contain. We are in the Gospels in conversation with God – and with the many people who have had such faith and conversations – as with the historical Jesus. Why Do The Gospels Say Were People Afraid Of Jesus? There are several reasons why people may have been afraid of Jesus, according to the Gospels. One reason is that Jesus was a powerful and charismatic figure who challenged the religious and political authorities of his time. He spoke out against corruption and injustice, and he called on people to repent and turn to God. This type of behaviour was seen as threatening by those in positions of power, and they may have been afraid of losing their influence or authority. Another reason is that Jesus performed many miracles, such as healing the sick and casting out demons. These miracles were seen as evidence of his divine power, and they may have made people afraid of him. Some people may have been afraid of being healed or possessed by Jesus, while others may have been afraid of what would happen if they did not believe in him. Finally, some people may have been afraid of Jesus because of the prophecies and expectations of the coming of a messiah. The Jews of Jesus’ time were looking for a saviour who would deliver them from oppression and establish a kingdom of God on earth. When Jesus arrived on the scene, he may have been seen as a threat to the status quo, and some people may have been afraid of what he might do. Might The Fear Be Related To The Fear Of God – The Injunction To Fear God? Yes, it is possible that the fear of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels may be related to the fear of God. In the Old Testament, the fear of God is often used to describe a deep reverence and awe for God, as well as a sense of humility and obedience in the face of his greatness. This fear of God is seen as a positive and necessary quality for a faithful believer, and it is often linked to the idea of fearing God’s punishment or judgement. In the New Testament, the fear of God is also mentioned, but it is often portrayed in a more positive light. For example, in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells his followers not to be afraid of those who can only kill the body, but to fear God, who can destroy both body and soul (Luke 12:4-5). This suggests that the fear of God is not just about punishment, but about a deep respect for […]
