“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”
Matthew 7:6 NASB2020
The Cambridge Commentary notes that the connection between today’s verse and the previous ones is not entirely obvious. “It (the distinction) seems to be this, although evil and censorious judgment is to be avoided, discrimination is needful. The Christian must be judicious, not judicial.”
As I began to study and examine various commentaries on our verse, I found the metaphors Jesus used to be interesting. He notes not only that we have holy things entrusted to us but also describes the type of people we should NOT share them with.
From Ellicotts’ Commentary -
The “dogs” and the “swine,” in their turn, represent distinct forms of evil, the former being here, as in Philippians 3:2, Revelation 22:15, the type of impurity, the latter (as in Psalm 80:13) of ferocity
From Discovery Bible Word Helps Study -
2965 kýōn – literally, a dog, scavenging canine; (figuratively) a spiritual predator who feeds off others.
"Dog" in NT days was a slang term for someone ceremonially unclean who therefore (supposedly) spread their "spiritual defilement" on contact. Thus the use of "dog" for someone was far from affectionate and conjured up reproach (insult).
In Phil 3:2, "dogs" refers to Judaizers. They identified themselves as believers (Christians), but said Jesus was the Saviour of Israel (Jews) only. They also insisted Christ's kingdom could be entered only through the religious gate of Judaism (i.e. first becoming a Jew).
Being unclean animals, dogs were used to denote what was unholy or profane. So Mt 7:6; Rev 22:15. The Israelites are forbidden in Deuteronomy to bring the price of a male prostitute (literally 'dog') into the house of God for any vow: Dt 23:18. The Gentiles of the Christian era were denominated dogs by the Jews, see Mt 15:26. ). "Compare Phil 3:2. This was the term of reproach with which the Judaizers stigmatized the Gentiles as impure. Paul here retorts upon them their own epithet."
Earlier in chapter six, we saw that everyone’s heart holds a treasure. From Jesus’ perspective, he is communicating to his listeners sacred and holy truths, ‘words of life,’ which are eternal treasures that we are encouraged to lay up for ourselves. We refer to the words in this book we call the Bible as ‘Holy’ Scripture.
These words are written according to 2 Tm 3:16-17 in the AMPC
“Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Our common concept of holy is something that is pure and clean as opposed to unclean. Yet the Greek word for Holy means ‘different.’ Clean and pure are the result of being ‘different.’
From Helps Word Studies -
40 hágios – properly, different ("unlike"), other("otherness"), holy; in relation to believers, 40 (hágios) refers to "likeness of nature with the Lord," i.e. they are also "different from the world."
The fundamental meaning of 40 (hágios) is "different" so a temple in the 1st century was called hagios ("holy") – because different from other buildings (Wm. Barclay). In the NT, 40/hágios ("holy") has the "technical" meaning "different from the world" because "like the Lord."
[40 (hagios) implies something "set apart" and therefore "different(distinguished/distinct)" – i.e. "other," because special to the Lord.
When we recognize the word of God as the creative power and life emanating from God's mouth, we will hold it in reverential fear.
Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honour to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.”
Matthew 7:6 MSG
The truths Jesus imparted were holy and life-giving, i.e., ‘words of life.’ Treating the holy, the sacred, as common or unclean is sin.
Our great need is learning to work with the Holy Spirit and, like Jesus, only say what we hear the Father saying.
The ability to distinguish our audience, if you will, the dogs and swine, and to remember that we hold pearls of great wisdom gives us the occasion to learn who and what God has given us to sow. While we are instructed to sow the word, we must be aware of who we are sowing into and, thus, hopefully, discern their receptivity.
It’s interesting to note the story in Mark 7:25-30 of the Syrophoenician Woman receiving deliverance for her daughter.
Opportunity comes to all, but Jesus knew his audience. He knew crowds from disciples and gave truth out accordingly. Jesus knew who he had been given, John 17:6 and gave them the words of life, John 17:8, and they received and believed.
Right people, right hearts, right words bring forth fruit that glorifies our Father. May we faithfully hold and sow that which is holy and sacred in His eyes.