PEARLS ARE USELESS TO SWINE

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.

Peter used this same proverbial comparisons when he wrote, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire (2 Peter 2:22b). The metaphors of "dogs" and "swine" do not really represent any particular person or race of people. They apply just as consistently to either the unbelieving Jewish hypocrite or the heathen Gentile. Both the admonition of Peter, as well as Jesus' teaching in the lesson text, tell us that it is futile to preach God's holy word to those whose stubborn will renders them incapable of receiving it. "Spiritual" meat fed to a dog means no more than ordinary table scraps. Swine, without realizing the value of "spiritual" pearls placed before them, trample them under their feet in order to get to a trough containing slop.

The gospel message of Jesus Christ is precious. Our time on earth is but a few years. Neither should be wasted on hearts that are stone cold, indifferent, and unreceptive to the word of God. There will never be a shortage of those having open and receptive hearts; those that are truly seeking the hope of salvation through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. These need to be sought out and fed the spiritual food that unrepentant "dogs"reject. The spiritual pearls that worldly "swine" deem valueless and trample under their feet, are needed by those that are willing to hear, learn, accept, obey, and grow into adult Christians.

The unreceptive dogs and swine referred to in the lesson text, bear a close resemblance to the unbelieving Jews in the days of Ezekiel. The Lord told Ezekiel that they were a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; ...ears to hear, and hear not (See Ezek. 12:1-2). On a number of occasions, as recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus concluded a particular teaching with these, or similar, words: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear (Matt. 11:15). All have sensory organs that allow us to receive the word of God, however, not all are receptive. Some have eyes with 20/20 physical vision, but are blinded to the truth of God's word. Some have ears physically capable of hearing, but turn a deaf ear to the will of God.

Consider the message Paul delivered to the church at Corinth. He wrote, Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit, which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Cor. 2:12-14). Godly wisdom allows us to recognize worldly wisdom and avoid it, but worldly wisdom does not comprehend godly wisdom, and, ultimately, makes void wisdom from above. When mankind does not receive the wisdom of God, it becomes, to them, foolishness. Paul was sent to preach the gospel of Christ, but to those that refused to accept and believe his gospel messages, it was merely a stumbling block and foolishness (See 1 Cor. 1:17-25).

When Jesus sent His apostles out to preach the kingdom of heaven is at hand, He instructed them to deliver this message to only those that were worthy, that is, to those that were willing to hear, receive, and believe it. They were told that whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. The holy word of God, and the precious time of the apostles, was not to be wasted on those that, due to their worldliness, refused to accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Son of God (See Matt. 10:11-14).

From this lesson we are to learn that not all to whom we teach the gospel of Christ will be receive it; neither can it be forced on those that refuse to see its eternal value. However, Christians must never use this teaching as reason to hastily judge others as unreceptive "dogs" and "swine," and give up on bringing salvation into their lives. Jesus Christ, and His inspired disciples, could at that time in history, see into the hearts of their hearers and miraculously determine their receptiveness to the will of God. You and I do not possess this ability. How long we should continue teaching one that appears unwilling to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior is extremely difficult to determine. Maybe as many times as we are taught by our Savior to forgive. When asked till seven times, Jesus replied until seventy times seven (Matt. 18:21-22)!