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Answer
Millions of individuals globally have pet dogs that they care for and cherish. However, in ancient times, people did not share the same affection for man’s best friend. As depicted in the Bible, individuals viewed dogs as repulsive “and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.”, (Luke 16:21), foolish “As a dog returneth to his vomit, So a fool returneth to his folly.”, (Proverbs 26:11), and deserving of contempt “And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.”, (1 Samuel 17:43).
During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus utilized the negative perception of dogs to convey a crucial message to His disciples regarding preaching the gospel. He stated, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you” “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.”, (Matthew 7:6, ESV).
Initially, Jesus prohibits two unwise actions, both symbolizing the same concept. Firstly, He advises against giving dogs sacred items, as they do not hold them in reverence. Secondly, He warns against presenting valuable possessions to pigs, as they do not appreciate such treasures. Neither dogs nor pigs value such things; they fail to recognize the worth of precious items. In these depictions, what is holy and valuable is not esteemed by these animals.
It represents the proclamation of the gospel, and the animals represent those who have heard the good news and have rejected it.
The disciples shouldn’t offer what is holy (the message of the gospel) to dogs (those who have shown that they consider it worthless). Jesus reiterated this principle in a more straightforward way later in His ministry, saying, “And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town” (Matthew 10:14;cf: Proverbs 9:8).
The context of Matthew 7:6 provides more insight for how Christians can apply the principle today. In the passage, Jesus is teaching about making correct judgments (Matthew 7:1-6). First, He warns His followers not to make hypocritical judgments, instructing them to first take the log out of their own eye before they attempt to help someone else (Matthew 7:3-5). Then, He encourages them to practice discernment, which is a type of judgment. They should not give dogs what is holy « 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. », (Matthew 7:6). A person guilty of making hypocritical judgments lacks self-awareness and fails to judge correctly. A person guilty of making uncritical judgments lacks discernment and fails to judge at all.
Christians may struggle to determine the right time to persevere in sharing the gospel and the right time to stop. So, how can they know for sure? First, fervent prayer is of great importance and must saturate the process of evangelism from beginning to end. Next, knowing when to stop preaching the gospel to a certain audience is crucial.
Dealing with a particular individual or group necessitates wisdom and an understanding of how the listeners are reacting to the message.
Towards the end of Matthew 7:6, Jesus stressed that persecution plays a crucial role in the decision-making process: “They may . . . turn and tear you to pieces.” When there is an antagonistic response to the gospel proclamation, the audience reveals their true nature. By attempting to harm the messenger, the unrepentant sinner exhibits dog-like ferocity. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize when to “shake the dust off” and convey the message elsewhere.
Paul faced this challenging choice when opposition arose following his preaching of the gospel in Corinth: “And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles’” «And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. », (Acts 18:6). Subsequently, he departed from the synagogue and commenced preaching next door (verse 7). Continuing to preach the gospel of Christ in the Corinthian synagogue would have meant giving sacred teachings to those who would not value them, akin to giving holy things to dogs.
