Pearls and Pigs

Matthew 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.


This is one of those scriptures that bothered me.  It didn't seem to fit the context.  Everyone seemed to avoid it when they preached through this section.  Well after many years one day it just seemed to fit really nice and make sense.  If we don't break up the natural flow of the scripture, just prior to this Jesus was teaching about judging righteously.  How to be spirtitually concerned for God's glory in your life and in the life of others.  The idea of understanding our low standing before a High and Holy God.  That we ourselves are as suspectible to falling into sin as any other.

So the meaning here is really very simple.  Don't try to apply godly standards to those that are not rue disciples of Christ.  Only those that have been redeemed will receive and rightly respond to humble rebuke and restoration.  Those that are comfortable in sin - it is just who we all were at one time or another - will not only reject the rebuke but will proceed to tell you where to go, how to get there and help you along the way.

So remember.  We are to gentle rebuke, admonish and restore a brother or sister taken by sin.  We have no buisness trying to apply godly truths to the ungodly.  The only turth they can hear and respond to is their need for a Savior - Jesus Christ.  Give them the gospel not judgement.  Show them they are damned inspite of their sinful life - but because they have rejected the Son of God.

Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,