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.

Matthew 7:6

This quote seems to pop up by itself within the Sermon on the Mount. It’s hard to see any connection with the lines before it (verses 1-5: “Do not judge…You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.“) or the lines immediately following (verses 7-11: “Ask, and it will be given to you.”)

Biblical truths are often expressed more than once, with varying wording and emphasis. For instance, much of this sermon from Matthew chapters 5 through 7 is repeated in Luke 6:17-49 and Luke 11:5-13. Comparing these similar passages can help clarify the intended meaning.

This teaching, though, does not have any parallel that I can find. Without more context or explanation, it can be difficult to tell: What is it that is holy, and as valuable as pearls? Who are the dogs and pigs?

Don’t try to forcibly remove a speck.

If it is connected to the immediately-preceding log-and-speck example, it could mean that the brother may not be willing to be helped. Even if the Christian has cleared out their own log, and is trying to help from pure motives, he may not want his speck removed.

The speck hurts, but at least it is a hurt that is familiar…and the removal will cause a temporary unfamiliar discomfort that may not be welcome. There is no use trying to hold him down and force him to accept help. That won’t solve his problem; it will just make him that much more resistant to any future offers of assistance.

How many people have been turned off by heavy-handed evangelism? Even with the best of motives, it is possible to come on too strong for the situation at that moment. Christians are called to be “salt and light” to their world, but it is possible to be too salty and and too glaring of a light. My mother calls that “hitting them over the head with a 10-pound Bible.” It doesn’t work, and often backfires to drive folks away from Christ.

Sometimes people aren’t ready for holy pearls.

Even if not related to the log-and-speck discussion, I believe that this interpretation remains valid. There are people who — at some points in their life, at least — are not willing to receive what Jesus is offering. That can be difficult for a Christian to accept: After all, this Gospel is the Great News of a holy God who loves us enough to become one of us, just so that He can give us the priceless gift of eternal life with Him! ¹ But hearts can be very hard, entrenched against acknowledging that there is an Authority with a rightful claim on our lives.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

Jesus used pretty strong terms for those resistant to holy pearls. Both dogs and pigs were animals to be avoided. Dogs were not pets at that time, not considered to be “man’s best friend”. Rather, they were scavengers that could be dangerous. We once had a feral pig dig up our yard and make a huge mess ². I can see why they would be unwelcome, especially since the Law said that they were unclean for food (Leviticus 11:7 and Deuteronomy 14:8). Why would Jesus use such harsh terms to refer to people? It seems out of character for a loving Savior.

Imagine trying to offer meat by hand to a pack of wild dogs. What condition would you be in afterward? The pig in my yard made no distinction whether it was rooting through weeds vs. prize rosebushes. It couldn’t tell the difference, and couldn’t care less.

That is the point that Jesus is making. If someone really is determined not to accept the Gospel, that Good News will just be wasted at best; it could even cause you to be harmed. The metaphor describes the resistant person’s poor reaction, how they are behaving at the time. It is not a commentary on their value as a human being.

Move on to someone who IS ready.

On their first missionary trip, Jesus instructed the disciples to “shake the dust off their feet” as a symbol of being finished with their attempt to help someone who was not willing to hear them (Mark 6:10-11, Matthew 10:14, Luke 9:5).

During the growth of the early church as recorded in Acts, the Apostle Paul always went first to the synagogues ³, bringing the Gospel to the Jewish people. It was only after the Jews in a given area rejected him that he turned to the Gentiles there. Presented with evidence that the current audience of Jews was not willing to be saved, he gave up and extended the invitation to the Gentiles instead.

Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you [the Jews in the town of Pisidian Antioch] first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:46

But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia [to the city of Corinth], Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Acts 18:5-6

However, Jesus did go to people who went on to harm Him. Missionaries and ordinary Christians throughout the centuries have followed His example, taking the Gospel into hostile areas regardless of the personal cost. What is the difference? How are we to know when to share, and when not to? The best answer I can give is to stay close to God and pay attention to Him. His Spirit within us will inform our “intuition” as to when and how to share the Gospel.

Watch for another opportunity.

Paul once wrote using a metaphor of the Jewish people as an olive tree, with Gentiles mercifully “grafted” in to receive the same salvation through Jesus. He looked forward to the day when resistant Jews would come to accept their Messiah:

You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief…
…
And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

Romans 11:19-23

Hopefully, the one who currently is resisting all attempts to share holy pearls will not stay that way forever. God can change even the hardest of hearts. But, sadly, at times it becomes counterproductive to continue trying to pierce a rock-hard shell.

The Christian should keep their treasure ready, and wait until God says that it is time to try again.

1. Note that Matthew 13:45-46 compares it — the kingdom of heaven — to a pearl. That may be a clue that this interpretation is on the right track. 🙂
2. Here is a picture of Piggie’s visit.
3. See Acts 13:5 14:1, 17:1, 17:10, 17:17, 18:4, 18:19, 19:8.