What did Jesus mean when He said to 'not cast your pearls before swine'?
Matthew 7:6
ESV - 6 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.
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Asked July 01 2013
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Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
"Do not cast your pearls before swine" is a portion of the Sermon on the Mount, and to understand its meaning, we have to understand its context and placement within the sermon. Christ had just fin...
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Singapore Moses
Supporter
Swine is used figuratively of three classes: 1. Indiscreet women (Prov. 11:22) 2. Deceived people (Mt. 7:6) 3. Backsliders (2Pet. 2:20- 22) The idea here is NOT to force truth upon rebels who reject it, or give holy things to faultfinders, mote hunters, evil speakers. Dogs are used figuratively of nine classes: 1. Homosexuals (Dt. 23:18) 2. Anyone despised (1Sam. 17:43; 24:14; 2Sam. 9:8; 16:9; 2Ki. 8:13) 3. Satanic powers (Ps. 22:20) 4. Wicked men (Ps. 22:16; 59:6, 14) 5. False prophets (Isa. 56:10; Php. 3:2) 6. Deceived people (Mt. 7:6; Rev. 22:15) 7. Fools (Prov. 26:11) 8. Gentiles (Mt. 15:26- 27 Mk. 7:27- 28) 9. Backsliders (2Pet. 2:20- 22
Alisha Meadows
Supporter
I like to relate this verse to purity. Think of your "pearls" as your virginity, and men who aren't your husband as "swine/pigs". Jesus doesn't want you throwing your "pearls" to the "pigs" because they won't cherish them, and will eventually hurt you.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Matthew 7:6: Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls in front of pigs. These images characterize God’s kingdom—and Jesus’ teaching about it—as something valuable that should not be discarded. Dogs were considered unclean according to the Jewish law (Lev 11:27), as were swine (see Lev 11:7). —FSB St. Paul warned the church at Philippi, "Watch out for those people who behave like dogs! They are evil and want to do more than just circumcise you." (CEV) I.e. "Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite. All they’re interested in is appearances—knife-happy circumcisers, I call them." (MSG) It means that we should choose wisely to whom we should witness. Don't let "those who reject the invitation of Christ [to] treat precious things as cheap." —RSB It's no use trying to teach the Gospel to people who don't want to hear and will only tear apart what we say. We shouldn't stop witnessing, but we should be wise in our witnessing so we won't be wasting our time. —NLTPSB
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