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 -------------------------------------------- Give not that which is holy unto dogs... Here the phrase is used in a metaphorical sense; and is generally understood of not delivering or communicating the holy word of God, and the truths of the Gospel, comparable to pearls, or the ordinances of it, to persons notoriously vile and sinful: to men, who being violent and furious persecutors, and impudent blasphemers, are compared to dogs; or to such, who are scandalously vile, impure in their lives and conversations, and are therefore compared to swine. neither cast ye your pearls before swine... But since the subject Christ is upon is reproof. It seems rather to be the design of these expressions, that men should be cautious, and prudent, in rebuking and admonishing such persons for their sins. In whom there is no appearance or hope of success; yea, where there is danger of sustaining loss. lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. That is, despise the admonitions and reproofs given, and hurt the persons who give them either by words or deeds. See Proverbs 9:7. The Jews have some sayings much like these and will serve to illustrate them. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Proverbs 9:7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame... Intimating, that though the simple and such as want understanding, and of whom there is hope of doing them good, are to be invited into Wisdoms house; yet not the haughty scorner, the abandoned sinner, the scoffer at all religion, who walks after his own lusts, and is quite irreclaimable. It is but casting pearls before swine, and giving that which is holy to dogs, to reprove and exhort such persons; though the Gospel is to be preached to every creature, yet when men despise it, and make a mock at it, they are to be turned from, and no more is to be said to them. ...and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. This shows who is meant by a scorner, a very profligate man, bent on his wicked ways, and quite incorrigible; to rebuke such an one is not only labour lost, and in vain, but the rebuker getteth himself an ill name, and is sure to have the dirt of reproach and scandal cast upon him; though this a man might patiently bear, if there was any hope of doing good.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 20:54:05 +0000