November 3, 2014 – “Spiritual Discernment” “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” (Matt. 7:6) Jesus just finished instructing the people on the matter of judgment as we noticed in yesterday’s devotion: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Matt. 7:1-2). Now Jesus adds, as if to correct the possible impression that a follower of His is barred from judging at all by what He said in our text and shows us the difference between “judgment” and “discernment.” In Hebrew culture dogs were considered scavengers and pigs were considered unclean animals. Dogs were looked down upon in various passages: “As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly” (Prov. 26:11; Cf. Matt. 15:26-27). The Jews also used the word “dogs” to refer to Gentile outsiders (Phil. 3:2). The picture here might be that of taking sacrificial food and giving it to the dogs and a Jew would never do that because it was for sacred use and that would display a sinful lack of discernment. Swine are also described in this way as Peter shows: “But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Pet. 2:22). Pearls were considered very precious. Jesus presented a parable and spoke of a merchant seeking beautiful pearls (Matt. 13:45-46). Why would anyone throw their valuable pearls out to swine? Pigs aren’t capable of understanding their value. They present a picture of someone who is incapable of recognizing the value of something given to them because they chose to do this. The dogs and swine are representative of those who would ridicule, reject, and blaspheme the gospel once it has been given to them. Clearly Jesus is saying that while some will be saved there will be others who will oppose God and His divine truth. Jesus said regarding the scribes and Pharisees: “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” John, the apostle of love, said: “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (2 John 9-11). Paul said, “As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:9). It is crystal clear that reserving judgment does not prevent us from discerning those who will not accept the gospel and will ridicule, reject, and blaspheme it and turn and abuse us. Notice that Jesus said, “….lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” This warning does not prevent us from preaching the gospel to the lost. We must, however, learn to be discerning.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 11:14:45 +0000
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