Casting Your Pearls Before Swine

David Eldridge

In Matthew 7:6, Jesus is recorded as saying, “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.” Dogs are sometimes fierce, and to His Jewish audience swine were unclean, so Jesus instructs them not to give them things holy or valuable for they will not profit by it or be appreciative. God’s word is holy, precious, and profitable. We need to keep this statement of the Lord in mind when we share His word with others. We must judge an individual’s character by their actions, and act judiciously when teaching God’s word. Consider how we can cast our pearls before swine when talking to others about the Gospel.

When someone refuses to hear. Some, through the hardness of their heart, refuse to hear the good word of God. Paul dealt with this among the Jews in Acts 17:44-46. Some among the Jews in Antioch blasphemed and contradicted God’s word. So, Paul and Barnabas said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles” (vs. 46). Though we, through continued teaching, try to soften the hard-hearted with the word of God, there comes a time when we are wasting our efforts – we must then “shake off the dust from our feet”. When one repeatedly refuses to hear, we are casting our pearls before swine (unclean and unappreciative people) and need to refocus our efforts toward those who may listen as Paul and Barnabas determined to do.

When one refuses to repent. We may encounter those who know better, but refuse to do better. The apostle touched on this in Hebrews 6:4-6. The record says, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened…if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.” If one knows God’s word, and knows they are in sin we have a responsibility to try to bring them back. However, if they are unrepentant and know they are in sin, they must make the choice to come back. We may use too much of our time trying to tell the one who knows better to do better. Furthermore, we could be more profitable in telling the one who does not know God’s word about His plan. They might respond and come to the Lord with thanksgiving. Be judicious that you may not “cast your pearls before swine” for those who know better but refuse to repent.