22nd November 2024

22nd November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 7:1-6 focus v6)


Message (Alan Burke)


Reading this verse we know that Jesus is making a point, but there are some things we must get right in order to understand it. Why would you give dogs something that is holy or pearls to pigs should these things not be kept away from them? Well yes I don’t think any of us would give to a dog what is holy, or throw pearls to pigs but if we think that Jesus is teaching about dogs and pigs and things that are holy and pearls then we are mistaken. While in our culture we keep dogs as domesticated pets, we have them in our homes, they work their way round the table after the dinner and pick up all the little scraps of food it wouldn’t have been that way for Jesus’ original hearers. The reason is that dogs were unclean animals, they were wild, despised. And I know that we are all looking forward to the December festivities with the pigs in blankets, the roast gammon, and fighting over the smoked bacon that was on top of the turkey when it cooked but just like dogs pigs were unclean animals, they were despised. 


What Jesus is doing is not speaking of dogs or pigs but people, he is equating people with dogs and pigs. He says what we are not to give to dogs, we are not to give them what is sacred. Likewise we are not to throw to pigs is pearls. You could sum it up as saying don’t give to dogs truth, that which is important, and don’t give to pigs that which is valuable. 


What is Jesus talking about here, who is he speaking of? He is talking about those who reject the gospel, those who are unwilling to listen, if they are filled with scorn or hatred towards the gospel then we are not waste our time. It means that we shouldn't waste our time with those who fail to listen to the wisdom of scripture, the message of the kingdom. Later in Matthew Jesus tells his disciples to shake the dust of their feet and move on from those who do not receive them (Matt 10:14). 


We need to judge, to evaluate whether we are dealing with dogs and pigs. We are to evangelise all, but for those who comes from them scorn and have no time for the gospel well we should know better, we should knock the dust of our feet and move on, we are to leave them in God hand, handing them over to him to deal with move on. The apostle Paul spoke of this principle and exemplified it as well, as long as people were open to the gospel, he would remain, but when people rejected the gospel, he moved on. (Acts 13:42-14:20, 17:1-15, 32-34, 19:23-20:1) In the immediate context the Pharisees and the Hypocrites were those who were filled with scorn and hatred to the gospel, today it’s a long list! 


We are to be careful, we are to be discerning when it comes to the dogs and pigs, those who are filled with scorn and hatred to the gospel that which is of real value, the truth of God, the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When they will not listen, shake the dust of our feet and move on (Matt 10:14). We read in Proverbs 9:7-8, "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” For those who are dogs and pigs they will show it in how they respond to the gospel.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q 42. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. The sum of the ten commandments is, to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves.
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