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Matthew 7:6
In Matthew 7:1-5 Jesus has been teaching to not be judgmental of others but to look at the things in one’s own life that need improvement in drawing closer to God so that one will be properly prepared to give guidance to others in obedience and humility to God. In Matthew 7:6 Jesus gives some explanation to His comments in Matthew 7:1-5 but uses a sort of parable which is not decisively explained. But if we look at what we do know in that dogs and pigs were considered unclean animals by the Jews, and that Jesus commands, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6a-b, NKJV), we may deduct that “holy” in the eyes of Jesus in this teaching is the gospel/good news of the kingdom of heaven in which He is teaching.
A dog, when it sees something that it does not like, will tear it to pieces; a pig will trample under foot what it does not desire. Both, especially wild dogs and pigs will turn and attack you if given a chance. As the teaching in Matthew 7:1-5 is of looking at the faults of oneself in preparation for then helping others, it may be possible that the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 7:6 is to give caution in continuing to share the gospel/good news with those who refuse to receive it as their goal will ultimately be to destroy/trample it under foot.
This is a command to share the gospel/good news of the kingdom of heaven with all who will receive it, but to refrain from forcing it upon those who refuse to accept it.
When Jesus sent out His disciples (Mark 6:7-12), He said to them in Mark 6:10-11(NIV), “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” As Jesus’ teachings throughout the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) is about the good news of the kingdom of heaven, He also gives the command to His disciples in all four Gospels along with the book of Acts to share the gospel message with all the world (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-47; John 20:21; and Acts 1:8). But we must also take into consideration that only those who receive and believe the gospel message will become children of God. John 1:12-13 (HCSB) declares, “But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.” We also have an example of withdrawing from forcing the gospel on those who refuse to receive it as is the case of the Apostle Paul in Acts 19:8-9.
As we try to discern the boundaries in sharing the gospel, I believe it is the work of God’s Holy Spirit that we need to focus on, pray for, and seek in ministering to others. It is not our decision to decide who will and who will not accept and receive the gospel message; but it is our duty as Christians to share it with everyone who will allow us to. If we are sincere in our hearts to the work that God gives us, we must also trust that He will utilize us as He will in His time and place.
Dear LORD,
It is tough in this world to share the gospel message of the kingdom of heaven as many refuse to listen or accept the good news. Please give us guidance in Your calling on our lives that we may glorify You through our sharing of the gospel and to know when we should withdraw from those who refuse as it is only their desire to trample and destroy what is holy. In Jesus name I pray, amen.