There are times in my study of Scripture when I have to remind myself that all of God’s children are stewards of His mysteries; not so much in regards to my responsibility, but to remind myself that we all have access. The Master has entrusted us with His possessions. We have eyes to see and ears to hear; that we might understand the mysteries of God (Matthew 13:16-17).
Furthermore, we have the mind of Christ, and the Holy Spirit is our teacher. This should greatly encourage us that searching out the matter will be a profitable endeavor – even with the most challenging passages. We must always reject the temptation to pass over even one passage in the word of God. It is treasure for all that will diligently pursue the truth.
Now, I have said this before, and it bears repeating: Mysteries are often discovered in our searching out passages that seem to conflict with one another. Here, we have a great example.
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. Matthew 7:6
This is interesting. Jesus anticipated that His followers would be tempted to give and cast holy and precious things to the wrong people. In the vernacular of His day, “dogs” was a label for the Gentiles – those people who were not Jews. “Swine” was used to describe the most unclean things and people; things and people that were to be strictly avoided.
If we didn’t know better, we would think that Jesus is instructing us to give and cast holy and precious things only to the believer. On the surface, this seems to countermand His commission to disciple all the nations (Matthew 28:19)? So, let’s dig a little deeper.
For starters, we must recognize that not all Gentiles are “dogs”; nor all unclean people, “swine”. That helps tremendously, and it directs us to a bigger question: How do we know which is which? This question is the key to our understanding.
The answer to this question bridges us back to the previous sayings on judging and judgment. Jesus is helping us see, from another perspective, that judging and condemnation are not the same. In fact, judging is an important part of making disciples; including that part called evangelism.
At times, “judging” comes in the form of wisdom (i.e., you don’t preach from a street corner in North Korea). Other times, it is following the Holy Spirit’s direction. For example, sharing “what is holy” with every North Korean to whom the Holy Spirit leads you.
In this and every case, we must be discerning and selective as we “give” and “cast” that which has been sanctified to God. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, in Studies in the Sermon on the Mount (1976), identifies the challenge this presents through the three principles we discover in this saying:
- “First and foremost… we must recognize the different types and persons; and we must learn to discriminate between them.”
- “… we must also become expert in knowing what to give to each type.”
- “… we must learn to know which particular aspect of the truth is appropriate in particular cases.”
Frankly, I find this a daunting responsibility; and not only for teachers, preachers, and evangelists. Jesus commissioned every Christian to make disciples; all but the most determined hermits encounter someone God loves on a daily basis. How then are we to do this exacting command?
This carefully placed saying may be the most searching, challenging, and humbling verse in the Sermon on the Mount, requiring the most intimate and dependent relationship with God and a sacrificial involvement with those who have come into our spheres of influence. To do this saying, one must know the Spirit’s voice, and something (more) about those we are called to disciple.
With this discovery, I find myself desperately leaning on the Father’s promise “to will and to do to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).” And I become more dependent on the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth (John 16:13). More than anything, I am reminded that we are not sufficient for these things, “but our sufficiency is from God (2Corinthians 3:5).”
In closing, I offer to you an opinion. I hope and pray you will consider its application to you and your spheres of influence. The church has failed to hear and do this saying; not because we have shared with the wrong people, but because we have left the giving and casting of holy and precious things to those in certain positions. In doing so, we have excused ourselves from the attention and discernment that God requires of us… and missed the glory of God in our lives.
The LORD bless you with a stirring of desire for deeper and more profitable intimacy with Him and others.
Humbly yours and forever His,
Rob
#iamjustthepen
Lloyd-Jones, D. M. (1976), Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B Eerdmans Publishing Company.