Sermon on the Mount - Pearls to Pigs

Sermon on the Mount – Pearls to Pigs

Matthew 7:6

1. Introduction – Over the past few weeks I’ve had to change course a little bit.

a. My original plan was to preach 7:1-6 last week. But as I was researching and preparing, I quickly realized I had way too much material.

i. So I adjust my plan – look at 7:1-5 one week and 7:6-11 the next.

1. But as I was preparing and research for 6:11 again I quickly realized that I had way too much for one sermon.

a. So, this is my third plan. Vv.1-5 last week, vv.7-11 next week.

ii. And the reason why my plan kept changing is because there is so much important information packed into 7:6.

1. This week we’ll only look at one verse…because this one verse is all we can handle this week.

b. I’ll be straight with you, this is a strange verse…

i. It talks about days and pigs and pearls. And if not interpreted and applied properly, this verse could cause a lot of damage and cause us to not fulfill our Christian duty.

1. This is an interesting verse – but it is actually a logical and natural follow up to the previous section about judging.

a. The main thrust of this verse…and the theme we’ll come back to time and again this morning is this…discernment.

2. One verse for us today – hear God’s Word – Matthew 7:6

2. Defining the Terms – Before we go any further in interpreting and applying this verse…

a. We first have to figure out the imagery.

i. This entire verse is one big imager without any real explanation of what the images mean.

b. The first image we have is the ‘holy’ object. Later in the verse it is described as a pearl.

i. Over the centuries that pearl – this holy object – has been interpreted several different ways.

1. The Didache, and early Christian manual on worship and practice – speaks of this pearl as the Eucharist – the Lord’s Supper.

a. So, the verse, as the early church fathers interpreted it, says that the unbaptized should be given the precious pearl of the Lord’s Supper because of their unbaptized state.

i. But I find this interpretation a little far-fetched…considering Jesus hasn’t instituted that meal yet – and nowhere else in the SM is the bread and cup of the Lord’s Supper mentioned.

ii. So what else could it mean? Well, the most likely interpretation for this precious pearl is that it stands for the message of the gospel.

1. This thought is where we are going to finish today, but I want to plant a seed now.

a. Think of how wonderful, beautiful, marvelous and precious the message of the gospel is….

i. God didn’t want humanity to suffer in their sin forever – so he sent a sacrifice to pay the price for their sin.

1. It’s a precious message that we believe in and carry around with us.

b. So that’s the holy thing, the pearl.

c. Next, what or who is Jesus referring to with the terms dog and pig?

i. In order to get the full impact of this image, we have to understand how dogs and pigs were viewed in the ancient world.

1. Dogs – doesn’t refer to house pets or lap gods of little things you carry around in a purse.

a. Not Fluffy or Scruffy or any other domesticated dog.

i. Dogs in the ancient world were wild, ravenous creatures.

1. They didn’t do tricks, rollover, shake a paw…they didn’t like to have their bellies rubbed or a scratch behind the ear.

b. Dogs roamed the streets in packs, with their tongues hanging from their mouths, burrs stuck to their coats – rummaging through the streets of garbage dump to find food.

ii. Pigs weren’t much better. Again, the image isn’t of Wilbur or Porky but the wild boar.

1. To Jews, pigs were an unclean animal.

a. So, the combination of the 2 would be an absolutely abhorrent abomination.

i. What does Jesus mean with this image – what or who is he referring to?

iii. So if the image is taken out of the animal world and transferred into the human world – Jesus is referring to those people who are vicious, volatile, ravenous and generally overall mean-spirited.

3. Putting it together – So those are the parts of the verse…figuring out what the pearl is and who the dogs and pigs are…

a. So what does the verse mean? Well, image if you were encountered by a pack of wild dogs or a wild boar.

i. And all you had on you was your pearls…so you toss those pearls to the dogs and pigs…

1. It distracts them for a while…but soon they realize that they are hard and tasteless…so the pigs and dogs come after you with even more intensity…attacking, maiming, and maybe even killing you…

a. That’s the scene that Jesus is describing in this verse.

b. Since we’ve figured out the imagery previously…let’s put the imagery and the scenario together.

i. The pearls in the passage aren’t literal pearls, but a metaphor for the gospel…so this is what Jesus is getting at with this saying…

1. Now, just to warn you, it’s shocking at first…

a. Jesus is saying -be careful who you present the wonderful truth of the gospel to.

i. It’s a precious pearl – and it doesn’t deserve to be trampled under foot by ravenous and volatile people.

c. It’s a shocking statement and image…and we have to be careful how we interpret and apply this image.

i. Some have taken this verse to mean that as Christians we shouldn’t ever present the gospel to unbelievers.

1. This verse is used as an excuse to not evangelize…now understand that this is an extreme view…not one that is held by many people, but it is still out there.

a. Now, just to put you at ease and not to stir up any controversy – this verse doesn’t negate the Great Commission to go into the world and make disciples.

i. It doesn’t negate the Great Commandment to love God and neighbour.

2. When Jesus says, “Don’t throw your pearls to pigs…” and as we’ve seen the image means – don’t share the gospel with the dogs and pigs of society…know this…Jesus isn’t referring to all unbelievers.

a. The main way that people come to faith in Jesus is by other people telling them about Jesus.

i. And this verse isn’t forbidding us to do so. We are not forbidden to share the truth of the gospel with all unbelievers…but rather – to those who have had ample opportunity to hear and receive the good news – but have decisively, and even defiantly – rejected it.

d. John Calvin wrote this – it ought be understood, that dogs and pigs are names given not to every kind of debauched man – or to those who are destitute of the fear of God and of true godliness…

i. But to those who, by clear evidences, have manifested a hardened contempt of God.

1. Hear me again, not an excuse for non-evangelism…

a. Not labelling all unbelievers pigs and dogs – but those who have demonstrated an active contempt for the truth of the gospel.

4. Biblical Examples – This command was actually followed and obeyed throughout the Nt.

a. Jesus himself ministered to the lost sheep of Israel differently than he ministered to the religious elites.

i. Think about these juxtaposing images.

1. Jesus called the religious elites whitewashed tombs and a brood of vipers – he spoke harshly with them, because they dealt harshly with him…

a. He called a spade a spade…called it like he saw it.

i. But Jesus was also gentle with the regular people he ministered to.

1. He was patient and kind with the woman caught in adultery.

a. He allowed children to sit with him…

i. He wept over the city of Jerusalem and how lost they were.

b. Even in his own ministry – Jesus recognized that there were going to be some who rejected his message of salvation…and he didn’t throw pearls to the pigs.

b. Think of Jesus’ own disciples…specifically when he sent them out on their first missionary endeavour.

i. He tells them that they’ll do great things in his name…

1. But he is almost upfront and honest with them, he warns them of rejection – and he told them that when they were rejected in a town – leave it the city, shake the dust off your feet and move on.

a. They weren’t to throw the pearl of the gospel at pigs who actively rejected it.

c. Think of the Apostle Paul – he obeyed this command on a few different occasions.

i. Once on each of his three missionary journeys.

1. On Paul’s first journey with Barnabas, in Pisidian Antioch, they first preached to the Jews…who swiftly rejected their message…

a. And Paul said to them – Since you thrust the good news from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.

i. He wasn’t going to throw the pearl to the pigs.

1. So Paul left, shook the dust of his garments and went to Iconium.

ii. On his second journey, much the same happened in Corinth – the Jews of the city opposed him – rejected his message…so Paul once again shook off the dust and said…

1. Your blood is on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go the Gentiles.

a. And for a third time, Paul reacted in the same way in Rome, when the Jewish leaders in that city rejected the gospel.

i. And he said that time, “the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles…they will listen.”

2. In other words – I’m not going to throw my pearls at pigs – or this holy and sacred gospel to those who actively react with violence towards it.

d. But notice that Paul and disciples didn’t simply write people or towns off without every going to them with the gospel.

i. They shook the dust off their feet only AFTER attempting to reach them with the gospel.

1. Paul, whenever he went into a town of city would first preach to the Jews…his own people.

a. But after willful and sometimes violent rejection of the gospel message – Paul either left the city altogether or instead focused his ministry on the Gentiles.

i. Of the three examples I gave, it was always the Jews rejecting his message and Paul telling them that he was simply going to take his pearl and throw it to the Gentiles.

e. The process is this – first preaching and witnessing….how will they believe if no one tells them.

i. We cannot make rash judgments on someone saying they are a pig or a dog without first attempting to share the good news with them.

1. But after attempted witness is met with repeated and willful defiance – we follow the example and teaching of Jesus – we stop throwing the pearl at pigs.

a. And from afar, we praying for God to work miraculously in their lives for their salvation.

i. This is a very serious and solemn step…to give someone up…but understand that this teaching is for exceptional situations only.

1. Our normal practice and our normal Christian duty is to be patient and persevere with others, as God patiently perseveres with us.

5. How – So really, we just got done looking at the ‘who’ of evangelism…everyone, without exception…

a. Until a time comes where you are throwing pearls at pigs…then God calls us to the next step.

i. But this passage also teaches us about the ‘how’ of evangelism.

1. Sharing the gospel is not mechanical…not a one-size-fits-all kinda thing.

a. We must be able to adapt the presentation of the gospel so that it is personally applicable to the life of the individual we ae witnessing to.

i. The truth of the message never changes, but how that truth is present can be.

ii. We are all individuals, with individual needs and desires…and the truth of the gospel is deep enough to penetrate into each person’s life.

1. Understand…we never compromise the truth of the gospel…but how we present it will depend on the needs and struggles and life situation of person we are taking with.

a. To someone struggling with intimacy – we can use the gospel metaphor of adoption.

i. We can talk to them about how God wants to be their Father – how wans to lavish good gifts on us…more willing to give than we are to receive.

1. How once we are adopted into God’s family, nothing will ever change that and he will never reject us.

b. The message of adoption and speak clearly impactfully into this person’s life.

iii. To someone who seeks acceptance, we can present the gospel image of justification.

1. How God, through the blood of Jesus, accepts us and changes our standing before him.

a. The gospel is endlessly adaptable to show the deep realities of its truth.

i. We must never fall into the trap of thinking that the same methods and same words will work with every person we encounter.

1. We must know the truth, but also how to relate that truth to each individual.

b. Paul adapted his presentation, but never compromised the truth.

i. To the philosophers in Athens, he made intellectual arguments…

1. But to the common man on the street, he used simple words, concepts and methods.

a. So we too must first know our audience…evangelism starts with listening – and then applying the gospel truth to the specific situation of the person we are talking to.

6. Precious Pearl – There is so much in this verse…but I want to close with these 2 thoughts.

a. First – think about the precious pearl of the gospel that we hold.

i. Is there anything more precious than the message of salvation?

1. That Jesus Christ came to save sinners? That God doesn’t want humanity to wallow in their sin…

a. That he longs to have a relationship with each and every person on earth…

i. Think of the precious message we have – that God in his love, sent his very own Son – his only begotten Son…

1. He was sent as the sinless and perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

2. Is there anything more precious than the message of Calvary? The power of the resurrection?

a. Is there anything more precious than the promise of eternal life with God on the new earth?

i. A pearl indeed – an invaluable message we hold…a message we are charged to take with us wherever we go.

b. However, this passage, and the rest of the Bible – teaches us that there will be some who reject this precious message.

i. Salvation isn’t universal, as much as we want it to me…as much as God wants it to be…

1. There are some who have rejected this message and some who will reject it…to their own peril and their own destruction.

c. Hopefully you can see why this verse needed a week on to itself.

i. There’s too much in this verse to combine it with vv.1-5 or vv.7-11.

1. We learned about the preciousness of the gospel, the propensity of humanity to sin and reject truth.

a. We learned of our commission to take the gospel with us everywhere we go – but also that there will be some who will reject this message.

d. And when, through our best efforts – people willfully and violently reject God’s truth – we follow Jesus’ command and we stop throwing our pearls at pigs.