Pearls before Swine? Brad Jersak

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Question:

I’ve just been in a discussion on Matthew 7 and we were wondering about the whole “holy things to dogs and pearls to pigs” issue! Apart from the usual interpretations (Dallas Willard & Richard Rohr both give insights), is there more from a Jewish cultural/religious perspective that teaches us at a deeper level, as Rabbi Jesus always does? Thanks. Grace and peace. 

Response:

Greetings, friend,

I’ve done a little digging in John Lightfoot’s Commentary on the NT from the Talmud and Hebraica, and checked a number of rabbinical sites online (e.g., “Stringing Pearls”). So far, I haven’t found anything beyond what we can already infer in general: “pearls” can refer to Bible verses that authors and teachers string together to make a point (also called a “catena”). My favorite example is found in Hebrews 1. 

And, of course, “dogs” and “swine,” when used of humans, are derogatory nicknames and apparently quite common at the time when describing Gentiles, though Paul uses “dogs” to describe his Judaizing Christian opponents (see Philippians 3:2).

But in the passage you cite (Matthew 7:6), something else is going on. Let’s read it:

  • “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

The good news is that the meaning of Jesus’ proverb (that’s the genre) is quite simple and reminiscent of Proverbs 9:7-8, which says.

  • Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. 

When you treasure some truth or experience “close to your heart,” you should pause to discern when and with whom to share it. Some will first trash the insights you offer (dismissing or mocking them) and then trash you as well (attacking you personally). 

Most people who use social media experience this at some point. Posting a treasured thought broadly can trigger ugly reactions in the comment section. But long before the internet mom used to refer to the “peanut gallery.” That’s a reference to the cheap section in the vaudeville theaters where the rowdies could throw peanuts (before tomatoes came into play). Today, online, the “swine” who trample our treasures are often referred to as “trolls” or “haters.”

This dynamic is quite harsh because, as Jesus says, what you saw as a pearl of wisdom or insight gets trampled and so do you… in a way that can leave a mark on the soul and may even cause us to lose the pearl to the cynics. They love to steal our hope and leave us feeling defeated. 

While the meaning of the proverb is quite clear, should we worry that Jesus calls anyone “dogs” or “pigs”? That seems harsh, too. And a bit out of character for Jesus. Let’s start with what we know. God in Christ loves the whole world and everyone in it. Even the trolls and haters. Each of us is “precious in his sight”… beloved children for whom Jesus died. That fact needs to be firmly established in our minds.  

Once that’s settled, we can return to the proverb and say that Jesus is not about labeling people to belittle their worth. Rather, he is using vivid imagery to describe how our “pearls” might be treated… the verbs are what matter. Some will treasure your pearls and others will trample them. It’s about recognizing that even a pearl as precious as the gospel will trigger different reactions. And the moral is: be wise about when and with whom to share your treasured insights. 

I need to add some exceptions: in other parables, Jesus describes himself as the “Farmer,” broadcasting the good news broadly. The seed of the gospel is sown on all types of soil, and the grace of God is shared freely (even indiscriminately), regardless of whether our hearts are ready to listen.  

In the end, Jesus and nearly all of his apostles did experience trampling, stoning, flaying, stabbing, and crucifixions in response to the gospel pearl of great price. In your own case and mine, the odds are against us going through something so severe, but here are some takeaways:

  • + Sometimes, I sense that what I thought I desperately needed to share can be reserved for my private journal and closest friends. 
  • + At other times, I sense that Jesus wants me to say what he’s given me to say, along with the warning that I will not be exempt from push-back or abuse. 
  • + When we do share a pearl that gets trampled, we can remember Jesus’ promise: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11).
  • + The trick, then, is to continue growing in our discernment about which of these options applies at any given moment.

Back to you now. How about this for a prayer exercise:

  • Lord, is there a pearl you’d want to remind me of today? 
  • Lord, who would treasure this pearl if I shared it with them?

Blessings, Bradley

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