Pigs & PearlsDo 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 (Matt. 7:6)

Pearls & Pigsin the context of judgment (Mat. 7:1-5)obviously, not all judgment is wrong or Jesus would not have asked of us to judge people who are dogs and pigs!Jesus called a spade a spadeHerod was called a fox (Lk. 13:32)Pharisees and scribes were labeled white washed tombs and brood of vipers (Matt. 23:27, 33)

J. W. McGarveyHe [a Christian, sjw] must know dogs and swine when he sees them, and must not treat them as priests and kings, the fit objects for the bestowal of holy food and goodly ornaments. . . .We are here forbidden, then, to use any religious office, work, or ordinance, in such a manner as to degrade or profane it. Saloons ought not to be opened with prayer, nor ought adulterous marriages to be performed by a man of God. To give pearls to swine is to press the claims of the gospel upon those who despise it until they persecute you for annoying them with it. When such men are known, they are to be avoided (Fourfold Gospel, 263, 264)

dogs care not where meat comes fromswine care not if pearls are below their feetthere are men and women who could care less about heavens riches and Gods holiness!WHAT MORE DO PIGS AND PEARLS TEACH?

DISCERNMENTwe are given the charge to discern between a genuine prospect and a pignot placing Gods pearls before those interested is sinfulspending too much time with a pig is likewise not being a good steward of Gods pearlswasteful to not use when we should. . .wasteful to use when we should not

DISCERNMENTwe need to recognize that we have limited resourcesthe truth with your life, time, energy and opportunities are Gods pearls of which we are to be managers of (1 Pet. 4:8-11)time spent with a pig is time not spent with a personholy meat given to a dog is holy meat not given to a person

DISCERNMENTAgain, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away (Matt. 13:47, 48)yet God expects us to have a discerning eye of the bad too

Protection. . .lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces (Matt. 7:6)just gotta tell him one more timemust realize when not making progressmust respect what you are throwing before himthe gospel!

Pigs & Pearls Principle -taught through the agesProverbs 9:7-9 7 He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. 8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning

How do you know one is a pig?when you hear the snort that is against your messagewhen you see the lack of interest in your time and spiritual truthsYou will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? (Matt. 7:16)Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matt. 10:16)

What About A Disciple Who Is Walking With Wolves & Torn By Wild Swine?We need to find and rescue (Lk. 15:1-10; Ezek. 34:6)teach Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You (Ps. 51:12, 13)see them before the Lord (1 Thess. 2:19, 20)

Pigs & Pearls ModeledJesus to the multitude (John 6)fed five thousand (6:10ff)withdrew himself (6:15)people find him and Jesus rebukes them for only seeking him because of the food they ate (6:26)offers them spiritual bread to their disliking (6:41)those who wont hear and learn are dogs and pigswont come to Christ (6:45)gave a hard teachingmust eat His flesh and drink his blood (6:54)many followed him no more (6:66)

Pigs & Pearls AppliedJesus refusing to do a miracleMatthew 16:1-4 (cf. Lk. 23:8, 9)instructing disciples to shake the dust offMatthew 10:11-14Acts 13:44-52if a person will not work. . .2 Thessalonians 3:10, 11

The Pearl of Great PriceAgain, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it (Matt. 13:45, 46)The way I view the pearl of great price determines whether I am a PIG or MERCHANT!

only one pearl of great value the kingdom of heaven!it is never on sale full price was paid by this merchant; didnt try to negotiate a price!not enough to simply admire the pearl must buy it!The Pearl of Great PriceAgain, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it (Matt. 13:45, 46)

it required all that he had full commitment!all other pearls (kingdoms, domains) fail in comparison to the kingdom of heaven!one can live without the other beautiful pearls IN LIFE!The Pearl of Great PriceAgain, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it (Matt. 13:45, 46)

*Read Matt. 7:1-6*I get a lot of pigs who visit our websites. . .Private debaters who only want to waste your time!*Notice. . .they threw the "bad" away. Every variety of character will be gathered by the gospel net.

Now, in all fairness, this passage continues to explain that angels of heaven will seperate the wicked from the just. . .so, there are wicked men who will be attracted to the gospel who will escape the radar of the just, but will not escape hell in the end.*The Lord's teaching in Matthew 7 doesn't only teach "discernment," but "protection" also.*For some people there is no good that comes from conversation with them, only hurt. It is a pretty naive thing to think that if we just get the truth out there, if I can just have it accessible to the masses, then the masses will, upon hearing the truth, convert to Christ. Rather, I want to get the word out to the masses because I am fishing for good and honest hearts. I am seeking wise men. Those who are in love with foolishness will have no use for me nor I of them.

When a fool is corrected, he may lash out with verbal insults!*[CLICK] When they say, I know that is what it says, but that is not what it means you are standing before a snorting pig! When they snort That is not a real church without ever investigating it, you are standing before swine.

[CLICK] THEY GIVE YOU THE SIGN THAT THEY WOULD RATHER BE FISHING.These are the people who resent your moral standards, your wholesome speech, and your trust and faith in God. They try to make you look like the bad guy.

Isnt it ironic that the people in our society who boast the most about their open-mindedness are probably more closed-minded towards the truth than anybody else! Far from being open-minded, the homosexual activist, the abortion advocate, and the promoter of pornography are all scoffers and are close-minded to the truth. You will find yourself severely rebuked, hated and challenged, if you merely attempt to reason with them (Mark Dunagan, http://www.ch-of-christ.beaverton.or.us/Pearls_and_Pigs.htm)*Suggest to read Ezekiel 34:1-26, a chapter filled with fright, judgment, journey and comfort; emp. their failure in verse 6. God doesnt take it lightly if we were to just turn a blind eye on a soul driven away. Can one be driven away? (Notice vv. 4, 5, 16, 21)*They didnt like the pearls!*They didnt like the pearls!*[CLICK X3] Pr 23:23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.