Our passage today is a tough one. Probably one of the toughest ones in the Sermon. Jesus has just finished a little ditty about not judging people especially judging them religiously that includes are rather harsh judgment about hypocrites. Then he starts spouting off about hogs and dogs. What does this have to do with anything? It’s almost like Jesus is showing us a little bit of ADHD. After this he talks about asking and receiving, so what does this have to do with anything.
By the way is a lot of debate in scholars and preachers about the meaning of this passage. Most of it begins as least with the idea of whether or not this verse should be read and interpreted within the context of the surrounding verses or was this just a thought that Jesus threw in as he began to wind the sermon down. If you can read without the verses then there are a whole lot interpretations that can be determined including things like not allowing unsaved people to take communion.
As you probably might have figured, I believe that must read this in context. But even then, this verse is very problematic. Let’s take a closer look.
As you find your place, I want to relay some information to you. There was a recent study done to determine who invented the toothbrush. A lot of research was done and it seems that they have reached a deadend. They have been unable to find out who invented it. However, they have narrowed down the place where it was invented: West Virginia. That’s right, West Virginia, was where the toothbrush was invented. If it had been invented anywhere else, they would have named it the teethbrush.
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ’Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
The basic premise is tied to the previous verses and that is we are use discernment when offering the sacred to people.
Use Discernment
Remember the judging and discerning are two related but different things. And the related virtue of discernment was what? Anybody remember? Wisdom. Godly Wisdom. I believe this idea to be very much related to the previous verses about judging others.
When it comes to offer insight especially divine insight into others we need to be careful and discerning.
• In offering insight
Not everyone wants our help. Not everyone wants our opinion even when we have been through it or struggled with what they are struggling with.
As a recovered alcoholic, I have a God-given opportunity to share with other alcoholics so that they also may recover. But the very first question is, “Do you want to get better?” If the answer is “no” or “I don’t have a problem” then the response is, “Sorry to bother you.” Pursuing the issue will only harden their resolve that they are right. It becomes a contest of wills where no one wins and both parties lose. Don’t offer a pearl of great price to someone who doesn’t really want it. Use discernment.
This is supported tremendously in scripture especially in Proverbs. I wander if Jesus had some of the Proverbs in mind when he offered this proverb about the hogs and the dogs. Here are a few:
Proverbs 9:8-9
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.
Proverbs 21:11
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.
Proverbs 25:12
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold (or could we insert a pearl and even a pearl of great price) is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
As a pastor and teacher and a follower of Jesus, I have experienced some of this in my own life. I have offered words of correction with admission that I am not perfect and shared in the blame to decent people who believed that they were only doing what they thought was right only to be torn apart for my insight. The prophets of the Old Testament were treated worse. Remember in the beginning of Sermon on the Mount, Jesus seemed to be saying that as we follow Jesus, persecution should be expected. I think what Jesus is saying here is not to go out of our way to “let the dogs out” when it serves no purpose to do so and does nothing to show the love Jesus.
Even here, we need discernment. Because sometimes taking the stand is the right thing to do. Sometimes even when we doubt the outcomes, we are compelled by God to speak the truth (and this cannot be overemphasized!) in love!!!!
Jesus did as much when he gave his first sermon in Luke 4. Jesus was asked to read the scripture in the synagogue and give some teaching. He read from Isaiah about freeing the captives, healing the sick, making the blind see, and enacting the Kingdom Day of Jubilee. He said today it is fulfilled in your midst. People were amazed. They loved what he said but wondered how he could offer this declaration since they all knew him since he was child. He was Joseph’s son, a carpenter not a Rabbi.
But they like what he said but Jesus continued on. He told them that they would not honor him or his words. He told them that they would miss out on God’s blessing just like in the days of Elijah during the great drought lasting three and half years. During that time, nobody in Israel received God’s blessing. The only two were an unclean widow not from Israel and Naamon. This of course infuriated the crowd and they went to tear Jesus to pieces. They turned on him because of the truth and insight (sacred truth) that he had offered.
These also indicate the need for discernment then when receiving insight.
• In receiving insight
Be wise in listening to others. Don’t be a dog. Don’t be a hog. Dogs and hogs were both symbols of someone who was pretty much worthless. A dog was sometimes equated to Samaritans such as the Samaritan women who came to Jesus for healing of her daughter. Jesus said that he was not here to minister to her or her kind but for the children of Israel. She said that even the dogs (referring to herself) get the crumbs from the master’s table. In other words, I don’t need much from you, Jesus. Just a few crumbs! That will be more than enough. And Jesus of course declared that she had great faith and granted her request.
Hogs were symbols of the unclean (remember the impure and immoral distinction of the religious leaders). Hogs were also symbolic of gluttons. They consumed and then wanted more.
Use discernment and listen to correction. Treasure those things especially when those corrections or judgments are offered with love and the sincere attempt to help. And maybe especially when someone who has been there offers their insight. Those are treasures not just human treasures but treasures from God.
Are we humble enough to accept the insight from others especially others that we hold in high regard and know that they love us?
And here is maybe the overarching principle and idea behind loving others. This is whether we are trying to help someone get a speck out or we just want to be a blessing to them.
Loving Others in the Jesus Way Is Wanting the Best for Them!!
One last area of discernment when it comes to offering sacred pearls to dogs and hogs. We need discernment:
• In Taking Insight
Not all insight is equal. It takes wisdom to determine when insight and even criticism is valid even when it is not really offered in love. Leaders are often criticized. I have had things said to me that had a kernel of truth even though badly delivered or inappropriately packaged. I have also had people confront me with things that were really about them. We will need discernment and wisdom to know when there might be pearl in the mud that is slung at us and when it is just a load of someone else’s… garbage. Jesus does warn his disciples in a few verses about ferocious wolves who come in sheep’s clothing.
Overall I believe Jesus was offering this parable in compassion for his followers that were sitting around him that day on the mountainside. Jesus knows that following him is extremely difficult. It is hard enough climbing the mountain with Jesus with our own baggage let alone with the baggage of others. Jesus knows that follow him in ministering to others is painful especially when we see the brokenness of people around us. It is hard enough and painful enough without adding to it by offering insight to others that is not wanted nor asked for. Sometimes you must. But make sure that you that you don’t offer your best to God to those who will waste it and then rip you a part for doing so. If someone asks, by all means give it. There are plenty of people who are asking for the pearls that you can give.
