“Pigs, Dogs and Kingdom Discernment”
Matthew 7:1-6
We live in a society where people are very quick to use the first line of Matthew 7, “Do not judge.” Jesus certainly said that, but you have to understand the important setting and context for those words.
These words are part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus taught us that a Christian’s righteousness has to exceed that of the Scribes and the Pharisees; that it is a righteousness that is displayed not on the external, but it is written first of all on our HEARTS and then exemplified in our lives. It is not a righteousness that follows the letter of the law, but is born of the Spirit of God so that our DESIRE comes first of all from within, because our hearts have been changed. WE DESIRE TO PLEASE GOD and not MEN.
Then Jesus spoke of the Christian’s Goal and ambition, which is to seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness above all things and IN ALL THINGS. Now Jesus progresses in the same Sermon, to chapter 7, and speaks of our responsibility to others:
"Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck (or straw) out of your eye,' and behold, the log (or plank) is in your own eye? 5 "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”
A Heart of Consistent Criticism
The first thing to note is that Jesus is NOT SAYING you will never make a judgment, resolution or pronounce a biblical and truthful opinion. We are called upon to make “judgments” all the time in our lives as we faithfully and closely follow Jesus. We are called to “test the spirits” to see if they are from God. We are called to make assessments as far as what kind of fruit people are producing: Later in this chapter, Jesus says, “Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” Here Jesus is talking about NOT exercising a Heart and life of Consistent and CONSTANT Criticism and judgment toward the external actions of others.
The Pharisees and Scribes excelled at this, and often, so do the so-called” religious” people of today: So do we. When you are busy judging the attitudes or actions of others, you are exercising a heart of judgment instead of forgiveness. Human beings cannot see into the hearts of others like Jesus and the Father can, and Jesus STILL loved others, having the complete ability to see into their hearts. Man is only able to see the external actions and not the heart of another person.
Jesus says “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” Jesus is speaking a profound spiritual warning here: If you judge others by what they are DOING, you will be judged by your works, too. God’s measure of judgment upon sinners who reject grace is upon their works: They reject God’s grace to save them and so they will be judged by their own works instead of the work of Jesus Christ. They will receive eternal judgment. If you have not received a new spiritual heart from God, you are going to be judged according to your works in the same way that you judge others according to THEIR WORKS.
If a human being is constantly criticizing and judging others by their external actions, that person is demonstrating that they, themselves, haven’t been FORGIVEN. They are showing that they themselves haven’t received a new heart: If you have been forgiven by God’s grace, you will also be merciful and gracious to others; it is a “natural” heart reaction to demonstrate Christ’s love to others because you have received His grace and forgiveness freely and so you extend it to others freely and liberally.
It does not mean that we don’t ever fall into this sin of unjustly accusing others, because we have not been COMPLETELY changed into the image of Jesus, but when we find ourselves acting as a judge and jury against others, we are convicted by the Holy Spirit, and we run to God for forgiveness, and probably to the offended one as well!
Those who HAVE received God’s forgiveness in Christ have had the plank of a critical heart and spirit removed, so that they DO NOT try and remove or judge someone else’s sin-speck. They know better! They know that their sin was removed by THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE. They didn’t remove it and neither did another person: Their sin, was removed by a Perfect Savior, who took the guilt for their sin, and so removed it.
The absurdity of self-righteousness is that you are totally unable to see yourself clearly. That is why Jesus says: Why do you GAZE (stare, concentrate and focus) at the speck in someone else’s eye when you have a plank in your own. You have a self-condemning and self-righteous TREE growing out of your own eye: How can you possibly see clearly to perform surgery on someone’s eye to remove a sliver? You’re not seeing clearly to do that? You don’t have the ability to do that, only God does. You are only wearing a mask of self-righteousness on the outside, but your heart is still dead if you think you know about someone else’s heart-condition: Examine the eye of your own heart first of all.
Practicing a Heart of Discernment
In verse 6, Jesus talks about Practicing a Heart of Discernment when it comes to sharing the Gospel: 6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls (or parables) before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”
Jesus would practice what He is teaching here in His ministry: He would not provide miracles-on-demand by the Holy One of God simply because dogs and swine (the unclean) desired them. He never performed a miracle for anyone who would NOT BELIEVE. Remember that DOGSs were not house pets in the Bible: they were vicious, street roaming scavengers who traveled in packs in order to devour the innocent. Jesus did not continue to preach and persuade people to come to Him in repentance when they clearly rejected and scorned Him, when they tried to bite Him! The Pharisees, scribes, and all of Israel, for that matter, were given the Truth of God’s Word by Jesus… and then He moved on.
The disciples were given instructions in Matthew, Mark and Luke: “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.” (Matt. 10:14) We should follow the same advice: If someone scorns the message of the Gospel, move on; continue on because there are many who haven’t heard. We are supposed to just scatter seeds of the Gospel and leave the rest to God.
We have to have a heart of discernment when it comes to false teachers and false doctrine. Referring to false teachers and those who follow them, Peter says in 2 Peter 2:22: “Of them the proverbs are true: "A DOG returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud." (from Prov. 26:11) So we should not constantly and continually preach to “DOGS and PIGS” and allow them to disrespect the Gospel. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a HOLY message, from a HOLY God, to an unholy world and is to be treated as Holy. It is not to be treated like digested dog food, or pig mud, or those who reject the Message and its Savior.
In regard to the habits of pigs, Peas and Pearls are the same size and pigs may mistake pearls for peas. When they try eating pearls and find they were not what they expected, they trample the rest of the pearls under foot no matter how many pearls you give them, because they didn’t like the taste; they disregard the enormous treasure of the Gospel because they only wanted peas.
(Remember the parable of the “Prodigal Son” in Luke 15: After the son had left the security and love of his Father, we read: 15 “So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the PODS that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.” He had rejected the pearls from his Father and would have eaten pea-pods from the pigs, but no one gave him any.)
Paul writes about “DOGS” who put confidence in the flesh, the OUTWARD WORKS, rather than in the Work of the Spirit of God in Philippians 3: 1-3: “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those DOGS, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, (circumcision of the heart) who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.”
I am very concerned today whenever Christians go to sources OTHER THAN THE BIBLE for information, comfort, counseling, addiction, etc. Are these books, psychologists, counselors, websites, and groups SEEKING FIRST the Kingdom of God and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, or are they seeking help from something or someone else? Are they giving counsel that God WOULD GIVE from His Word? Is their counsel from outside of the city of Our God?
In Revelation 22:15, in describing the HOLY CITY of our God where righteousness alone will dwell, it says: “Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, (pop-psychology which excludes God, astrology, palm reading and fortune telling, false gospels) the sexually immoral (life-styles that are in opposition to God’s standards), the murderers (people who hate others instead of forgiving and loving), the idolaters (people who do not seek the Kingdom of God EXCLUSIVELY in their lives) and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”(ANYTHING that is not the TRUTH of God) If it is not God’s Word, it may well be “falsehood”!
If we are going to practice a discerning heart, we must be thoroughly schooled in God’s opinion because God IS TRUTH! Be careful of the opinions of others who do not give Godly Biblical counsel because the only opinion that counts is God’s opinion. He alone gives unchanging truth because HE IS THE TRUTH.
Remember Peter’s response to Jesus in John 6:67-69: "You do not want to go away also, do you?" 68 Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go ? You have words of eternal life. 69 "We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."
God does not only give us wisdom, He gives us the one who IS WISDOM. God does not only give us people in His Church Body who identify with our problems, whatever they may be but He gives us His indwelling Spirit, who IS THE COUNSELOR and COMFORTER. He doesn’t just say: I know how you feel because I had the same experience. HE KNOWS YOU because He created you. He has placed you in an ETERNAL FAMILY to share your grief, insecurity, fear, but also your joys. We are going to be together FOREVER and with Him FOREVER, and so WE are God’s support group for each other WITH the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT, and with our owner’s manual, the Bible, and an open line to HEAVEN, thanks to the Lord Jesus.
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift, for His Grace to us in not judging us, but in saving us. May we extend that grace to others and also value the Treasure of the Gospel so that we may never abuse it. Peter, who was questioned by Jesus in John 6, later said: “His Divine power has granted to us EVERYTHING pertaining to life and Godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” (1 Peter 1:3)
OUTLINE: “Pigs, Dogs and Kingdom Discernment”
Matthew 7:1-6
Judge: to separate, to pick out, select, choose. 2) to approve, esteem, to prefer 3) to be of opinion, deem, think, 4) to determine, resolve, decree. 5) to judge a) to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong 1) to be judged, i.e. summoned to trial that one's case may be examined and judgment passed upon it b) to pronounce judgment, to subject to censure. 1) of those who act the part of judges or arbiters in matters of common life, or pass judgment on the deeds and words of others. 6) to rule, govern a) to preside over with the power of giving judicial decisions, because it was the prerogative of kings and rulers to pass judgment. 7) to contend together, of warriors and combatants.
I. A Heart of Consistent Criticism and Judgment:
A. Exercises judgment instead of forgiveness.
B. Probably hasn’t been forgiven.
C. Is unable to see itself clearly.
D. Wears a mask of self-righteousness.
II. Practicing a Heart of Discernment
A. If someone scorns the message of the Gospel, move on.
B. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a HOLY message, from a HOLY God, sending a HOLY Savior and is to be treated as Holy.
C. Be thoroughly schooled in God’s opinion because God IS TRUTH!
OUTLINE: “Kingdom Discernment”
Matthew 7:1-6
Judge: to separate, to pick out, select, choose. 2) to approve, esteem, to prefer 3) to be of opinion, deem, think, 4) to determine, resolve, decree. 5) to judge a) to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong 1) to be judged, i.e. summoned to trial that one's case may be examined and judgment passed upon it b) to pronounce judgment, to subject to censure. 1) of those who act the part of judges or arbiters in matters of common life, or pass judgment on the deeds and words of others. 6) to rule, govern a) to preside over with the power of giving judicial decisions, because it was the prerogative of kings and rulers to pass judgment. 7) to contend together, of warriors and combatants.
I. A Heart of Consistent ____________ and Judgment
A. Exercises judgment instead of ___________________.
B. Probably hasn’t been ____________.
C. Is unable to see itself ______________.
D. Wears a mask of ________- __________________.
II. Practicing a Heart of __________________
A. If someone scorns the message of the Gospel,________ ____.
B. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a ________message, from a ______God, sending a _____Savior and is to be treated as _______.
C. Be thoroughly schooled in God’s ______________.
