Who Let The Dogs Out? Series

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.