Notes on "pearls before
the swine"
In Matthew
7:6 we are cautioned not to give dogs that
which is holy nor to cast our pearls before
swine. Dogs and pigs were ceremonially unclean
animals in Jewish law. These are metaphors for
preaching the word of God to those unwilling to
listen. We can not argue a person into salvation,
man is saved through faith in God by the grace of
God. So when we preach to those unwilling to
listen or try to force our faith upon another we
are in error. When Jesus was preaching in his
home land his neighbors did not treat him with
honor and Jesus withheld those miracles (Matthew 13:58) that
might have softened their hearts. Preaching to
those who God has not given grace is a fruitless
effort but since we do not know who God has
elected we must offer the word of God to all and
give it to those who desire it.
Mathew
Chapter 7 (Full Text)
The Book of
Mathew Chapter 13
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