Summary
Matthew 7:6's prohibition against giving "that which is holy unto the dogs" refers not to withholding gospel proclamation entirely, but to the manner of preaching—the Gospel should be publicly declared to all, yet the precious promise of salvation is to be offered specifically to the spiritually broken and poor in spirit, not to the self-righteous reprobate who mock it. Drawing from Proverbs 9:7-9 and passages like Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 5:31-32, the author argues that Christ came as a Physician for the sick and that offering salvation to the spiritually proud is both deceptive (since they deny their need) and potentially provokes hostility. The command thus distinguishes between universal proclamation of the Gospel and selective application of its precious promises to those whom the Spirit has made receptive to their spiritual poverty.
Questions Answered in This Article
What does the Bible say about giving holy things to dogs?
Matthew 7:6 warns against giving holy things to dogs and casting pearls before swine, indicating that not everyone is receptive to the gospel.
The injunction finds its roots in Proverbs 9:7-9, which emphasizes the futility of reproving the scornful while encouraging instruction for the wise. The gospel message is precious and should be shared with those who are receptive, primarily the humble and broken-hearted, as articulated in Isaiah 61:1. The gospel is to be audibly proclaimed to all, but discernment is needed to recognize those who are truly in need of its hope.
Matthew 7:6, Proverbs 9:7-9, Isaiah 61:1
How do we know that the gospel is for the humble?
Scripture reveals that Jesus came to preach the gospel to the poor and bind up the brokenhearted, indicating its intended audience is the humble.
This principle of targeting the humble reflects a foundational aspect of sovereign grace theology, acknowledging that only those who are aware of their spiritual poverty can truly appreciate the richness of Christ's atonement. The essence of the gospel is that it offers hope to the utterly destitute, and we see this beautifully illustrated throughout the New Testament as Christ interacts with sinners, tax collectors, and the marginalized, affirming their need for redemption.
Luke 5:31-32, Isaiah 61:1
Why is it important to discern who to share the gospel with?
Discerning the audience for the gospel helps prevent casting pearls before swine, ensuring the message is received by those who genuinely need it.
This practice aligns with the model of Jesus, who sought out the broken and humble. As elaborated in Proverbs 9:7-9, wisdom calls for discernment in instruction. It is a wasted effort to impose truth upon those unwilling to receive it, which could, in turn, lead to hostility against the messenger. Thus, prioritizing our outreach to the meek and those aware of their need for grace not only honors the gospel's worth but also fulfills Jesus' mission to bring hope to the lost.
Matthew 7:6, Proverbs 9:7-9
"𝙂𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙮 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙜𝙨, 𝙣𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪". - 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙬 𝟳:𝟲
A brother asks: "How do you obey this command of Christ? How do you know who the dogs and swine are? Does this mean that you should not proclaim the gospel to everyone?"
I believe this prohibition of Matthew 7:6 corresponds to the injunction of of Proverbs 9:7-9 "He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."
The very nature of "that which is holy" (the Gospel of the promise) strongly suggests that it not for everyone, head for head, but for the sheep of Christ only.
Objectively, of course, it is to be audibly proclaimed, declared and published to all and everyone, to whomever the LORD sends His heralds, publically, within the physical hearing of all and sundry.
However, the precious promise of the Gospel ("that which is holy" - the "pearl of great price") is NOT to be "offered" or given to everybody, especially to the "dogs" and "swine", i.e. to those who manifest themselves as the self-righteous reprobate, to those who mock and despise the Gospel for sinners.
We are not to say to the prideful, self-conceited spiritually "rich" folks - "Come unto Jesus and He shall give thee rest", for that would be both deceitful (for there is no rest for the self-righteous, wicked reprobate) AND it might actually infuriate them against us, for to suggest that a spiritually "whole" person should go to the Physician is to assume their being "sick", i.e. having a serious sin problem, and in need of a "Physician" (Christ) something which they vehemently deny...
Hence, the command to not give that which is holy to the dogs (IMO) has to do with the way we are to proclaim the gospel: on the one hand, we proclaim it to "all and sundry", but on the other, we are to "preach it TO the poor" and to them only.
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings *unto* the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;" (Isa.61:1)
"Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and *the poor have the gospel preached TO them*". (Mt.11:4,5)
"And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance". (Lk.5:31,32)
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