Who are The Dogs and The Swine?

Q: What does the Bible say about dogs and swine in Matthew 7:6?

In Matthew 7:6, Jesus instructs us not to give what is holy to dogs or cast our pearls before swine, indicating the need for discernment in sharing the gospel. In Matthew 7:6, Jesus states, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine." This teaching emphasizes discernment when sharing the gospel with those who may not value or understand its significance. The 'dogs' represent those who are unclean and reject the truth, while the 'swine' symbolize those who are unfit for the sacred and disregard the preciousness of the gospel. It calls believers to recognize when it is appropriate to refrain from sharing the gospel with individuals whose hearts are hardened and unresponsive.

Q: How do we know that the doctrine of discerning who to preach the gospel to is true?

The truth of discerning who to share the gospel with is rooted in scriptures such as 2 Peter 2:22 and Matthew 7:6, affirming the need for wisdom. The doctrine of discerning who to preach the gospel to is supported by scriptural teachings. In 2 Peter 2:22, the apostle Peter uses the metaphor of a dog returning to its vomit to describe individuals who, after having knowledge of the truth, turn away and return to their sinful ways. Additionally, in Matthew 7:6, Jesus explicitly cautions believers against giving what is holy to dogs or casting pearls before swine, implying a necessity for judgment and discretion. This understanding asserts that not everyone is receptive to the gospel, and wisdom is required to recognize those who might trample it underfoot.

Q: Why is it important for Christians to discern when to share the gospel?

It is crucial for Christians to discern when to share the gospel to avoid wasting the precious message on those who are unresponsive or hostile. Discerning when to share the gospel is significant for Christians because it reflects the stewardship of the holy message. The gospel is a sacred trust, not to be cast before those who may trample upon its value, as highlighted in Matthew 7:6. Sharing the gospel indiscriminately can lead to mockery or disdain for the truths of Scripture. By exercising discernment, believers can ensure that they present the gospel in a manner that respects its holiness, protecting its message from being devalued and enabling them to share it with those who are receptive and hungry for the truth. This perspective encourages us to recognize the importance of spiritual readiness in our evangelism efforts.

Wouldn't you like for someone to come up to you and say, what manner of man is this? You'd love to give the answer, wouldn't you? I loved that reading where the Lord told the man who had been possessed, go home and tell your friends and family the great things God has done for thee. And he went home and told them the great things Jesus had done. Every believer knows this, Jesus is God. I love saying that. Jesus Christ is God.

Well, we want to congratulate Matthew and Rebecca Murray on their first child. Born Sunday morning, Amelia Mae Murray. That's a cool name. And it's Matt and Andrea's fifth grandchild and gonna have the sixth one before long. So we rejoice with you. Who are the dogs and the swine?

Now the Lord had just said, Before this verse, if you turn back to Matthew 7, we considered this last week, judge not that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged. And with what measure you meet, it should be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the moat? the splinter that's in thy brother's eye, but considerest not that a beam, a plank, a two-by-four is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye, and behold, a plank is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, Then shalt thou seek clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye, and immediately were given a judgment to make.

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs. Now you're judging somebody to be a dog when you do that. Neither shall you cast your pearls before swine. You're judging someone to be a swine. Who are the dogs? Who are the swine? Now, on the surface, this seems kind of harsh, doesn't it? Give not that which is holy to the dogs. Cast not your pearls before swine. I can't tell you how often I felt like a dog, and I have felt like a swine, The dog Peter spoke of returning to its own vomit, perhaps committing some familiar sin and feeling like I have eaten up the vomit like the dog did and thrown myself in the pig pen once again. So when I think of a dog and a swine, I'm sure not absent from that thought.

So what does the Lord mean? He's telling us to make a judgment when he says, give not that which is holy to the dogs and cast not your pearls before swine. What does the Lord mean? This command is to make a judgment concerning not giving that which is holy to dogs, and not casting out your pearls before swine, being silent, not bringing the gospel to them. Now, there's some judgments. You know, the Lord said, judge not, but there's some judgments that must be made in the context in Matthew chapter seven, verse 13.

He says, enter ye in at the straight gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction. And many there be which go in thereof, because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leads to life. And few there be that find it. Am I to say the Lord's being too narrow? Am I to make a judgment with regard to what he says concerning the broad way and the narrow way. Well, that's making a judgment. Should we be doing that? We shouldn't judge other people's ways.

Look what he says in verse 15. Beware false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they're ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. We're to make a judgment with regard to a false prophet. Am I hearing the truth? Am I hearing the true gospel? And I'm called upon to beware of false prophets. Those are judgments.

Judging who's a dog that I'm not to give the holy things of the gospel to, that's a judgment I'm making concerning that person. And what about this swine that I'm to discern that they're swine and not give them the pearls of the gospel? Now, what I'd like to do first is to consider that which is holy and the pearls. This message is meaningless if I don't have some understanding of that which is holy and that which is a pearl or pearls, that which is precious, that which is holy.

Now, the word means Other. Not a part of this created universe. Separate. Not of this world. And I think one of the most amazing scriptures, and I wish I could get a hold of it, I can't, I believe it. The Lord said with regarding His people, they are not of this world. even as I am not of this world." Now you think about that. You chew on that. Talking about His people. They're not of this world in the same manner that I'm not of this world.

You know, the Lord is not part of this creation, is He? He's the Creator, but He's not part of this created universe. He's separate. He is the Creator. His origin is, He doesn't have an origin. He never had a beginning. He's eternal God. Think of how He's not of this world. That mystifies me. I don't even know what to say about it. He's not of this world. They are not of this world, His people, even as I am not of this world.

Sacred, that which belongs to God. God is holy, he's utterly pure. We have the holy scriptures. Aren't you thankful for that? We have a book inspired by God that tells us who God is and how God saves sinners by his grace through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's without error. Aren't you thankful for the scriptures? I love calling them the holy scriptures. They're the eternal word of God. We read in Psalm 138 too, thou has magnified thy Word above all thy name. Well, we bow to what God's Word says. This is His Word. We have the Holy Spirit of God.

God's people are called saints, holy ones. That's how God views you if you're one of His children, a holy one. We are called with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. We were chosen to be holy before time began, according as He has chosen us in Him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy. called holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling. The gospel is the holy gospel.

Now the Lord says, give not that which is holy to the dogs. Do you remember when Paul warned us about dogs in Philippians chapter three, verse three, when he said, or verse one, where he said, beware of dogs? He was talking about preachers. He was talking about false prophets. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. A play on words was circumcision. They were telling you you need to be circumcised to be saved. He said they're the mutilators. The same dogs God called in Isaiah chapter 56 regarding the false watchman, they're greedy dogs. They're dumb dogs. Give not that which is holy to the dogs. And cast not your pearls before swine. Pearls are that which is precious. The pearl. of great price.

The Lord Jesus Christ, I love that scripture in 1 Peter 2, verse 7, to you which believe. This is true of everybody that believes. To you which believe, He is precious. He's precious in His person. He's precious in His work. He is everything in my salvation, everything God requires of me, He looks to Christ to, that's precious to me. We read of the precious blood of Christ. How precious is His blood to God? How precious is His blood to me. That's how my sins are put away. That's how I can stand before God without guilt, holy, unblameable, and unreprovable in His sight, the precious blood of Christ.

We read of precious promises. Oh, the promises of the gospel. By grace are you saved. Is that precious to you, that salvation is all of grace? You are complete. In Him, there's a promise, you lack nothing. You're perfect in Christ Jesus. Oh, the precious promises of God. We even read of like precious faith. What a precious thing faith is. You know if you believe, He gave it to you. You know, it's not something that came from you. It came from Him. By grace, you save through faith, and that not of yourselves. It's the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.

And how precious it is to be enabled to believe Christ, to believe that He is God, to believe that He is all in salvation. The preciousness of the gospel of Christ, who is the friend of sinners. How precious the character of God is. How precious His attributes are. Isn't it precious to you that He's absolutely sovereign and in control of everything? Well, I wouldn't want to go out the door if I didn't believe that. He's in absolute control of everybody and everything. That's precious. How precious is His justice? My dear friends, if you're a believer, the very justice of God demands your salvation. You see, Christ made the way to be just to justify the ungodly.

How precious is his independence. He has no needs. He doesn't need for you to do something before he can do something for you. He's utterly independent. Oh, how precious is his immutability. I am the Lord, I change not. Therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed.

How precious is His way of salvation. Predestination is precious. Whom He foreknew, then He also did predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son. That's my predestinated end, to be just like Christ, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. How precious is election.

Well, if you're one of the elect, it's precious. You rejoice in the fact that He chose you without reference to your work, simply because He would, to the praise of the glory of His grace. How precious is justification, how Jesus Christ made the way for God to be just and make you absolutely just in His sight, where you stand before a holy God without sin. Perfect, having kept God's law, nothing to feel guilty about.

How precious is that? How precious is redemption, Him putting away your sins? How precious is regeneration, where He gave you a new heart, a heart that sees His beauty, a heart that trusts His Son, a heart that repents before Him? How precious is His Spirit Who gave you this new heart? How precious it is for Him to preserve you and to keep you by His grace, to keep you from falling. How precious will glory be when you're spending eternity beholding His face, perfectly conformed to His image. That which is precious. That which is holy. Pearls.

Now, who are these dogs and swine that we're called upon to be silent to? Don't bring the gospel to them. Who are these people? Ecclesiastes chapter three, verse seven says, there's a time to keep silence when we should not speak. Yes, we're called upon to preach the gospel to every creature. Don't ever forget that. That's our purpose here right now, to preach the gospel to every creature. That's 100% of all of humanity.

We're to be fishers of men. Oh, don't you want to be a fisher of men? The Lord said, follow me, and I'll make you fishers of men. We want to see many people brought to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. We want to preach the gospel to everybody.

But there's a time not to speak. when he speaks of these dogs and these swine. Now, I know that we think of cute little dogs, and they are, but that's not the way the Bible presents a dog. I remember when Hazel was told by Elisha of the crimes he would commit. You can read about this in 2nd Kings. He said, you're gonna take your sword and rip out women with child. And his answer was, am I a dog that I should do such a thing? Do you really think that I'm even capable of doing something like that?

Well, the fact of the matter is we all are. Take away the restraints, take them away. There's nothing anybody in here would not do apart from the grace of God. But a dog was an unclean animal. according to the Old Testament law. And to call a man a dog or a swine would mean they were vicious and of vile disposition.

Now, let me give you something I'm very thankful for. I'm thankful we don't have to figure out who they are. Are you a dog? Are you a swine? I'm not called upon to figure out on my own who a dog and a pig is, because the Bible tells us exactly who they are. Let me look at the other passage of Scripture in the New Testament where they're mentioned together. The dog and the swine.

Would you turn with me to 2 Peter chapter two? Verse 22. But it's happened unto them according to the true proverb. This is from Proverbs, I think it's 26. But it's happened to them, 2 Peter 2, chapter two, verse 22, but it's happened to them, according to the true proverb, the dog is turned to his own vomit again. And the pig that was washed, got her all cleaned up, she went back to her wallowing in the mire. Now what is Peter talking about? in the context of calling these people, and he names them both, dogs and pigs. What is he talking about?

Look up in verse 20. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Now you would talk to these people one time, and they believed in the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. They would tell you, he's my only hope. They had the knowledge of the gospel. They didn't believe a false gospel. They had the knowledge of the gospel. For if, after they've escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, They are again entangled therein and overcome.

The latter end is worse with them than the beginning. Now, they become entangled. What did Paul say with regard to the law? Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage. They've heard the gospel, and for some reason, they leave the gospel and go back to works. After hearing the gospel, they go back to the works of the law.

Perhaps because of the gospel, it cost them something. It cost them family, it cost them friends, it cost them the well-thoughts of other people. And they thought, I didn't sign up for this. It was better for me before this. And what do they do? Verse 21, it was better for them not to have known the way of righteousness. Now there it is. They knew the way of righteousness. They knew Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. They knew this.

Yet they turned away from it, just like a dog back to his vomit. Now that's the nature of a dog. a dog will return to its own vomit. These people, while they had some kind of knowledge, they never had a new heart. They were never created in Christ Jesus. They were never born again. And they're simply going back to their old ways, like a dog returns to his vomit.

If you wash up a pig, that pig will return to her wallowing in the mire. That's their nature. Pretty, clean, beautiful pig, maybe ribbons in it. What's it gonna do? It's gonna go back to the pig pen and get it filled with mud and filth and dirt. It's a pig! That is its nature. Now, question.

Is that talking about returning to old sins? familiar sins. As God is my witness, and I say that very carefully, I would never sin again. I hate my sin. But if this is talking about people returning to old sins, how have you done there? Do you not have secret sins that you still commit that nobody knows about but God?

Be honest. If this means, if you return to old sins, you're like the dog, I don't want to return to old sins. Don't anybody misunderstand me. But what I'm saying is this, if that's what it means nobody in here saved and nobody outside of here saved either, This is not talking about going back to the vomit of your sins and the filth of your sins.

It's talking about leaving the gospel. Knowing the way of righteousness and turning from that holy commandment. I believe this refers to the unpardonable sin. After you have heard the gospel and known the gospel and turned from the gospel, the Lord says, don't preach to them anymore. If they've turned from the gospel, don't cast your pearls before swine.

Peter says, here's what this is all about. This true proverb, the dog returning to its vomit and the pig that was washed to its wallowing in the wire. Now look what he says in verse 22. But it's happened to him according to the true proverb, the dog has turned to his own vomit again, and the pig that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Now, remember what the Lord said in Matthew chapter seven, verse six, let's read it again. 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, and attack you. Now, they trample them under their feet. There's one other time when that word is used in the New Testament, and it's used with Reference to the same thing, the unpardonable sin. Turn with me to Hebrews chapter 10. Verse 29.

Of how much sore punishment suppose ye Shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted, hath regarded the blood of the covenant, the blood of the New Testament, the blood of the covenant of grace, wherewith he was sanctified, set apart for this purpose, to count that blood an unholy thing? that word unholy is common.

That's what the word means. We usually think of something sinful, well it is sinful, but the word here is the word usually translated common. That which is general to all as opposed to that which is peculiar to the few. The precious blood of Christ is now common. It's Not necessarily saving. You'll go back to that. That person's gone back to that. Now let's look at this in the context. Verse 25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is.

Now, this is not talking about missing church every now and then. I would wanna be at church to hear the gospel anytime I can. But this is not talking about missing church services. This is talking about no longer identifying with the assembly where the gospel is preached. No longer identifying with the saving message of the gospel. That's what's going on.

That's what he's talking about when he says, don't forsake the assembling of yourself together. Tell you what, I want to be identified with his gospel, don't you? With his people, with his church. Birds of a feather flock together, and they do. They do. I want to be identified with God's people, those who love his gospel, those whom he has saved.

And I don't want to forsake the assembling of myself where the gospel of his grace is preached. And that's where he's beginning. not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching, for if we sin willfully, after that we've received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. I remember when I was a young man, I can remember the first time I read that.

It scared me to death. If we sin willfully, when have I not sinned willfully? I mean, it's not like I could say it was a mistake. I didn't mean to do it. No. Anytime you sin, anytime I sin, the will is involved. You can't say, oh, the devil made me do it. No, he didn't. You did what you wanted to do.

So what's this mean if we sin willfully? Because I, just like I said, I lost sleep over thinking I've sinned willfully, sinned away my hope of salvation and all that kind of stuff when I was a young man, it scared me to death. But notice what it says. If we sin willfully, after that, we have received the knowledge of the truth.

What he's talking about is receiving the knowledge of the truth and willfully going away from it. And this is what he's speaking of. You hear the truth. You even profess to believe the truth. And willful sinning is willfully going away from it. Now, everybody that does that's gonna have a just reason to do it in their own mind. They can always justify themselves. But this is what he's warning about.

If we sin willfully, this is not talking about sinning with your will. This is talking about willingly removing yourself from the gospel. If we sin willfully after that we receive the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. You've left the only hope you have. They're hidden. You leave the gospel, there isn't any other way for your sins to be dealt with. They're still there.

Verse 27, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy. Under two or three witnesses of how much sore punishment, suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under the foot the Son of God, just like those pigs trample the pearls. He's trodden underfoot, the Son of God. That's what happens when someone leaves the gospel. They've trodden underfoot, the Son of God, and they've counted the blood of the covenant, where at one time, that was their only hope, wherewith he was sanctified, a common thing, and have done despite unto the Spirit of grace.

For we know him that saith vengeance belongeth unto me. I will recompense, saith the Lord, and again the Lord shall judge his. Now, I want to close this by going to a passage in John chapter 6. Would you turn with me there? Now, this is the famous sermon at Capernaum.

These people he had fed, 5,000, not counting women and children. He created food. He brought matter into existence, which had not been in the universe before, proving He's very God of very God. And they wanted to make Him king. And He left them. No man's going to make Him king. You see, He's not elected into office. He's king because He's king. He's king of kings and Lord of lords. And He left them and went over the sea to the other side of the lake and they followed Him.

And that's when He gave them that great sermon at Capernaum. I love, it would do well, it would be good for us to read it in John chapter six, beginning in verse 26 on down through the end of the chapter. But at the end of this message, verse 59, these things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Now this is a reference to this entire message that he preached. Many therefore of his disciples, these people claimed to be his disciples. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard You can see this is in italics, but it's talking about this entire message.

When they had heard, said, this is a hard saying, a harsh saying, it's disagreeable to humanity, who can be expected to believe this? Who can be expected to listen to such teaching? They had a negative reaction to this sermon. Verse 61, when Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, doth this offend you? What I preached, are you offended by this? What, and if you shall see the Son of Man ascend up where he was before, you're offended now, you'll really be offended then. when you see me in my glory as the excellent glory, you'll really be offended then.

Verse 63, it is the spirit that quickeneth. The flesh profits nothing in salvation, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak unto you that you're offended by, they are spirit and they are life. Now that sermon on Capernaum, let me give this summary of it, its spirit and its life. But, verse 64, there are some of you that believe not, for Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, who should betray him.

And he said, therefore said I unto you that no man can come to me, except it were given unto him of my father." Now, do you hear what he's saying? You can't come unless my father gives you the grace to come. That's all he says. Verse 66, from that time, many of his disciples went back. and walked no more with him. Now, what I notice about this, maybe more than anything else, he just watched them leave. He didn't say anything to them. He didn't say, well, let me rephrase this. Maybe you didn't understand. They understood. And this crowd, this vast crowd leaves, and he does not say a word.

And this is what it is to not cast your pearls before swine and not give that which is holy to the dogs. They heard the gospel. They did not believe the gospel. They at one time claimed to be his disciple. They left. As he watches them leave, he does not say a word. Verse 67, then said Jesus unto the 12. Evidently, they were the only ones left. This huge crowd, perhaps 20,000 people, they all leave. And all that's left are the 12.

And what does the Lord say to them? Will you also go away? Will you also go away? You see, the Lord's not gonna have any unwilling disciples. There's the door. You can follow them if that's what you want. Will you also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? It's not like we have an option.

It's not like there's some other place we could go. Thou hast the words of eternal life. These sayings, they found to be harsh sayings, we find to be words unto eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. There's no place else for us to go. We believe, we're sure about this. We're sure about who you are. The Christ, the son of the living God. And Jesus answered them, have not I chosen you 12? You know the reason you believe? Because I chose you. He's letting them know, this is no congratulations to you. The reason you believe is because I chose you. And one of you is a devil.

He spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he that should betray him, being one of the 12. He's letting them know Jesus was not chosen to salvation. Now, he doesn't mention his name, but he says, that one who leaves me and betrays me, he's not chosen to salvation. He might've been chosen to be a temporary disciple, but he's not chosen to be an apostle. But the point is, Lord, to whom shall we go? people leave the gospel, I got nowhere else to go. It's not like I have a choice. It's not like I'm looking at two paths and trying to make up my mind which one I'm gonna take.

Thou has the words of eternal life, and we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Let's pray. Lord, we ask in Christ's name that we might discern that which is holy, that which is precious. We ask that you would make your gospel indeed precious to us. Lord, we pray that we might be among those holy brethren for takers of the heavenly calling. And Lord, we ask for wisdom. We would not use a verse of scripture like this to try to attack people, deliver us from that, but give us the wisdom by your spirit and discernment to give not that which is holy to the dogs, neither to cast our pearls before the swine. Bless this message for Christ's sake. In his name we pray, amen.

Who are The Dogs and The Swine?

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about dogs and swine in Matthew 7:6?

How do we know that the doctrine of discerning who to preach the gospel to is true?

Why is it important for Christians to discern when to share the gospel?

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Who are The Dogs and The Swine?

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about dogs and swine in Matthew 7:6?

How do we know that the doctrine of discerning who to preach the gospel to is true?

Why is it important for Christians to discern when to share the gospel?

Sermon Transcript

About Todd Nibert

Comments

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