Keeping Pearls in Check

Scripture: Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces. Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:5-7

Observation: As Jesus continues the sermon on the mount, he completes the section where he addresses judgment, telling everyone to address their own sin (take the log from their own eye) before correcting others. He then instructs them to keep asking for wisdom, insight, gifts, and daily needs from God. But in between is a transition verse - verse 6 - that talks about giving what is holy to dogs or pearls to swine ... he says not to do that, as they will both trample those valuable things and then turn on you and kill you.

This has often been interpreted as a lesson not to preach heavenly wisdom to non believers, for they won't believe you and will mock you. However, that doesn't make sense in any context. In the context of the teaching, that would be out of place from any topic being discussed. In the context of Jesus, he actively told his disciples to preach to non believers.  So what if verse 6 were ... literal.

In warning about hypocrisy - and not judging others while you have sin - Jesus is basically saying 'don't be high and mighty about your piousness'. Throwing what is holy - golden ceremonial items - to the dogs ... or likewise valuable pearls into a pigs trough ... would be height of arrogance. And since they are not food, the animals would ignore them and attack you seeking their food. Therefore, this verse isn't about refusing to provide good and wise council to non-believers, it is about believers not being so arrogant that we flaunt our wisdom and goodness to others.

Application: Proof texting of the Bible is so dangerous. Any verse taken out of context can be used in a variety of ways, and will sometimes those ways are good (for encouragement, as an example), they can also be bad. In this case, I have ONLY ever heard this verse taught as a lesson to withhold teaching from non-believers. However, it is really a lesson to temper your own arrogance with regards to how your do interact with non-believers.

In other words ... Jesus instructions are to me, not to others. He didn't say "be careful what others may do,", he said "be care careful what YOU do, Trever."

In this case, I am to keep my arrogance in check when dealing with others. I am to remove the log in my eye before helping them remove their speck, but also I am to provide them with what they need (metaphorically, food ... practically, kindness) not what they don't (pearls ... or moral lectures).

Prayer: Lord, may I be your servant this week. I will have opportunities to interact with many people. May I do so in a manner in which others perceive you, receive kindness, and perhaps seek understanding. Amen.