Chapter 45 –
Casting Pearls
“Do
not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or
they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.” Matthew (7:6)
Of all the verses in the Sermon on the Mount
we’ve covered in the last 45 weeks, this one is so far toe most difficult to
examen. Is Jesus calling people dogs and pigs here? What pearls are we talking
about here?
As
Christians, our “pearl” would be the Gospel – the Good News of Jesus Christ
that we are called to share to all people. Perhaps Jesus is asking us to be
cautious about who is at the receiving end of our message? Seems
counterintuitive, though, to the fact the Jesus has told us the Good News is universal
and for all people.
Dallas Willard talks about forcing our religion on to others, or considering our “pearls” being “offered with a certain superiority of bearing that keeps us from paying attention to those we are trying to help.” (p. 288) Now this seems more Jesus-like. Jesus never asks us to consider ourselves superior to anyone. He only asks that we share in our love. And while the metaphor seems a little odd, the second half warns us that if we try to act superior to others, we will be trampled upon and left behind.
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