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“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.
If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”
— Matthew 7:6
Let us look at what the Word of God says.
These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are not a suggestion. They are a command. In the midst of one of the most tender and well-known sections of Scripture—“Judge not,” “Ask and it will be given to you,” “Do to others what you would have them do to you”—Jesus introduces a severe and sobering instruction: Guard what is sacred. Do not give what is holy to dogs. Do not cast your pearls before swine.
The associated lyric echoes and expands this truth with other Scriptures:
> “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
> for he will despise the good sense of your words.” (Proverbs 23:9)
> “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
> but only in expressing his opinion.” (Proverbs 18:2)
We are confronted here with a biblical principle many Christians neglect: God holds us responsible not only for what we share, but also for to whom we share it. There is such a thing as spiritual waste. There is such a thing as misusing holy things.
This teaching is not about elitism. It is about stewardship. God entrusts us with holy things—His Word, His presence, His insights, His works of grace in our lives—and He commands us: Guard what is holy and precious—share wisely with those who will value it.
Matthew 7:6 appears in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). Jesus is speaking primarily to His disciples, with crowds listening in. He is not addressing unbelievers at this point, but those who have chosen to follow Him. The Sermon on the Mount presents the lifestyle of the Kingdom. It is the constitution of the Kingdom of God.
Just prior to this verse (Matthew 7:1–5), Jesus deals with judgment and hypocrisy:
> “Do not judge, or you too will be judged…
> You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye,
> and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
We must notice the sequence. Jesus does not say, “Never help your brother.” He says, “First be cleansed yourself, then you can see clearly to help.” So He warns against careless, hypocritical judgment, but He does not abolish discernment. In fact, the very next verse—our text—requires strong discernment: identifying “dogs,” “swine,” “pearls,” and “what is holy.”
In other words:
Further in Matthew 7, Jesus warns of:
All of this is about distinguishing genuine from false, holy from profane. Matthew 7:6 fits perfectly: not everyone is a suitable recipient of holy things.
The Proverbs referenced in the lyrics reinforce this same theme:
> “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
> for he will despise the good sense of your words.” (Proverbs 23:9)
> “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
> but only in expressing his opinion.” (Proverbs 18:2)
In both cases, the issue is response. The fool is not merely ignorant; he is resistant, self-willed, and contemptuous of wisdom. This is the kind of person Jesus is warning us about in Matthew 7:6.
In Jesus’ day, “dogs” were not pets in the modern sense; they were often wild, unclean scavengers (see Philippians 3:2; Revelation 22:15). “Swine” (pigs) were ceremonially unclean animals for Jews. Both represented those who are hostile, impure, and unreceptive to holy things—not merely struggling sinners, but those who despise what is holy.
So the context is clear: Jesus expects His disciples to exercise spiritual discrimination in how they handle the sacred.
### a) “What is holy” – τὸ ἅγιον (to hagion)
The Greek word here is ἅγιος (hagios), usually translated “holy,” “saint,” or “sanctified.” The particular form τὸ ἅγιον (to hagion) means “that which is holy,” “the holy thing.”
Hagios essentially means:
In the Old Testament (Hebrew: qōdesh), holy things were not to be treated as ordinary. The holy offerings, the holy incense, the holy anointing oil—any misuse was a serious offense.
By using “what is holy,” Jesus places certain things in the category of God’s exclusive property:
These are not casual items for public experimentation. They are holy. To mishandle them is to offend the God to whom they belong.
### b) “Pearls” – μαργαρίτας (margaritas)
The Greek word here is μαργαρίτης (margaritēs), “pearl.” In Scripture, pearls represent something of extreme value and beauty obtained at great cost.
Jesus uses this image again:
> “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
> who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
> — Matthew 13:45–46
Pearls here are precious spiritual realities:
When you share these things, you are not tossing stones; you are extending costly treasure. Jesus warns that there are people who will not only fail to value these pearls, but will trample them, and then turn against you.
The link with Proverbs is clear:
> “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
> for he will despise the good sense of your words.” (Proverbs 23:9)
The Hebrew word for “fool” is often כְּסִיל (kesil). It does not mean a person with low intelligence. It means:
When you put this together:
Then the command becomes sharply defined:
> Do not expose what belongs to God, and what cost you dearly,
> to those who have determined to despise and trample it.
This is not lack of love; it is obedience to Jesus and respect for what God calls holy.
Let us look at the themes of the lyrics and unpack them theologically.
### 1) “Do not give dogs what is sacred…do not throw your pearls to pigs.”
This is the central line from Matthew 7:6. We should notice two pairs:
Dogs: those who are hostile, profane, contemptuous of what is God’s.
Swine: those who have no capacity or desire to recognize value in holy things.
“What is holy” may include:
Pearls may include:
Jesus is teaching a principle of spiritual boundaries. The Kingdom of God does not function on human sentimentality. It functions on the basis of divine order. God does not throw His treasures indiscriminately; He reveals them to the humble, the poor in spirit, the pure in heart.
> “He gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
> “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven,
> but to them it has not been given.” (Matthew 13:11)
If God Himself does not reveal His secrets to everyone, why do we feel obligated to share everything with everyone?
### 2) “If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”
There are consequences when we disregard this command.
Two actions:
1. They trample the pearls.
The precious thing is despised, mocked, treated as worthless. This is not merely ignorance. It is contempt.
2. They turn and tear you to pieces.
The hostility that was aimed at the holy thing is redirected at you. The one who bears the pearl becomes the target.
This is seen repeatedly in Scripture:
> “Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.”
Paul did not continue casting pearls where they were being trampled.
> “Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
> and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
> Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
> reprove a wise man, and he will love you.”
When you offer wisdom to a scoffer, you do not merely waste wisdom; you attract hostility.
This is not only psychological; it is spiritual warfare. Demonic forces delight in profaning holy things and in attacking those who carry them. When you cast pearls before swine, you may be opening a door for spiritual backlash. Jesus’ warning is protective.
### 3) “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.”
Here the Spirit of God defines a certain type of person: a fool in the biblical sense.
The fool:
Now notice the instruction:
“Do not speak in the hearing of a fool.” That is a command.
There are seasons and situations where silence is obedience. To persist in speaking wisdom where wisdom is despised is not spiritual heroism. It is spiritual foolishness. You are stepping outside the boundaries that God Himself has set.
### 4) “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”
This is one of the clearest marks of a fool: he is uninterested in understanding. He only wants to speak, to express, to assert.
We see this every day:
Such a person is not in a state to receive pearls. To give him pearls is to despise the pearls.
Now notice the spiritual dynamic:
When you engage at length with such a person, you are drawn into his world—a world of empty opinions, contention, and strife. This drains your spiritual vitality, clouds your discernment, and often stirs up anger and offense. You have moved from ministry to strife, from witness to argument.
Paul warns Timothy:
> “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.”
> — 2 Timothy 2:23
This is the same principle. There are battles God has not called you to fight, conversations He has not called you to have.
### 5) “Guard what is holy and precious—share wisely with those who will value it.”
This line summarizes the divine mandate.
We are to:
This is exactly how Jesus operated.
> “But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people.” (John 2:24)
> “Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Then He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father...that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.” (Luke 10:20–21)
God hides some things from the proud and reveals them to the humble. Therefore, to share wisely, you must discern humility and hunger.
When you do, the holy things are multiplied, not trampled. Pearls are received with tears, not with mockery.
How do we apply this teaching in daily life? Let us look at several clear steps.
### 1) First, we must recognize and honor what is holy.
Many believers have never truly distinguished between what is common and what is holy in their lives.
What is holy in your life?
You must treat these things differently from casual opinions or stories.
Action:
### 2) Second, we must cultivate spiritual discernment about people.
This is not carnal judgment. This is spiritual discernment. You do not pronounce eternal verdicts on people, but you discern their present posture:
You can know a tree by its fruit (Matthew 7:16). You can know a hearer by his response to truth.
Action:
### 3) Third, we must stop engaging in futile, destructive conversations.
Some believers are perpetually exhausted because they invest themselves in arguments God never appointed.
Scripture is clear:
“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies.” (2 Timothy 2:23)
“Do not speak in the hearing of a fool.” (Proverbs 23:9)
Action:
### 4) Fourth, we must choose guarded openness: share deeply, but selectively.
Guarding the sacred does not mean becoming closed, secretive, or isolated. Jesus shared deeply—with the right people.
Similarly, the Holy Spirit will lead you to:
Action:
### Proclamation
Say this out loud, by faith:
“I affirm that the Word of God is holy.
What God has done in my life is holy.
The revelations, corrections, and promises He has given me are holy.
In obedience to Jesus’ words, I refuse to give what is holy to dogs
or to cast my pearls before swine.
I will not enter into foolish controversies
or speak in the hearing of a fool who despises wisdom.
By the Holy Spirit, I receive discernment
to know when to speak and when to be silent,
to whom to share deeply and with whom to speak simply.
I choose to guard what is sacred,
to honor what God calls holy,
and to be a faithful steward of the treasures He has entrusted to me.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of my wisdom,
and I will use that wisdom to protect His holy things.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
### Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the Holy One of God. You have entrusted to us the holy things of Your Kingdom—Your Word, Your Spirit, Your mysteries, and Your dealings in our lives. Forgive us where we have treated holy things as common, where we have cast pearls before those who trampled them, and where we have exposed Your treasures to mockery and contempt.
Today we ask You for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You. Teach us to discern the people and the situations into which You are truly sending us. Deliver us from the fear of man that leads us to speak when You are not speaking, or to stay silent when You are speaking.
Set a guard over our mouths. Let our words be guided by the Holy Spirit. Show us who are the humble, the hungry, the teachable, with whom we may share the deep things of God. And help us to accept that there are those who, in their present state, must not receive pearls.
We entrust the fools and scoffers into Your hands. You are the Judge of all the earth. We will obey You by guarding what is holy. Sanctify us afresh. Make us faithful stewards of all You have entrusted to us. We ask this in Your mighty name, Lord Jesus. Amen.
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