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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. In the Sermon on the Mount, immediately after speaking about judging rightly and removing the log from our own eye, Jesus gives this very strong, almost shocking command. He speaks of what is *sacred*, of *pearls*, of *dogs* and *pigs*. And He warns of trampling, and of being torn to pieces.
The lyrics you’ve provided stay very close to Scripture, and then weave in two other biblical statements:
> “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
The central theme is clear: God calls His people to guard what is holy and precious. That includes the gospel, spiritual revelation, prophetic insight, and even our own hearts. We are not to be careless stewards of divine treasure.
This is not a call to elitism or pride. It is a call to *discernment*. Many believers today know that God is love, but far fewer understand that His love is also *wise*. God does not pour out holy things indiscriminately. Neither should we.
### Setting in Matthew
Matthew 7:6 occurs in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). Jesus is speaking primarily to His disciples, with surrounding crowds listening. He is forming a new community—the community of the kingdom of heaven—with a radically different standard from the world.
Just before verse 6, He warns against hypocritical judgment:
> “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.”
> — Matthew 7:5
So He first forbids self-righteous, blind judgment, but immediately balances it by calling for spiritual discernment. The danger is this: if we only hear verses 1–5 (“do not judge”), we can become undiscerning, naïve, and spiritually exposed. Verse 6 corrects that imbalance.
Jesus is dealing with people who would soon experience fierce opposition—religious leaders who would reject their message, Gentiles who would mock their faith, and even persecution from authorities. He is preparing them not only to proclaim the kingdom, but to *guard* what the Father gives them.
### Old Testament Background
The imagery of “holy” and “unclean animals” comes straight from the Old Testament law. Under the Mosaic covenant:
To give “what is holy” to dogs, or to throw “pearls” to pigs, is to profane what God calls sacred. This is a serious matter in Scripture:
> “You shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy,
> and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.”
> — Leviticus 20:26
Jesus is using Old Testament imagery to say: *Do not mix what is holy with what is persistently hostile or contemptuous of God.*
### Context of Proverbs
The lyrics also echo two proverbs:
> “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 Proverbs, the fool is not someone who lacks intelligence, but someone who *rejects God’s wisdom* and *mocks correction*. He is morally and spiritually resistant.
Thus, Matthew 7:6 and these Proverbs converge: there are people in such a condition of heart that exposing the deepest things of God to them is neither wise nor helpful. It brings no fruit and can provoke hostility.
### “Holy” – Greek: ἅγιος (*hagios*)
“Do not give what is holy to dogs…”
The Greek word is ἅγιον (*hagion*), from *hagios*.
*Hagios* means:
In the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), *hagios* is used for:
When Jesus says “what is holy,” He is not speaking of something merely religious or sentimental. He speaks of that which has been separated unto God. That includes:
The lyrics summarize it as:
> “Guard what is holy and precious—
> share wisely with those who will value it.”
To treat what is *hagios* as cheap or common is an affront to its Giver.
### “Pearls” – Greek: μαργαρίτης (*margaritēs*)
“…do not throw your pearls to pigs.”
The word *margaritēs* refers to a pearl—something:
Jesus uses the same image in Matthew 13:45–46:
> “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,
> who, when he had found one pearl of great price,
> went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
The pearl represents the invaluable worth of the kingdom, of Christ Himself, and of revelatory truth. It is not mass-produced. It is costly, and obtained through process.
When we speak of “pearls” in our spiritual experience, we can include:
Pigs have no capacity to recognize or value pearls. They trample them as if they were stones. So also, those who have hardened their hearts to God will trample spiritual treasure underfoot.
This shapes the lyrics’ line:
> “Guard what is holy and precious—
> share wisely with those who will value it.”
It is not simply about *not sharing*. It is about sharing wisely: with those whose hearts God has prepared, and who will value what He gives.
### “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.”
#### 1. Discernment is Not Unloving
Many believers struggle with this command, because they equate love with indiscriminate openness. But the One who said:
> “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44)
also said:
> “Do not give dogs what is sacred…”
This is not a contradiction. It is the balance of divine love and divine wisdom. We are to:
But we are not to expose what is holy to those who will only mock, despise, and attack.
Jesus Himself practiced this. Before Herod, who treated Him as a curiosity:
> “He questioned Him with many words,
> but He answered him nothing.”
> — Luke 23:9
Even Jesus, who is Truth incarnate, did not always speak. Silence can be an act of wisdom and holiness.
#### 2. Spiritual Hostility is Real
The text warns of two actions:
When holy things are exposed to hardened, mocking hearts, two consequences usually follow:
1. The truth itself is dishonored.
2. The person who shared it is attacked—verbally, emotionally, sometimes physically.
This is not merely human psychology. There is a spiritual reality behind it:
> “The mind set on the flesh is hostile to God.”
> — Romans 8:7
> “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God,
> for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them,
> because they are spiritually discerned.”
> — 1 Corinthians 2:14
To offer the deep things of the Spirit to an unregenerate, defiant mind is to invite mockery and resistance. Jesus said:
> “The world… hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.”
> — John 7:7
If we speak in the same Spirit, we will meet the same hostility. Discernment does not avoid persecution that comes for obedience; it avoids unnecessary exposure that comes from presumption.
### “Do not give what is holy to dogs,
or cast your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them underfoot
and turn and tear you apart.”
This repetition in the lyrics underscores the seriousness. In the Bible, repetition is emphasis. Jesus Himself often repeated key truths. Here the pattern is:
1. Holy vs unclean
2. Pearls vs swine
3. Trampling vs tearing
We could express it this way:
This does not mean we label people permanently as “dogs” or “pigs.” Scripture also says:
> “And such were some of you. But you were washed,
> but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
> and by the Spirit of our God.”
> — 1 Corinthians 6:11
What it does mean is that we recognize spiritual state and spiritual timing. There are moments when God is dealing with a person and they are open. There are also moments when a person is in full resistance. The Holy Spirit knows the difference, and we must depend on Him.
### “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
for he will despise the good sense of your words.”
Here Proverbs makes the same point in different language. The “fool” in Hebrew is כְּסִיל (*kesil*), a person who:
The text says:
There is a time when continued explanation is no longer obedience but waste. Jesus instructed His disciples:
> “And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words,
> when you depart from that house or city,
> shake off the dust from your feet.”
> — Matthew 10:14
That is not cruelty. It is judgment left in God’s hands. Continual reasoning with someone who only mocks truth does not soften their heart; it often hardens it.
### “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.”
The Hebrew word for “opinion” here is literally *“his heart”*—what bubbles up from within him. The fool is characterized by:
When you encounter a person who never listens, never receives correction, only waits for their turn to talk, Scripture gives you a label: “fool.” Your responsibility is to discern; it is not to keep pouring pearls into an open mouth that only wants to argue.
This applies not only to individuals but also to environments:
In such contexts, the deep things of God are usually trampled.
### “Guard what is holy and precious—
share wisely with those who will value it.”
Here the lyrics state the positive principle:
1. Guard what is holy – protect, honor, set boundaries around the sacred.
2. Share wisely – not driven by fear, but by discernment.
3. With those who will value it – people prepared by the Spirit, hungry, humble, receptive.
Scripture supports this pattern:
> “The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him,
> and He will show them His covenant.”
> — Psalm 25:14
> “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands…”
> — 1 Timothy 5:22
> “Commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
> — 2 Timothy 2:2
The kingdom advances most fruitfully when holy things are entrusted to faithful people, not just available people.
### First: Acknowledge the Sacred Trust
We must start by recognizing that God has entrusted us with holy things.
Paul says:
> “We have this treasure in earthen vessels…”
> — 2 Corinthians 4:7
You are an earthen vessel, but what is in you is not common. Begin by confessing: “What God has given me is holy. I am not free to treat it as cheap.”
This will affect:
### Second: Ask the Holy Spirit for Discernment
Discernment is not suspicion. It is seeing as God sees. Hebrews 5:14 speaks of:
> “…those who by reason of use have their senses exercised
> to discern both good and evil.”
Ask the Holy Spirit to train your spiritual senses:
Make this a regular prayer: “Holy Spirit, show me who is ready and what they are ready for.” Jesus said:
> “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”
> — John 16:12
If Jesus adjusted His communication to what people could bear, we must do the same.
### Third: Set Boundaries Around Holy Things
Guarding what is holy requires boundaries.
Some examples:
1. Your personal testimony
2. Prophetic words and spiritual experiences
3. The Lord’s Table and corporate worship
4. Your own heart
You are not obliged to give full access to everyone. Jesus did not. He:
If the Son of God practiced increasing circles of intimacy, we must as well.
### Fourth: Focus on the Hungry and the Faithful
Paul’s instruction to Timothy is a pattern for us:
> “The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses,
> commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
> — 2 Timothy 2:2
Look for two marks:
1. Faithfulness – consistent obedience, seriousness, teachability.
2. Fruitfulness – potential to pass on what they receive.
Invest your deepest spiritual resources where there is:
This applies to:
You do not “hoard” what is holy; you steward it. The best stewardship is to place it in hands that honor God.
### Proclamation
Say this aloud, thoughtfully and with faith:
“I affirm that the things of God are holy.
The gospel entrusted to me is holy.
The name of Jesus on my lips is holy.
The work of the Holy Spirit in my life is holy.
I renounce treating holy things as common.
I refuse to cast pearls before swine or give what is sacred to dogs.
By the wisdom of God, I will not speak in the hearing of fools
who despise understanding and mock the truth.
I receive from the Holy Spirit discernment to guard what is precious,
to share wisely with those who value God’s Word,
and to invest deeply in the faithful and the hungry.
I am a steward, not an owner, of God’s treasures.
I will honor the holy,
walk in wisdom,
and protect the work of God in my life and in others,
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
### Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the Holy One of God.
Thank You for entrusting to me the treasure of Your Word, Your Spirit, and Your dealings in my life.
Forgive me where I have treated holy things as common,
where I have spoken carelessly, or shared pearls with those who only trampled them.
Holy Spirit, I ask You now to train my spiritual senses.
Teach me when to speak and when to keep silent.
Show me whom to trust with deep things, and whom to love from a distance.
Deliver me from the fear of man and from the need to explain myself to those who despise wisdom.
Father, lead me to the hungry, the humble, and the faithful.
Make me a wise steward of Your mysteries.
Guard my heart from unnecessary wounds,
and protect the testimony of Jesus in my life from being profaned.
I choose this day to guard what is holy and precious,
and to share it only as You direct.
I ask this in the name of Jesus,
to the glory of God.
Amen.
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