I wanted to start today with a short recap of last week and what the importance is of Matthew 7:1-5 with this passage that we study today. We learned in 7:1-5 that we are held back from glorifying the Lord when we have a censorious spirit about us. When we critically judge others within our Christian community, we often times become a stumbling block. Not just for them, yet also for ourselves in our growth of growing in grace with the Lord. Being censorious, we are often times hypercritical and overcritical while also being hypocritical.
We learned that in order for us to have obedience to the truths of God in serving Him, we need to seek out that which is in our own natural sinful heart first, then we will be able to help others with crucial, proper and acceptable discernment to help them. We know from Proverbs 27:17 that iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. If we are a stumbling block to ourselves, we will surely be a stumbling block to others. If we are living examples of Christ living in us, then we can help one another through not just our words, but also through our actions show how they too can live Godly lives.
Although last weeks study, 7:1-5 is separate from 7:6, it was a great lead in. It allowed us observe our own vileness of heart, before we can reach out to another. Though these passages are divided into two sections, their context of how others see us, offers wisdom in approaching not just our brethren in the church, yet also those we encounter out in the world.
In 7:1-5 we are cautioned about our censorious spirit, which if you will remember is incorrectly critically judging another. In 7:6 we are working through proper discernment of how we reach out and share Godly wisdom with those within our church as well as those whom we encounter that do not know Him and who are not believers at the time of which we are speaking.
As I prayed about this lesson, studied this lesson, one thing continued to stand out. There are just about enough scripture verses to carry this lesson without a whole lot of unnecessary commentary. Not that some clarifications aren’t needed, it’s just that the Word of God answers the questions that one may stumble upon when reading this passage. It was SO interesting to read all of the commentaries and books only to find that they too were referencing so many of the same verses. So through the leading of the Holy Spirit, I asked some questions and proceeded to look for the answers. Understanding that scripture is not unlike an onion or a pearl, there are layers yet to be revealed, bringing about the most perfect gem, God’s Holy wisdom of living a Holy servants life.
I asked some key questions about the verse and decided to break down the answers using scripture verses. Using commentary when needed to explain. This is how I taught this lesson and I hope it will give you some clarity and that you will be blessed by this lesson.
- What is the historical context for Jesus using dogs and pigs? Hendrickson laid out some of the biblical characteristics of dogs and pigs (and those to whom the lowest of the low in society were compared to) which are worth taking a look at so that we can understand clearly the placement and Jesus’ usage of dogs and pigs in this passage.
For clarification purposes, before we read the verses, it needs to be understood that dogs and swine were not your common house pets. They were considered to be filthy, unclean, and the lowest of the low in the animal world. Dogs, were often times scavengers, roaming the cities. They were violent, savage,fierce, dangerous, half wild animals and were considered to be evil. Jews often times referred to the Gentiles as society dogs. We are to learn from these passages that it is the type of dog we are to be aware of.
So let’s take a look at the verses that help us see what scripture has to say about dogs.
Dogs were threatening:
Psalm 22:16 – For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircle me;
Psalm 22:20 – Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious wife from the power of the dog!
Philippians 3:2 – Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
Dogs howl and snare:
Psalm 59:6 – Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
Dogs are greedy and shameless:
Isaiah 56:11 – The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough.
Dogs are an abomination to the Lord:
Exodus 22:31 – “you shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
Deuteronomy 23:18 – You shall not bring the fee of a prostitute or the wages of a dog into the house of the Lord your God in payment for any vow, for both of these are an abomination to the Lord your God.
More references: 1Kings 22:38
God had a special curse for the wicked, by use of dogs:
Jeremiah 15:3 – I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the Lord: the sword to kill, the dogs to tear, and the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.
1Kings 14:11 – “Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat, for the Lord has spoken it.”
1Kings 16:4 – Anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city, the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the field the birds of the heavens shall eat.
1Kings 21:23 – And of Jezebel the Lord also said, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.’
More references: 1Kings 21:24, Psalm 68:23
One theologian identifies dogs as people living in incurable ungodliness. John Stott when referencing Calvin, said that “the names of dogs and pigs are given to those who, by clear evidences, have manifested a hardened contempt of God, so that their disease appears to be incurable.”
Pigs in scripture were also unclean animals. They too were an abomination to the Lord and were also known as a refuge for demons.
How do we know this to be true? Let’s examine some scripture verses.
Pigs were unclean:
Leviticus 11:7 – And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.
Deuteronomy 14:8 – And the pig, because it parts the hoof but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch.
Pigs, when their flesh was eaten was an abomination:
Isaiah 66:3 – “He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations;
Isaiah 66:17 – “Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the midst, eating pig’s flesh and the abomination and mice, shall come to an end together, declares the Lord.
Pigs were considered to be a refuge for demons:
Mark 5:13 – So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.
More references: Matthew 8:31-32, Luke 8:32-33
So, now at this point, we understand the vileness of the usage of Dogs and Pigs in 7:6. Did Jesus actually call anyone by those names, not necessarily, yet the use of these adjectives describes the unholiness of an unbeliever and that discernment is necessary in order to understand who is to receive and to not receive the gospel truths.
Moving On, let’s look at question 2, the word Pearls and holy.
2. What is the significance of the usage of pearls in this passage? What about the relevance of pearls to that which is “holy”?
Pearls at that time were not like they are today. They were not located a the local dime store, they were not made of plastic, They were genuine and took years to become the precious gems that they were. Pearls were harvested from the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. Their value was greater than that of the average persons wealth. One would have to sell all of their possessions just to own a pearl.
How valuable were they considered?
Pearls were valuable:
Matthew 13:45 – “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,
Revelation 18:16 – “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!
Revelation 21:21 – And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
I next want to look at the word holy in this passage. Hendrickson said that the holy in this passage is that which is set apart from God. It is sacred. Looking up the root word of the adjective holy, comes from the Old English work Halig, and is related to the German work Helig, meaning blessed. So what is sacred, blessed and set apart from God?
The Word in this passage is holy:
John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Exodus 34:27 – And the Lord said to Moses, “write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”
Deuteronomy 6:6 – And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
Proverbs 16:20 – Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
Matthew 4:4 – But he answered, “it is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Revelation 1:3 – Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Revelation 22:7 – “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the word of the prophecy of this book.”
Boyce wrote that “thy word is like a deep, deep mine; and jewels rich and rare are hidden in its mighty depths for every searcher there. “
Before we tie these passages all together I want to look at question 3.
3. What is the great commission and why is it important to us while considering this passage?
Matthew 28:16-20 – Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Ok, so…stopping there, I want to condense what we have thus far so that it’s concise and hopefully understandable. We are called by Jesus, to go out into the World, to make disciples of all nations, through not just baptizing them with the Holy Spirit, yet also by teaching. We are to do this all with an understanding that as Daniel 12:10b said, “none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.” That there are those of whom the most holiest part of the Gospel is not to be shared with. Everyone with me thus far?
4. After reading the great commission, one would assume that we are to share the gospel with anyone and everyone that we meet or know. Yet, 7:6 is actually telling us to have discernment on the sharing of the whole word of the gospel. Why is discernment necessary?
Does this mean as I wrote in question 4 of your outline that we are to share the gospel with anyone and everyone we meet or know? That everyone will be Kingdom Citizens as Susan Heck refers to? No. What he is saying is that we have to have discernment. Why? Well, let’s look at that together.
Proverbs 9:7-9 – 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. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
Isaiah 56:10 – His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down loving to slumber.
Zephaniah 1:17 – I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.
2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 – Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
John 15:18-19 – “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Romans 1:18 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
Discernment then is necessary because God does not allow the wicked to hear the truth. There are those that will be lost into the mire of their own wickedness, never to know the blessings of a merciful, saving God. If we try to pursue teaching one who has a hardened heart, thinking that we are going to do all the saving for him by sharing the truth with him, can actually lead him into a worsened state of being before God.
There is also another lesson to be learned about the pursuing of the wicked to living righteous lives to no avail that we need to understand. When God has not softened a heart or regenerated it as we reformers call it, then we are wasting God’s precious serving ministry time. We need to be aware that there are fertile fields yet to be attended to where the sheep wander. How do we know this to be true? Jesus tells us:
Let’s look at together Matthew 9:36-38 and John 4:34-35
Matthew 9:36-38 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
John 4:34-35 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.
At this point in our study today, we understand the who that Jesus is talking about, we understand the why in this verse and we understand the what. Now let’s look at the how. In order to do that, we need to first understand that our audience is very important. Jesus understood this and used great discernment when he preached. Jesus understood and knew the difference in recognizing those with an unregenerate heart. So he used different methods in teaching. These methods were based on His audience. Let’s take a look at question 5 .
5. Depending upon the audience that Jesus had, he taught in many different ways. What are some examples of the ways in which Jesus taught and how did He himself showed discernment in his teaching?
John 1:43-51 – The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Matthew 15:21-28 -And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
John 3:1-15 – Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
John 4:5-36 – So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.). The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
These 4 examples have given a glimpse into understanding how Jesus recognized those whom were to or were not to receive the gospel.
I’ve highlighted in bold the verses above to point out the differences. Anyone find them? For some, he gave an appetizer, to others he gave a meal. Another verse, from John 10:27 tells us that “(Gods) sheep hear (His) voice, and (He) knows them and they follow (Him).”
John 10:27 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Jesus’ use of parables is a great example of discernment on his part. Parables, if you remember, were told to those who lived before the resurrection of Christ. They did not yet have the full or complete picture to help interpret. That being said, some understood, because they “knew” their master, where as others may have been given a partial understanding that was just enough to cause them a burdened soul and an infuriated spirit. Just as we talked about last week, those with hardened hearts, had critical spirits, and a habitual lifestyle of condemning, which blinded them to the truth.
If you are asking yourself if Jesus did this on purpose, of course he did. Jesus shared the meaning with his disciples with full disclosure. They knew Him to be the messiah, and just in case they needed the clarification of the parable, He gave it to them. (For reference take a look at Mark 4:33-34.)
Jesus’ approach, was either gradual as we saw above, taking his time with them, or he was swift in his delivery.
Let’s look at Mark 10:21. – 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Can you imagine? Swift delivery with truth that cannot be ignored. Jesus understood and we are learning that a theological debate with anyone, cannot and will not be successful until the audience in which we face has an acceptance of God and truly understands who Christ is. This is the reason that as we read above, Nicodemus and the woman of Samaria were not given full disclosure of the saving grace of the Lord and of His kingdom promises… The did not completely understand who He was.
Moving on, let’s look at question 6.
6. What should we do if we face a hostile disposition who is not the recipient of a regenerated heart. Someone who is offended by the Word of God’s truth? What did Jesus tell His disciples?
Mark 6:10-11 – And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there untilyou depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”
Acts 13:50-51 – But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drop them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.
Acts 18:5-7 – When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood will be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.
Titus 3:8-11 – The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Shake the dust off our feet and move on. There is nothing we can do. As Susan Heck said, our responsibility is to share the gospel, their response is not up to us, it is up to God. If God chooses for them to have a closed off heart then so be it. It doesn’t mean that the person is completely lost, since the Lord can at any time soften that heart. It does mean that at that time, enough is enough.
So, as we begin to wrap it all up, we feel like we are “in the know” so to speak, where do we go from here? What does our application look like to and how do we go about that which God has called us to do? There can be no doubt that reinventing the wheel is a waste of precious serving time, so I want to take a look at what Susan Heck presented in suggesting how we go about sharing the gospel. She suggests that there are the 4 L’s in sharing the gospel: Lone God, Loving God, Living God, Lord God.
Lone God: Malachi 2:10, Mark 12:32, James 2:19 and 1 Timothy 2:5-6
Loving God: John 3:16-17, Romans 5:6-10, Titus 3:3-7, 1John 4:9-11, John 15:16
Living God: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Matthew 28:1-7, 1 Corinthians 15:17-19
Lord God: Acts 16:31, Luke 6:46-49
So we have answered all the who, when, why, how questions in this passage and we have been given some application. Let’s just ask ourselves one last question.
8. Why does all this matter? What is the significance of living a life serving God, with a meek and quiet spirit, humbly aware of our own sin, and discerning the journey in leading others?
Matthew 28:16-20 (Above)
2 Timothy 4:1-8 – I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Jude 17-25 – But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Doxology Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
2Peter 1:19-21 – And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
One more verse I think it is important to consider, is the verse we read on one Sunday in our church. From 1Corinthians 13:13 – So now, faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
If we love serving God, through serving our brethren and those whom the Lord allows us to share the gospel with, let us do so with love. Let our examples of a Christ like character stand out. Let us stand before a righteous God as the clay before the potter, not unblemished, not perfect, yet with an easiness of allowing Him and him alone to mold us into the creation He desires. If we do that, then we cannot fail our brethren, we cannot fail ourselves, and we most certainly cannot fail God.
Thank you friends for joining me on this journey. I hope this lesson has blessed you.
