“Of Dogs and Swine”

Matthew 7: 6: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine.” To understand this verse, know that it is not meant to stand alone, but it serves as a concluding illustration for the preceding parable about the speck and the log. There really was a speck; someone’s vision really was impaired. But pointing fingers rarely convert anyone, especially with that horribly obvious log protruding from our own eye. Likewise slamming dogs and pigs with our pearls, holy though they are, is ineffective. Rather than throwing our pearls at them, let them see the beauty of the pearls at work in our lives. So: finger-pointing and pearl-throwing – out! Living the Gospel as evangelism - in!