Scripture

“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 around and tear you to pieces.”

Observation

We must not judge others or we may find God judging us. We especially must avoid criticising our brothers for minor failings when we ourselves are guilty of greater sins. First get right with God, then you will be able to help your brother.

We must not give to dogs and pigs things that are holy or sacred. They will trample them and devour us.

Application

On the surface, there seems to be a contradiction between the command “Do not judge” and the exhortation to not throw pearls to pigs. How can we judge “pigs” or “dogs”?

We need to understand two things:

1. The judgement referred to here is a condemning kind of judgement in which we write people off as being of no worth.

2. There is a discernment that comes from the Holy Spirit which reveals to us the hearts of people and whether they are controlled by evil spirits.

The two instructions here, together with the instruction about the plank in our eyes, hold together in a tension rather than being contradictory.

We do not condemn unbelievers for being unbelievers, sinners for sinning. We love them and share the gospel with them and pray for their salvation.

At the same time we need a measure of discernment. There is no point talking about intimacy with Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, and so on if the person is totally opposed to the gospel and only interested in mocking it. Instead we wait and pray, looking for a softening in their heart.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to love those who do not know you yet and to share wisely my knowledge of you. Amen.