All of my life I’ve heard people say that it was time to move on. Sometimes it was referring to a job, and at other times it was referring to relationships. In our passage today Jesus is teaching us to be discerning. We are to be led by the Holy Spirit when dealing with others and presenting the gospel to them. While it may be a hard thing to do, sometimes we must move on to someone who is ready to receive the gospel. Pearls in Matthew 7:6 is referring to the gospel. Pearls have always been a representative of something precious, costly, and rare. No one would take a beautiful, costly pearl and throw it down in front of a hog.
Matthew 7:6 “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
As a child, I grew up on a farm. We had cows, chickens, dogs, cats, and hogs. I hated hogs and I was afraid of them. They were nasty and they loved a nasty, muddy pen. They would eat almost anything. They were not discerning at all. The analogy in Matthew 7:6 would have been repulsive to a Jew. They wanted nothing to do with swine. To compare a person with a hard heart, to a hog, definitely got their attention. These swine would not be the potbelly pigs that so many now think are cute and call pets. These would be more like the wild hogs that have invaded the south. They come out at night, and they root and destroy all in their path. They are forging for food as they tear up the ground. Whatever is not edible is trampled down. If you’ve ever seen an area where wild hogs have invaded you will understand a little more of this passage. They are very destructive animals. While we are to continue to press forward presenting the gospel as Jesus commands in Matthew 28:19, there are times we need to pull back from some people and move to another.
Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
The difficult part for us is knowing when to move on and when to stay the course. From what Jesus is saying in Matthew 7:6 there will come a time in many lives when we are wasting our time trying to convince them they need Jesus. When people are determined not to hear, we must yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit and trust His guidance to give us another avenue of outreach. We must seek the wisdom that only God can give. If we lack wisdom James says to ask for it and God will supply it liberally.
James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
It is a hard thing to walk away from someone you know is lost. Yet, Jesus told His disciples in Matthew10:14 to shake off the dust from their feet when they were not received. When the gospel is rejected, ridiculed, and blasphemed it’s time to move on. When a person is in that state of mind there is nothing you can do but walk away. I believe you must pray before you present the gospel so that you are led by the Holy Spirit. He will direct you in how you are to handle a situation. When we have prayed and done all we can do, we must follow Paul’s example in Acts 18:6. Paul had done all he could to show the Jews that Jesus was God’s Son. They rejected the gospel vehemently and Paul told them their blood would be on their own selves. He was clean before them as an ambassador of Jesus Christ. He left them and proceeded to take the gospel to the Gentiles.
Matthew 10:14 “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Act 18:6 “And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles”
It is a very hard thing to walk away with no intention of returning. You almost feel you have failed the other person. You wonder what you could have said that would have made them understand what Jesus has done for them. However, we must remember we are only the seed sower, the Holy Spirit must go before us and deal with their heart. They must determine if they will listen or not. Each of us has a free will to listen or to close our ears to God. Remember, we are not the ones who do the saving, only God can save a person from the depths of Hell, and secure him a home in Heaven.
I have often wondered why some people have the luxury of hearing the gospel over and over before they repent, or before they seal their fate with rejection when there are multitudes in the world who have never heard of Jesus one time. May we be ever mindful of spreading the gospel and being sensitive to the Holy Spirit, so we know who and when to tell about Him. May we not waste God’s holy word and the precious pearls of the gospel on those who refuse to hear. Give us the wisdom to see and walk through open doors where people need you. Give us wisdom to not give up too quickly, but perseverance to push forward where you are giving liberty. Give us wisdom and grace to accept closed doors. May we not waste one precious word from you. Help us to trust you to work where rejection has come. Penetrate the cold hearts that were not ready when we tried.
