A weekday morning devotional series written by Aaron Marcarelli and hosted by Chad McBeam
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”
Matthew 7:6 NASB2020
Once again, according to Wycliffe Bible Commentary “those who have heard the gospel and the invitation of Christ, and by the response they have been showing their nature to be unutterably, vicious, like dogs and swine, and they must not be allowed to treat these precious things as cheap.”
Jesus was calling out those who were not listening to His words of mercy and grace. Specifically the Pharisees who were only concerned with the law of Moses. He compared them to pigs. Which were forbidden and unclean in Jewish culture. He also compared them to dogs. Who also during that time were not seen as lovable domesticated animals that we have as pets. They were dirty, vicious and infested with diseases. Jesus basically says. My words are not for them, for their hearts are hard. Basically Jesus is saying. “Don’t worry about them.” They will always have a hard heart. Therefore, follow Him and He will handle the hard hearted.
Jesus was asked by the disciples later on in Matthew why he preaches using so many parables and stories. “And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘ You shall keep on listening, but shall not understand; And you shall keep on looking, but shall not perceive; For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their heart, and return, And I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
Matthew 13:11-17 NASB2020
God has revealed to us, is revealing to us and will continually be revealing to us what it means to truly be a follower of Christ. It is continual and ongoing.
It is working out our salvation. As the Apostle Paul says; I was saved, I am being saved, and I will continue to be saved. Therefore, through the power of His Holy Spirit God reveals His perfect and pleasing will for our lives. This allows us to always make good, Godly earnest choices, that represent who God intends us to be both now and forever!
Lord we praise your perfect and Holy Name! We thank you for revealing to us the mysteries of your Holy and perfect words. Help us to live out those words in ways that truly Glorify You now and forever. We pray all these things in Jesus Name Amen!
May His Shalom, Shalom be upon you. Blessings and Press In and Press On!