"Pigs Do Not Wear Pearls"
- Rita Larson
- Apr 16, 2023
- 3 min read
Have you ever shared something with someone, and had it taken out of context? Particularly when sharing our testimonies about what God is doing in our lives, it can open a door for Satan to have an opportunity to cause disruption if it falls into the wrong hands. As Christians, sometimes we need to learn to "know our audience". Mark 16:15 tells us, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Not everyone can handle our testimony. Sometimes, non-believers just need to hear the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, just as we were called to do.
The phrase “cast not your pearls before swine” is found in Matthew 7:6, which reads, “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.” The phrase “cast not your pearls before swine” warns us not to give something precious and valuable to those who won’t appreciate it.
In this verse, “dogs” and “swine” are used as metaphors to represent unbelievers. In Hebrew culture, calling someone a “dog” was a very insulting thing to do. Pigs, being considered “unclean” animals, were also forbidden food for the Jews. By using these two animals in this verse, Jesus emphasizes that giving something precious and holy to those who don’t share your beliefs is not wise. It is a reminder to us to be discerning in how we share the precious truths of God’s Word with unbelievers.
The “pearls” are symbolic of the biblical truths and principles. These are golden nuggets that come from God when He speaks into our lives. These are holy things that should be safeguarded and held tight and shared when God's timing is right. To “cast your pearls before swine” is to give something of great value to those who will not appreciate it and will even trample it under their feet. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We must be diligent in studying God’s Word to know when and how to share it. We must strive to be approved by God and be wise in how we share His Word.
In addition to this verse, there are many others that discuss the idea of guarding our hearts and having a spirit of discernment. For example, Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” The Bible also warns us to be mindful of the company we keep. Proverbs 13:20 reads, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”
These verses teach us the importance of being careful about how we share our faith and our knowledge of biblical truths. We should always be sure to share these things with those who will appreciate and respect them, rather than giving them to those who will not understand or use them against us. We have to guard our hearts and use discernment in regard to who and what we share. Instead, focus on those who are open to hearing and receiving the truth of God's word. Our testimonies should always set the stage for God to be glorified; to do that, we have to know our audience. ©Rita Larson 4/11/2023
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