QA1THOUGHTS FROM MATTHEW
February 21
Text: Matthew 7:6
"Do not give what is holy to
dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they
trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”(NASB)
The
situation in Palestine 2000 years ago as compared to the America
of now was quite different.
While today dogs are not considered excellent pets and
sometimes members of the family, and pigs have great value in
multiple ways, not so in Jesus’ Palestine.
Dogs were—under the right circumstances—tolerated.
Swine were without value.
Israel considered swine to be the symbol of pollution.
They at times referred to non-Israelites as dogs—a
deliberate attempt to demean those of whom they spoke.
The
value system of humans versus the values of dogs and pigs
dramatically differed.
Neither animal was to be trusted.
Both animals were to be considered dangerous.
Dogs could tear those who invaded their territory.
Pigs could attack when disappointed.
Dogs had no appreciation of the concept of holy.
Pigs had no appreciation of “pretty.”
Neither had any concept of holy nor saw any usefulness in
a pearl.
The
righteous realize that everyone will not appreciate righteous
values. They
understand some resent them and their values.
They know some seek, and some resent.
The goal of the righteous is
to be righteous, not
to force others to accept their values. The righteous have nothing
to prove—they have the courage to be and are not on a mission to
force conformity on others.
They gladly share their values with seekers, but they are
not a threat to those who reject their values.
The goal is not the approval of those who reject them.
It is to live by righteous values.
Four
realizations: (1) Not all people wish to be converted to
righteous values. (2) Sometimes people will
see what they refuse
to hear.
(3) The righteous are not made righteous by their
conversion rate. (4)
The righteous share, but they do not seek to control.
Suggestion for reflection: How should we distinguish between
those who seek and those who do not?
(Read 1 Timothy 2:1, 2.)
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