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By Roger A. Scully, Jr.
judging others. He is not affirming that judgment should not take place, but righteous judgment should. He explains
how man must be sure not to judge hypocritically and that man must seek not only to judge but to help remove the
problem which exists in the lives of others, “and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote” (v.5). In this Jesus
explains that those who judge harshly can expect to receive the same from others, hence “whatsoever ye would that
men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (v.12). If we desire people to judge us righteously, and if we desire
people to be desirous of helping to correct our problems, then we should express the same attitude when it comes
to our dealings with them (cf. Gal 6:1). There are some people whom we simply cannot help, however. They refuse
the words of correction, whether offered in love or not. They have not manifested a character of asking, seeking and
knocking (v.7), but rather they enter in at the “broad way, that leadeth to destruction” (v.13). For this cause Jesus
says, “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” (v.6).
The terms “dog” and “swine” are being used as metaphors to describe people of like character. To the Jewish mind
the dog and swine were the most heinous of animals representing the height of uncleanness. In 2 Peter 2:22 Peter
describes erring Christians as dogs who have turned their vomit and a sow once washed to the wallowing in the
mire. Now we know that Jesus is not suggesting that the gospel be kept from them, or that attempts should not be
made at their restoration. He said in Matthew 18:15, “if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his
fault.” So what, then, is Jesus saying?
Jesus is saying that some, after obeying the gospel, return to riotous behavior, and once the attempt at rebuke is
made, they refuse to ask forgiveness because the pure and clean does not satisfy their hoggish taste buds. Just as
Paul left the Jews who blasphemed and went to Gentiles in Acts 18:6, so must we learn that some simply refuse to
hear the word of God. To continue to try to teach them, or get them to return, is the same as casting the valuable
thing before those who do not consider it to be valuable. The end result of continuing to make efforts with them is
that they will “turn again and rend you.” That is to say they will become hostile toward him who continues to try to
teach. Thus, we judge them for what they are, those who refuse to hear that which God has revealed, those who
refuse to retain Him in their knowledge are nothing more than dogs and swine.
But when does a person know when to draw the line? This is revealed in the next verse when Jesus speaks of those
who ask, seek and knock, for “by their fruits ye shall know them” (v.20). As long as a person seems willing to hear
that which God says, and shows signs of interest, then by all means, we should continue to make an effort for their
salvation. However, once that person has shown to be a dog or swine, in that their taste buds are not fit for the milk
and meat of God’s holy word, then we must learn to hold the holy thing from before them, less they turn on us. Note
how Jude describes such people: “these speak evil of those things which they know not…as brute beasts, in those
things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them…these are spots in your feasts of love…clouds they are without
water…trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots…wandering stars, to whom is
reserved the blackness of darkness for ever” (vs.10-13).
The Hebrew writer likewise speaks of those who “fall away” (v.6), and how “it is impossible for them” to be “renewed
again unto repentance.” It is not that God will not forgive them, nor is it that the faithful do not desire their
restoration, but it is that their hearts have become so calloused that they will not return to God, for they are as the
dog who turned to his own vomit and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mud.
For this cause we should be eager to remain faithful and strive to quickly restore them who fall from grace (Gal 5:
4). For the longer they are away, the harder it is for them to return. Also, we must realize that continually trying to
teach those who refuse to heed will have a more damaging affect than if we simply let them alone. So remember,
“give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine.”
