Matthew 7 NLT
Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you. (v. 6)
I am not sure why we get so surprised when pigs act like pigs. They do what they do because that is their nature. Pigs (and particularly hogs) are amazing creatures and not very much like we imagine. Believe it or not, they are incredibly smart, but they can also be incredibly vicious. That doesn’t usually track with our typical view of swine, but they will eat anything—including you if given the right opportunity! Jesus compares unholy people to swine and basically says we should be careful about what we offer them.
Sometimes, what we hold to be most valuable (like the gospel for instance) is not highly valued by those who are unholy. Instead, they will often get angered by your best intentions and trample the gospel (and you) in the process. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and apart from the work of the Holy Spirit in someone’s heart, the gospel is actually an offense to them instead of being a blessing as is to us. Incredibly, one person’s treasure can be another person’s trash because they are acting out of their nature and doing what comes naturally. Pigs value what is important to them, not what’s important to me.
I am not saying that lost people are pigs or that we should not share the gospel with those who are lost. Obviously, we should love all and reach out to all. I am just saying that people do what comes naturally to them and it amazes me how the church is so “shocked” over the behavior and attitudes of the world today. I do not expect the world to share my values or to see things the way that I do; instead, I expect the opposite. I expect opposition and derision until the Spirit of God moves in their heart… then I expect to see a changed life. Until then, I will just have to be patient with those who trample my pearls—or even try to trample me.
