What does Matthew 7:6 mean?

[Robbi]

Hello,

Matthew 7:6
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, 4 or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

What does this passage mean? (I dont own a bible commentary, and some footnotes are quite vague.)

Thanks,

Robert

[cappie]

One commentary puts it like this:

7:6 Dogs and swine refer to people who are enemies of the gospel, as opposed to those who are merely unbelievers. Such enemies are to be left alone (Matt. 15:14; 2 Cor. 6:14–18). One example of such a person was Herod Antipas, who heard John the Baptist gladly (Mark 6:20) but then beheaded him (Matt. 14:1–12; Mark 6:14–28; Luke 9:7–9). Later when Christ stood before Herod, He said nothing (Luke 23:8, 9). In the context of this verse, Herod had become a “dog” or a “pig.”

7:6 The connotation here is not that we should withhold our message to those who are the outcasts of society, for Jesus Himself went to the poor sinners among His people. Rather, the idea is that it is futile to continue to present truth to those who have refused what they have already heard.

Someone might have a better explaination

[Theoketos]

[quote name='cappie' post='995351' date='Jun 2 2006, 02:59 AM']
One commentary puts it like this:

7:6 Dogs and swine refer to people who are enemies of the gospel, as opposed to those who are merely unbelievers. Such enemies are to be left alone (Matt. 15:14; 2 Cor. 6:14–18). One example of such a person was Herod Antipas, who heard John the Baptist gladly (Mark 6:20) but then beheaded him (Matt. 14:1–12; Mark 6:14–28; Luke 9:7–9). Later when Christ stood before Herod, He said nothing (Luke 23:8, 9). In the context of this verse, Herod had become a “dog” or a “pig.”

7:6 The connotation here is not that we should withhold our message to those who are the outcasts of society, for Jesus Himself went to the poor sinners among His people. Rather, the idea is that it is futile to continue to present truth to those who have refused what they have already heard.

Someone might have a better explaination
[/quote]

Father you are an amazing priest! And all I have to add is that to the actual enemies of the Church, actions, that is love, is still necessary!