What Did Jesus Mean When Talking About “Casting Pearls Before Swine”?

Jesus once talked about casting pearls before swine. What did He mean when He said this? What does it mean to us?

The Pearl of Great Price

Jesus once said that “the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matt 13:45-46). I think what Jesus was saying here was that the kingdom of God is worth every earthly possession we have and then some. It is the most precious thing of all. To have eternal life by having your sins forgiven is indeed precious because in this, we can avoid being judged at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:12-15). At that time, all the wealth in the world won’t help you or me. This means the kingdom is worth more than all of the wealth that all of the planets of the universe contain and that we must seek the King of this kingdom first and foremost, above everything and everyone else (Matt 6:33). Is this the pearl that Jesus was talking about though when He said we’re not to cast our pearls before swine? What did He mean? Was He insulting those who would reject the gospel message of repenting and believing (Mark 1:15) since those who are unforgiven are considered unclean before God just as swine were in the Old Testament Mosaic laws? There may be some elements of truth to at least some of these observations as we shall see.

The Context of Matthew 7:6

In Matthew 7:6 Jesus said “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Taken in the context within which it is given, and remembering that context is always critical to understanding the meaning of Scripture, this statement of Jesus came just after He spoke about not judging others when the person who is judging has something far worse in their life. Was this His response to those who were unfairly judging others when they themselves had far greater issues of sin in their life? This statement of Jesus not casting pearls before swine and not giving to the dogs what is holy comes between His statements of not being a hypocritical judge (Matt 7:5) and then about asking God for something in prayer. So Jesus’ statement in Matthew 7:6 seems to be in a context all of its own and should be taken as standing alone.

No Pearls Before Swine

The Jews often referred to their Roman occupiers, and indeed anyone outside of the Jewish nation, as dogs. Paul often spoke of “dogs” as even those Jews who rejected the true gospel and wanted to intermingle the Jewish laws with Christianity. This is clear in Philippians 3:2 where he says “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh” which speaks of circumcision and the Jewish or Mosaic Laws, thus it appears that what we are not to give to the dogs are the precious truths of God because they won’t act upon them anyway. Jesus knew men’s hearts and knew who would believe and who would reject Him (Matt 9:4; Luke 9:47). The first part of Matthew 7 was about those who unfairly judged so maybe Jesus was saying that giving this message of not judging when the person is a hypocrite would only be like casting pearls before swine or giving what is holy (the gospel) to the dogs (who reject the gospel). Then this “pearl” (of the gospel) is wasted on casting it before the unregenerate and unrepentant “swine” because they’ll only “trample it under their feet.” This seems to fit what the author of Hebrews wrote about in 10:29 “How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace.” When Jesus used the word “they” for “they will trample it under their feet” it seems to include both the dogs and the swine. Now, after they trample it under foot, then they turn on the one who cast it before them. We later see that the Jewish leaders who had long since been awaiting the Messiah turned on Jesus and tore Him to pieces…quite literally.

Summary of Jesus’ Phrase

Looking at the context of the entire New Testament then, we might see this pearl as being the precious gospel message and not just the plan of salvation but the Man of Salvation, Jesus Christ Himself. The “dogs” and the “swine” will not accept this message and not only that, they will not accept the Messenger, therefore it is wise to know when someone needs to hear the gospel or when it’s a lost cause and they’ll only turn on the messenger giving out the good news. Perhaps Jesus is telling us to try and discern when someone really wants to hear the hope that is found in the gospel or they just want to use it as a cause to turn and argue with the one giving it out. In my many years of experience of witnessing, I have found it a lost cause trying to argue people into heaven and there is no convincing someone who has already made up their mind. There is a point when it’s a waste of time and only makes matters worse. Sometimes people resist so strongly in hearing the gospel it makes them dig in their heels even deeper and we can do more harm than good.

Conclusion

Jesus wants us to use wisdom in knowing when and with whom to share the gospel when and with whom not to. I would probably not be very effective if I went to an atheist’s convention and told them that they must repent and believe (Mark 1:15). I could only expect anger and argumentative responses. I would think it’s not wise to share the gospel with someone who is openly hostile and is only wanting an endless debate, but me, I would rather lose an argument and win a soul than win an argument and lose any possible hope of ever having someone see their need for the Savior.

Read some more about what Jesus said here: Words of Jesus

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: gospel, Jesus words, pearls before swine, Witnessing