We continue our paragraph topic with: (Avoiding judgments) Part 3.
Christ end this paragraph topic with a very well known passage: "Do not give to dogs what is holy, neither cast your pearls before swine." He tells us this is dangerous because they will trample your pearls and then come to tear you. Holy things are to be kept holy and not given out freely. Precious things are the same. They are not to be given to any and everyone. One must understand the value of a spiritual item before one can appreciate how sacred it is. By giving us this warning Christ is telling us that there are dogs and swine our there that would do us harm.
Under the paragraph topic of judgement, what can we consider to be holy? What can we consider to be spiritually precious as pearls? A young student once asked a wise sage what is the path to righteousness. The sage replied, truth. Not having the wisdom to understand the response given to him the young student became critical of the wise man. He pondered what truth had to do with righteousness. He sought to understand how he could obtain righteousness through seeking truth. Yet his attempts did not yield his desired results. He became frustrated and bitter. And eventually gave up his search for righteousness. Upon seeing the wise sage on several occasions, he thought of him as foolish. When with his friends, he judged the sage and spoke evil of him. Finally, out of his own lack of understanding and sense of downfall, he spurred his friends to join him in an attack on the wise old sage. After being attacked and beaten by the student the sage looked him in the eye and said to him, "The truth of who you are has led you to this point in life. There within lies your righteousness."
Christ's words reminds us that we are in a battle. We are faced with an enemy that would destroy us. We must be diligent in who we allow to enter into our circle. Wolves come in sheep's clothing. The fox is crafty. The snake is beguiling and deceitful. And Satan will drag us to hell if it were not for the grace of God.
Judge not your brother or sister for they are weak and sinful, but judge the dog and the swine for they are deceitful and cunning. Judge not the actions but judge the intentions so that you are not misled. Be cautious with your precious gifts. Give love, give understanding but give in proportion to spiritual growth. If there is much growth then give much love. If there is little growth then feed like a child. Time allows us to determine the nature of the fruit, if we are patient. Upon first meeting, one does not know the true nature of a person. But time peels back the layers allowing us to truly see each other.
Christ tells us here to be cautious with our gifts. He warns us that there are vicious beings in the world that would do us harm. Guard what is precious to you in Christ. Love your brother as yourself but give the precious knowledge and the pearls of wisdom to those who are ready to receive them. Christ instructs us to not judge least we are judge by the same standard that we judge, but he also tells us to not be fools with our precious gifts.
Christ end this paragraph topic with a very well known passage: "Do not give to dogs what is holy, neither cast your pearls before swine." He tells us this is dangerous because they will trample your pearls and then come to tear you. Holy things are to be kept holy and not given out freely. Precious things are the same. They are not to be given to any and everyone. One must understand the value of a spiritual item before one can appreciate how sacred it is. By giving us this warning Christ is telling us that there are dogs and swine our there that would do us harm.
Under the paragraph topic of judgement, what can we consider to be holy? What can we consider to be spiritually precious as pearls? A young student once asked a wise sage what is the path to righteousness. The sage replied, truth. Not having the wisdom to understand the response given to him the young student became critical of the wise man. He pondered what truth had to do with righteousness. He sought to understand how he could obtain righteousness through seeking truth. Yet his attempts did not yield his desired results. He became frustrated and bitter. And eventually gave up his search for righteousness. Upon seeing the wise sage on several occasions, he thought of him as foolish. When with his friends, he judged the sage and spoke evil of him. Finally, out of his own lack of understanding and sense of downfall, he spurred his friends to join him in an attack on the wise old sage. After being attacked and beaten by the student the sage looked him in the eye and said to him, "The truth of who you are has led you to this point in life. There within lies your righteousness."
Christ's words reminds us that we are in a battle. We are faced with an enemy that would destroy us. We must be diligent in who we allow to enter into our circle. Wolves come in sheep's clothing. The fox is crafty. The snake is beguiling and deceitful. And Satan will drag us to hell if it were not for the grace of God.
Judge not your brother or sister for they are weak and sinful, but judge the dog and the swine for they are deceitful and cunning. Judge not the actions but judge the intentions so that you are not misled. Be cautious with your precious gifts. Give love, give understanding but give in proportion to spiritual growth. If there is much growth then give much love. If there is little growth then feed like a child. Time allows us to determine the nature of the fruit, if we are patient. Upon first meeting, one does not know the true nature of a person. But time peels back the layers allowing us to truly see each other.
Christ tells us here to be cautious with our gifts. He warns us that there are vicious beings in the world that would do us harm. Guard what is precious to you in Christ. Love your brother as yourself but give the precious knowledge and the pearls of wisdom to those who are ready to receive them. Christ instructs us to not judge least we are judge by the same standard that we judge, but he also tells us to not be fools with our precious gifts.
