1. Matthew 7:6 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What do “sacred” and “pearls” refer to?

Matthew 7:6 (ESV)

6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Historically it has been the consensus that sacred things and pearls refer to gospel truths (Matthew 13:44–46) and that this verse should be understood in the context of early church mission work (Matthew 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5; Luke 10:11; Acts 13:51; Acts 18:6).1 As such, Jesus is warning his disciples not to share gospel truths with those who have no desire to hear and listen, those who are continually unappreciative (Matthew 15:14).2 In the context of judgment, he is encouraging disciples to show discernment. There is no point correcting those who will not receive correction (Proverbs 9:8; Proverbs 23:9).3 Refraining from critical judgment must not be understood as a licence to tolerate sin and evil.4

Despite the fact that the historical interpretation is common and widespread, it is very likely to be wrong since it relies on Matthew 13:44–46 to interpret Jesus’ reference to pearls and sacred things rather than the immediate context or the context of the Sermon on the Mount as a whole. If we allow these contexts to inform our interpretation, then pearls and sacred things can be understood instead as a reference to fellow believers.5 This makes more sense in the light of what Jesus has just said about judgment (Matthew 7:1–5). He is talking about the way in which Christians treat fellow believers, he is not talking about the gospel message itself. As such, Jesus is warning his disciples not to exercise a judgmental attitude toward their brother, thereby treating him as if he were not a brother at all and throwing him out to be at the mercy of the savage enemies of the kingdom.6