Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihlpl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!ihlpl!par From: par@ihlpl.UUCP (Rupsis) Newsgroups: net.religion.christian Subject: Re: Hogs and Dogs Message-ID: <216@ihlpl.UUCP> Date: Mon, 15-Jul-85 14:09:14 EDT Article-I.D.: ihlpl.216 Posted: Mon Jul 15 14:09:14 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 17-Jul-85 06:21:03 EDT References: <209@ihlpl.UUCP> <5510@tekecs.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 56 > > Matthew 7:6 Jesus says: > > > > "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before > > swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you > > to pieces." > > > > What did Jesus mean? > > Who are the dogs and swine? > > What are the pearls? > > > > I would appreciate any light shed upon this subject. > > > > Paul Rupsis > > > > I take this passage more like a proverb than a parable, and one that applies > universally (not just to religious connotations). To me, Jesus is telling > us to be discerning about with whom we share the things that are personally > precious to us. PEARLS is a poetic symbol for anything that is personally > precious to you (you fill in the blanks: movies you enjoyed, hobbies, > interests, friends, religious experiences....). DOGS and SWINE are symbols > for those cynical and captious types of people who show no regard for the > values and feelings of others, but rather seem bent on tearing down and > ripping apart the things that those around them enjoy. > I agree with your definition of who the DOGS and SWINE are, and I also agree with the statement that I shouldn't share what is precious to me with cynical people who will tear down what I enjoy. However, the only problem I see with this interpretation is that Jesus tells us that we should not give what is **holy** to the dogs. I don't see how personally precious things can be considered holy. I think there is a definite "religious" connotation BECAUSE of the word *holy*. That's because my definition of **holy** is those things/people that are set apart for God. Though nothing is specified, could the holy thing(s) that we are not to give to dogs be the Bible, or Christ? The holy thing(s) are probably synonomous with PEARLS and therefore may not be applicable to movies, interests, hobbies, etc. What other things and/or people would we consider holy? > > I often think of this passage while reading articles on the net. :-) > > > Ken Ewing > [decvax,ucbvax]!tektronix!tekecs!kene (For some strange reason I do too, which was my motivation for bringing this topic up for discussion.) Paul Rupsis