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