Q4. Dogs, Pigs and Pearls

[Lindap]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

Dogs and pigs were unclean, scavengers. They were both precious. Believers turned away from sharing the gospel when they were scorned by the people they were sharing with. "When the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, [Paul] shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, 'Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.'" (Acts 18:5-6)

[servant for Christ]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

Dogs and pigs were unclean and scavengers. Holy food and pearls were pure, and precious. The believers turned away when the Word was rejected, the people did not want to hear it. They continued to witness to Gentiles.

[hanks]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6)

In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

Under the Mosaic Law dogs and pigs were regarded as unclean animals and in this verse are used to depict wicked people. In mentioning pearls, our Lord is telling us to regard the Gospel as precious, and it is to be treated with reverence, and is not to be entrusted to people, who because of their wicked nature, can be compared to dogs and pigs. We are told, as believers, not to endlessly continue to bring the gospel message to those who scorn it. Yes, we must have patience, but there is a limit. When we encounter constant resistance to the Word we should leave, knowing that the Holy Spirit will guide us and provide us with other opportunities to spread the gospel.

[jr4624]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

They are both animals that are unclean and disrespected. Dogs existed by being scavengers, eating mostly dead things. Pork was forbidden under the Law. Both things were abhorrent to Jews.

Holy food has been consecrated to God and pearls are valuable jewels. Both are things you would not want to see given to such unclean, disrespected animals.

When the Jews with whom they were trying to share it totally rejected the truth of the Good News.

They then went to the Gentiles to share The Message.

[Marloes]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

Dogs and pigs were both considerd as unclean.

On Sumatra in Indonesia, there are houses without a sewer and therefore the people have unclean animals under the rough-planked floor to eat what they drop.

Let's imagine one should throw pearls at them too...

That is so ridiculous!

The first is about Jews who just don't want to listen to the gospel.

The other three are not only about unwilling jews but also about gentiles longing to hear.

For an indonesian muslim, a major insult is 'kepala anjing' i.e. 'head of a dog'

In these verses, Jesus compares jews with them who must have felt insulted the same way.

You don't give pearls to pigs - and no gospel to unwilling people.

[Paul H]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

Dogs and pigs were regarded as unclean.

Holy food and pearls are both precious.

In Matthew, Jesus warns the apostles who He is sending out to preach the Gospel that they will be rejected by people and He tells them to shake off the dust from their feet of the places where the Gospel is rejected and move on to other places. This is exactly what happens to paul in all of the passages in Acts. Some people accept the Gospel, but others reject it and in one case Paul is actually driven out of the region of Antioch. In each case, Paul follows what Jesus said, shaking the dust from his feet or in one case from his clothes and moves on to another place. In the end, Paul takes the Gospel on to the Gentiles, having been rejected by the Jews What I think that this really means is that the Gospel is for everyone who will listen and respond.

[home4ed]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

Dogs and pigs are both scavengers, even today they are. My dog will alway raid the trash can if we leave him and it unattended!Holy food and pearls are both valuable, not to be wasted on scavenger unclean animals. When people's heart have become calloused they are unable to hear, see, and understand the Gospel. The lies of the world are like the scraps and trash and the parls are God's wisdom. But when people have open hearts and are asking for the wisdom of God these are who the Apostles continued to witness to. People hungry for real truth.

[Highohfaith]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

Pigs were considered unclean animals in Hebrew culture. Jews were not permitted to eat pigs. Pigs were raised and eaten by heathens, the Gentiles. Dog were considered scavengers to the Jews, dogs hunted and ate unclean flesh. Both animals were looked upon as being very offensive, and distasteful - much like the Jews opinion of the Gentiles. Jews, often referred to Gentiles as 'dogs' of society. Pearls were consider very precious by the Jews because of their material worth and their brilliant beauty. They were considered rare jewels and often equated with the wisdom of God. The holy food which they ate was also of great importance, what they ate and drank was governed by all sorts of Mosaic law. The food they ate was considered sacred by the Jews.. Both, food and pearls were consider of great value to the Jews.

If the Gospel fell on ears that did not hear, eyes that did not see, and hearts that would not accept the gospel then it was time to "shake the dust from your feet" and move on. The Jews did not want to hear that Jesus was their God, the Messiah they had waited for, the Gentiles were more receptive and they listened and they did not reject the Lord in the same manner that the Jews did.

They continued to witness to people who accepted what they had to say, who listened, saw, and believed!! The gospel is for those who listen and believe. It is for everyone, Jew and Gentile, all of God's creation. However, if it is rejected completely , and one is not open to receiving Christ then move on..shake the dust off your feet, off your clothes ( as Paul did) and take the gospel to those who will hear and respond with great faith. Don't waste precious time on those who will not HEAR!

[Raph]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6)

In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common?

In Jesus" days, dogs and pigs were all unclean animals.

What would holy food and pearls have in common?

Holy food and pearlswould all be precious.

Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28.

In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel?

Belivers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel by showing hatred against preachers, inciting rebellion against them, threatening to kill them, expelling them, opposing them publicly, making false accusations against them, and showing no interest to what they are preaching.

To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

They continued their witness to the gentiles who were ready to listen and accept the word of God.

[tgandy]

In Jesus day dogs and pigs were both considered unclean.  Pearls were very expensive and precious.  The holy food is precious.

The believers turned away from those who did not welcome them or believe them.  They also turned away from those who were abusive to the good news.  After trying with these groups of people they shook the dust from their feet and went to witness to those who received them well and listened and followed.

[DebLam3teach]

In Jesus' day, dogs and pigs both ate unclean food and trash, which was forbidden to Jewish people.  Holy food and pearls are highly valuable, and meant for only specail situations. Jesus is cautioning us to be discerning in who we invest our time in for the Kingdom.  If people are hard of heart, and refuse to listen to what I say, or if they try to contradict or stir others up against me, then I need to focus my energies somewhere else.  An example of this is when Paul was repeatedly opposed by the Jewish factions in the towns and cities he preached in.  So he went to the Gentiles, who received the Gospel gladly and bore fruit.  They received Paul with a believing heart, and were not locked in unbelief like the Jewish factions that opposed him.  That is the way we need to do ministry:  concentrate on those who will receive the message God has given us to deliver.  Leave the others for God to reach through someone else at another time.

[Eager Bver]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness? 

 

They were rejects, the pig was an unclean animal, the dog was a scavenger.  They are clean and valuable items.  Their constant refusal and rejection to hear and accept God's word.  The Gentiles.

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[JoanG]

Dogs and pigs were considered very dirty and unholy animals. they were on the lower end of the food chain. Holy food and pearls were considered sacred and cherished. they were prized possessions.

 

People need to stop witnessing to those that belittle the word of God. They cannot help those that refuse to listen and believe. We need to go to people who will listen to us. We need to find those that hunger for the truth. They want faith and hope in their lives. They are willing to accept God and his grace and his salvation for them.

[Old Jerry]

In Jesus’ day dogs and pigs were not clean. The thing that holy food and pearls have in common was that they were both cherished.

The circumstances that believers may turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel is when the people continually reject the truth. The ones that we should continue to witness to are those that are ready to listen to the gospel.

[Karen11]

On 12/19/2007 at 10:56 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

They were considered unclean.

They were both precious.

Hardening there hearts.

Gentiles 

[Irmela]

4.1 In Jesus day, what did dogs and pigs have in common?

Both dogs and pigs were looked down upon in Jesus' day. They were unclean in the eyes of the Jews. Dogs being scavengers i.e. eating decaying flesh ... which was totally fround upon .... and pigs scrounging around in the dirt, the flesh totally taken to be unclean ... not kept by Jews at all.  Both were outsiders.

4.2 What would holy food and pearls have in common?

Holy food and pearls were highly prized.

4.3 In what kind of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the Gospel?

When the Gospel was openly shared with and discussed with the people of a certain place and they did not receive it; when they opposed, abused and reviled the believers; when the Gospel was rejected outright; then the believers walked out and shook the dust from off their feet. .... They stopped declaring the Gospel to those who continually slandered and discredited it.

4.4 To what kind of people did they continue their witness?

To those who received and accepted the Gospel with joy. Those who were receptive and hungry for hope.

[Lisa Wolf]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

In Jesus day, both dogs and pigs ate anything-- food that was clean or unclean.  Jews bound by dietary law, considered both animals unclean.  Holy food and pearls were both precious and rare.    In the passages here, the gospel was shared with Jews: some believed, some did not.  Those who did not believe incited crowds against Paul and Barnabas.  At that point, Paul knew it was God's will that the gospel travel to the gentiles rather than casting their precious words of life toward hostile people that intended to trample the words and those who spoke them.