How can Christians apply Matthew 7:6?
I think Jesus applied Matthew 7:6, “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,” regularly. He did this when the Pharisees came to Him with their dishonest questions that were meant to trap Him.
They came to Jesus and asked, “By what authority do You cleanse the temple?” And Jesus responded, “I’ll tell you by what authority I cleanse the temple if you tell me whether John the Baptist was sent by heaven or by man.” So, He refused to answer their question. He refused to throw pearls to swine. I think that is an example.
When you know someone has asked you a question that’s only intended as a trap and they’re not open at all to an honest answer or a serious dialogue, you are not obligated to spend a lot of time with those people.
This is a transcript of W. Robert Godfrey’s answer given during our If the Foundations Are Destroyed: Escondido 2022 Conference and has been lightly edited for readability. To ask Ligonier a biblical or theological question, email ask@ligonier.org or message us on Facebook or Twitter.
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W. Robert Godfrey
Dr. W. Robert Godfrey is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and chairman of Ligonier Ministries. He is president emeritus and professor emeritus of church history at Westminster Seminary California. He is the featured teacher for many Ligonier teaching series, including the six-part series A Survey of Church History. He is author of many books, including God’s Pattern for Creation, Reformation Sketches, and An Unexpected Journey.
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