{"id":44436,"date":"2020-04-05T18:57:30","date_gmt":"2020-04-05T15:57:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=44436"},"modified":"2025-05-06T19:07:42","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T16:07:42","slug":"do-not-cast-your-pearls-before-swine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/04\/05\/do-not-cast-your-pearls-before-swine\/","title":{"rendered":"DO NOT CAST YOUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE"},"content":{"rendered":"

Matthew 7:6 (NKJV)<\/strong> \u201cDo not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

These words were spoken by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount<\/em>, teaching His followers the importance of discernment. The “holy” and “pearls” symbolize valuable truths and spiritual insights, which are precious and should not be shared indiscriminately, especially with those who will not appreciate or respect them. Jesus is urging His disciples to exercise wisdom when sharing spiritual matters with others. The message is not to be careless in giving something sacred to those who might mock, ridicule, or distort it.<\/p>\n

This concept ties into the broader theme of discretion and wisdom<\/em> that we find throughout Scripture (Proverbs 2:6; James 1:5), where it\u2019s highlighted that we are to act with wisdom, especially when dealing with matters of faith and divine revelation.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s delve deeper with a relevant example from the Old Testament, where we see God exercising wisdom in how He reveals His plans.<\/p>\n

God’s Strategic Wisdom with Moses and Pharaoh<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When God first called Moses through the burning bush, He revealed His divine plan to deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt. But God did not reveal everything upfront. Here\u2019s how the story unfolds:<\/p>\n

Exodus 3:6-10 (NKJV)<\/strong>
\n6<\/strong> \u201cMoreover He said, \u2018I am the God of your father\u2014the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.\u2019 And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.
\n7<\/strong> And the Lord said: \u2018I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
\n8<\/strong> So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
\n9<\/strong> Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
\n10<\/strong> Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.\u2019\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

God\u2019s promise was clear: He would deliver Israel from their oppression and bring them to a land of abundance\u2014the Promised Land. Moses was tasked with conveying this message to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and also to the Israelites. However, when we look closer, we see that God directed Moses to speak carefully when dealing with Pharaoh.<\/p>\n

Exodus 3:16-19 (NKJV)<\/strong><\/p>\n

16<\/strong> \u201cGo and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, \u2018The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, appeared to me, saying: I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt;
\n17<\/strong> and I have said: I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.\u2019
\n18<\/strong> \u201cThen they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt, and you shall say to him, \u2018The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please let us go three days\u2019 journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.\u2019
\n19<\/strong> \u201cBut I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is where God’s strategy comes into play. Notice that God tells Moses to say to Pharaoh that the Israelites need to go three days\u2019 journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to God. God did not tell Moses to reveal the entire plan of deliverance right away<\/strong>. If Pharaoh knew they were planning to leave Egypt permanently, he would likely have opposed them even more vigorously, and God wanted to ensure that His plan unfolded according to His timing.<\/p>\n

Instead, God\u2019s strategy was to speak in a way that would not immediately provoke Pharaoh\u2019s rejection. In effect, God led Moses to tell Pharaoh something that would appear innocent on the surface\u2014just a request for a brief religious pilgrimage\u2014but in reality, it was a cover for the Israelites\u2019 full liberation. This was not a lie, but rather a wise concealment<\/em> of the full details for a greater purpose.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s Wisdom in Our Lives Today<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This example from Moses\u2019 life teaches us a profound lesson in spiritual warfare. As believers, we must be discerning and strategic about how we present our faith, especially to the world. Not everything that God reveals to us needs to be shared immediately, especially if doing so would expose us to unnecessary opposition or harm.<\/p>\n

For instance, if you\u2019ve recently come to faith in Christ, you may be tempted to immediately broadcast your newfound beliefs to everyone around you. While sharing your faith is important, there are times when it\u2019s wiser to first fully detach from your old sinful life before publicly declaring your faith.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take an example from the realm of personal transformation<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

If you were involved in a business, like running a bar, and you\u2019ve now become a Christian, it’s not always the best approach to immediately tell everyone about your decision to stop selling alcohol. Instead, focus on ending the business first<\/em>, making the change in your life, and then later, when you\u2019re secure in your walk with Christ, you can share your testimony with others.<\/p>\n

This aligns with Jesus\u2019 teaching in<\/p>\n

Matthew 10:16 (NKJV)<\/strong>, where He tells His disciples:
\n\u201cBehold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In other words, God wants us to be wise in navigating the challenges of this world. Sometimes, it\u2019s not the time to declare everything upfront, especially when it might cause unnecessary battles.<\/p>\n

The Call to Leave Egypt (Sinful Lifestyle)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When God called the Israelites out of Egypt, He was calling them out of bondage. Egypt, in biblical symbolism, represents sin and the world\u2019s systems that hold people captive. The process of salvation involves not just believing in Christ but also leaving behind the life of sin\u2014our \u201cEgypt\u201d (Romans 6:6; Galatians 5:24).<\/p>\n

For example, if you\u2019ve been living in sin\u2014whether through promiscuity, corruption, or any form of immoral behavior\u2014coming to Christ means you must leave those practices behind. This is not just a change of belief but a change of lifestyle. As 2 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)<\/strong> says:
\n\u201cTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When you leave behind the \u201cworld,\u201d as the Israelites did with Egypt, your testimony of salvation becomes more powerful. At that point, you can confidently declare, \u201cI am saved, and I am no longer part of this world\u2019s system.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, like the Israelites, you don\u2019t have to announce your departure from Egypt to everyone at once. Focus on making the change in your heart and actions first. Then, when you are firmly rooted in Christ, you can testify to others of the freedom you\u2019ve found in Him.<\/p>\n

Conclusion: The Cost of Discipleship<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jesus said,<\/p>\n

\u201cFor what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?\u201d<\/strong> (Mark 8:36 NKJV).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The soul is the most valuable possession we have, and it is worth more than any earthly gain or success. So, whatever it costs, we must prioritize the salvation of our soul over anything else.<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t yet made the decision to follow Christ, today is the day. Repent<\/strong>\u2014which means to turn away from your old life of sin\u2014and accept Jesus as your Savior. Repentance<\/strong> involves not just a change in belief but also a change in behavior. Leave behind your sinful lifestyle, just as the Israelites left Egypt, and follow Christ into the new life He has prepared for you.<\/p>\n

May God bless you as you journey into freedom and salvation.<\/p>\n

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