As the Sermon on the Mount continues into chapter 7, the question remains of if Jesus is still talking about finances? The first 5 verses do not seem to imply that He is, but why did Jesus state what He did in the sixth verse? Matthew 7:6 states, “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” (NASB). What does this statement have to do with judging another or removing specks from eyes?

Looking closer to the wording of this verse, we are commanded not to give what is holy to dogs. We see here that Jesus is speaking figuratively. The Greek word used for dogs is “kuon” which is generally translated as a dog, but is also generally translated in figurative understanding of a “spiritual predator who feeds off others” (Strong’s 2965, http://biblehub.com/greek/2965.htm ). The reality is that there are those out there who are seeking to take what you have received in faith for their own personal gain.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon goes on to make this statement about throwing your pearls before the swine, “to thrust the most sacred and precious teachings of the gospel upon the most wicked and abandoned men (incompetent as they are, through their hostility to the gospel, to receive them), and thus profane them” (Strong’s 3135, http://biblehub.com/greek/3135.htm ).

This 6^th verse of chapter 7 cannot be separated from the following 6 verses, especially verse 11. God gives good gifts to those who ask Him. He gives Spiritual gifts to those who ask Him in faith. As much as we have been taught to give in such a way that the left hand does not know what the right hand is giving, there are some gifts that are not meant to be given away. Jesus is now sharing a teaching of the spirit that is intended to be heard by those who are spiritual. Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit is saying. It is all about hearing the voice of God.

When we receive from God, some things we are to consume and some things we are to give. However, sometimes God gives even more special things to us because we have found favor with Him. Look how God blessed Solomon with great splendor, and then look how it was all lost by revealing it to the “dogs” and “swine” of that day. So let us revert back to the focus of Jesus’ righteousness and His kingdom (Matt. 6:33). We do not condemn others for an error in their focus. We gently restore when we are instructed to do so, knowing that with our focus on His righteousness there will not be a plank blocking our focus. So as we hear Him properly, we give what we are instructed to give to whom we are instructed to give it to. We consume what we have been given for our own needs. We keep what we are instructed to keep for God to receive the glory in how He blesses us. It is all about hearing His voice.

I desire to live by faith, and faith alone!