Devotion #2: Seek Persecution?
“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.” Matthew 7:6
This verse confused me as a new Christian. It can often end up being one of those verses we kind of write off in our own head and then move past (no verses should be like this!). I think understanding a few key terms can help our understanding of the passage.
First, we need to understand the word “dogs” here. Dogs during the time of this writing were mostly wild and viewed as dangerous. In the simplest interpretation, this refers to unbelievers who are hostile to the Gospel. We see this definition line up with other passages of Scripture (for example, Ephesians 2:2 and Revelation 22:15).
The other keyword to understand in this passage is the word “pearls.” We can find the definition of this through something Jesus spoke later in Matthew 13:45-46, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” So, “pearls” in Matthew chapter 7 refers to the treasure we have in our salvation through faith in Christ.
Now that we have that clear, what is this passage saying? Is it saying never to share your faith (your pearls) with unbelievers (dogs)? Obviously not! That directly contradicts the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20! So, what do we make of this passage? We should never avoid offering the Gospel. However, the important distinction this passage makes is that it is not a matter of “don’t share the Gospel,” but rather, it is, “don’t waste your time if someone is actively hostile to it.”
We are called in Scripture to endure persecution, and the Bible tells us that persecution will come (2 Timothy 3:12), but nowhere in Scripture does it say to seek out persecution. Persecution is never the goal of sharing our faith. What did Jesus tell His disciples to do in the face of persecution? Matthew 10:23 says, “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
We see in Acts where Paul and Barnabas were persecuted, and what was their response? “Shook the dust from their feet” and moved on! Acts 13:50-51 records, “But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium.”
I have seen too many people in my lifetime carrying the Christian name go out and incite anger from unbelievers under the guise of being “persecuted” rather than genuinely share the Gospel in love. Will the Gospel sometimes bring persecution in response to it being shared? Yes. However, as with many things, it boils down to your heart. Is your heart looking to be persecuted so you can be viewed as a “holy” person, or are you genuinely trying to bring others to faith in Jesus? The Gospel is needed in our world. We need to genuinely seek to make disciples of all nations, not fan a flame of hatred.