Stay until the end, because today you may finally understand one of the strongest and deepest things Jesus ever said… and one of the most misunderstood.
When Jesus said:
“Do not give what is holy to dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”
(Matthew 7:6)
He was not promoting hatred, arrogance, or contempt toward people. Jesus was teaching something very important: not everyone knows how to value what is sacred.
In biblical times, dogs were not seen the way they are today. They were not household pets. Many were wild, aggressive animals that lived among garbage. And pigs, for the Jewish people, represented impurity. Jesus uses these images to speak about people who completely reject what is holy, mock it, or destroy it.
First, He mentions “what is holy.”
What is holy represents the things that belong to God.
Truth.
The Word.
Faith.
Deep spiritual things.
And Jesus says we should not hand these things carelessly to people who only want to mock them, profane them, or attack them.
Then He speaks about “pearls.”
Pearls were extremely valuable. They symbolized something precious and rare. And many times, those pearls represent the most valuable things God has placed inside you: your heart, your experiences, your faith, your sincere advice, your love, your healed wounds, your time, and even your peace.
Jesus is teaching that there are people who cannot recognize the value of certain spiritual and emotional things. Just like a pig cannot understand the value of a pearl and simply tramples it in the mud, there are people who receive something valuable… and destroy it because they do not know how to appreciate it.
That still happens today.
There are people who hear the Word of God and laugh at it.
People who turn every conversation into an argument.
People who use your weaknesses to humiliate you.
People who ask for help but reject every piece of advice.
People who come close only to criticize, attack, or manipulate.
And many times, you end up emotionally exhausted trying to explain deep things to people whose hearts are already closed.
Jesus did not say this so we would hate anyone.
In fact, Jesus loved sinners, rejected people, and difficult people. He ate with them and spoke to them with mercy. The problem was not their sin. The problem was the hardness of the heart of those who did not want to listen and only wanted to destroy.
That is why this teaching is about spiritual discernment.
Because one thing is to love…
and another thing is to hand over the most sacred parts of your life to people who will only trample on them.
Sometimes you share your deepest struggles with the wrong person and end up more wounded.
Sometimes you want to speak about God and people only want to mock you.
Sometimes you try to help someone who does not want to change and you end up emotionally destroyed.
And Jesus is saying:
be careful with that.
Not everyone is ready to receive certain truths.
Not every conversation will bear fruit.
Not every heart is open.
Even Jesus remained silent before people who only wanted to accuse Him and trap Him. He did not waste words where He knew there would be no repentance or humility.
That is not a lack of love.
That is wisdom.
Many Christians live frustrated because they want to convince everyone. But there are moments when the wisest thing is not to keep arguing… but to remain silent and protect your heart.
Because what is holy deserves respect.
And pearls need protection.
Let me leave you with this reflection:
Do not allow the wrong people to destroy the most valuable things God has placed inside you. Love everyone, yes. Pray for everyone, too. But learn to discern where to open your heart and where to remain silent. Not out of pride… but because there are sacred things that should not be trampled.
And I invite you to join me in this prayer:
Lord, give me discernment to know when to speak and when to remain silent. Help me protect the holy things You have placed in my life and not hand my heart over to places where there will only be mockery and destruction. Teach me to love without losing wisdom, and to show compassion without allowing others to destroy my peace. Amen.
Somos Cristianos, connecting hearts with Christ.
