[Pastor Ralph]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

[Tabatha]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

There are those Jesus calls dogs and swine. We think this sounds rather un-Christ like, except Christ said it. These terms probably refer to those who have professed loving God, but are now apostate ( 2 Peter 2: 20-22 ) - their lifestyle or their doctrine shows that they are not of us.
Can you imagine giving Holy food from the temple to an uclean dog scavenger? Of course not! Pearls were extremely precious. To throw them into the pig pen would be to not only lose them in the slime, but also to anger the pig, who might come after you for throwing him inedible food.


Pigs were unclean animals according to God's law ( Deuteronomy 14:8 ). Anyone who touched an unclean animal became " ceremonially unclean" and could not go to the temple to worship until the uncleanness was removed . Jesus says that we should not entrust Holy teachings to Unholy or unclean people. It is futile to try to teach Holy concepts to people who don't want to listen and will only tear it apart what we say. We should not stop giving God's Word to unbelievers , but we should be wise and discerning in what we teach to whom , so that we will not be wasting our time.

When leaving Gentile cities, pious Jews often shook the dust from their feet to show their seperation from Gentile practices. Jesus tells his disciples to shake the dust off their feet if a city or home didn't welcome them? If the disciples shook the dust of a Jewish town from their feet, it would show their seperation from Jews who rejected their Messiah. This gesture was to show the people that they were making a wrong choice.

They preached to the Gentiles because the Jews were jealous and would not accept the gospel.

[JustJeff]

During Jesus' time dogs and swine were unclean and of no value whereas holy food and pearls were and are wholesome and of great worth.
In Titus 3:10 we are instructed to walk away from a heretick after one or two admonitions. It is useless to continue to witness to someone who is convinced that you are wrong. It will only lead to an argument which is sin.
Once one becomes comfortable witnessing to folks it will become easy to discern the type of response you are getting. The disciples were able to recognize those who readily received the Good News and as a result many were converted. They walked away from or, dusted the dirt off of their feet, those who were not interested. Saves us a lot of grief and adds to our prayer list.

[Cee]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

They both was unclean animals to the Jews. The people belived in the Good News and was baptized daily. Jews and Gentiles

[love.serve.know]

In Jesus' day dogs and pigs were both unclean animals. Neither holy food nor pearls were meant to be eaten and both were special. Believers would not continue to share the gospel when people rejected it. After the Jews rejected the gospel they began to share with Gentiles.

[Elwood C O'Dell]

The holy food and pearls were of value in the fact that the food was set aside for temple use and the pearls carried a value commercially. No one in their right mind would waste the sacred temple food on a dog nor would they throw into the slime of a pig pen something as valuable as a pearl. The gospel carries just such a value and as I understand it one should not waste time trying to continue to share it with those who reject it outright and who slander and discredit it. We need to be sharing with those whose hearts are open and hungry to be fed.

[charisbarak]

Both were unclean.
Holy food & pearls were of great value--set apart from the unclean.
They turned away from those who became abusive as they opposed & became jealous--not welcomed or would not listen.
Continued witness to those who were eager to hear--the gentiles!

[JanMary]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

1)In Jesus' day, dogs were scavengers who ate "road Kill". Jews referred to Gentiles as "dogs", meaning unclean outsiders...Pigs were unclean, and were only raised by "dogs", or Gentiles, and were forbidden for consumption in the Jewish law. In other words, both were to be avoided, as unclean.

2)Holy food and pearls were highly valued, clean, desirable..too precious to be wasted on dogs & pigs.

3)They turned away from those who became abusive, and were disinterested, rejecting the gospel outright.

4)They continued to witness to those whom they discerned were "hungry for Holy food", showed interest and were receptive to the gospel.

[jjjj]

Pigs and dogs were both seen as unclean animals in the times of Jesus. Holy Food and Pearls had value in this time. Conditional Giving - you would not be wise if you gave something valuable to someone who abused and rejectes the gift; you would give the gift to those that recognized the value. It is the same with witnessing. Opportunity and Holy Spirit prompting often works, rather than using your witness as judgement tool or weapon..

[Lisa Rupert]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common?Dog's and pig's in Jesus' day were both considered unclean animals.

What would holy food and pearls have in common?
The commonality between holy food and pearls are that they were both precious.

Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel?
When the Jews saw the large crowds they were jealous and became angry and they did not want to have anything to do with what was being shared which was the gospel.

To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?
They decided to witness to those that wanted to hear, which were the Gentiles.

[Stan]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?
Dogs and pigs were the scavengers of the time eating from the dead carcuses that were left to decay and in some cases human as in the case of Jezebel in the the Old Testament. Holy Food and pearls were of great value pearls to people and the Holy Food to God as a sacrifice.

If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town." (Matthew 10:14)
"When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.... The Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium." (Acts 13:44-45, 50-51)
"When the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, [Paul] shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, 'Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.'" (Acts 18:5-6)

Believers in this case Paul turned from the Jews because they refused to hear his gospel and accept the gift that Jesus was sent as their saviour. He told them that because they refused to hear He would go to the gentiles the one they considered dogs as when Jesus told the Semartian woman that the childrens food was not to be given to the dogs.She replied that yes Lord but even the dogs are allow to eat the crumbs that fell from the table and Christ told her to go her faith had healed her daughter. So Paul was taking the gosple and the love of Jesus to the undeserving gentiles.

[Dar]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common?
Dogs, the Jews called Gentiles' dogs, because they were unbelievers, did not believe in the one God of Israel.
Phi 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers.

Pigs, the Jews had nothing to do with pigs, they were a ceremonially unclean animal,
it symbolized a person's unredeemed nature. A person reached his lowest,
if they had to take care of the pigs.

What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28.
Holy food is that which is sacred, holy food is what God has given to us, His Word, holy food indeed.

Pearls represent that which is highly valuable, and we see its true meaning in Christ Jesus, the "pearl of great price."= Righteousness.

In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel?
They turned away from those who would tramble on what is Holy, priceless, highly valued; Those who will only argue, back bite, those who speak evil, and to those who love to wallow in the muddy pits of sin, comfortable living in the flesh.

To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?
This brings to my mind Mat 15:26 But He, Jesus, answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
This story is about a woman of Canaan, who came out and cried unto Jesus, saying, "Have mercy on me, o Lord,Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. Jesus did not answer her, and the disciples asked Jesus to send her away. (She was a heathen woman from Canaan)

Jesus answered and said, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" But, what did this woman, who they called a dog, a heathen do? She came and worshipped Jesus, asking Him for help. Even after Jesus said it is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to dogs, that she answered, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

What a lesson to the disciples, and to us, as Jesus said unto her, "O woman, great is your faith; your daughter will be made whole this very hour.

Yes, there are heathen people who are hungry to hear, to believe, so lets not waste what is valuable on those who are not hungry, do not want to believe, time is short, and God's holy food, His Word, is too valuable to waste on those who have ears that will not hear.

[Roxanne]

[quote name='Pastor Ralph' date='Dec 19 2007, 11:56 PM' post='32224']
Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

THEY WERE UNCLEAN ANIMALS..RIGHTEOUSNESS...NON BELIEVERS...PEOPLE EAGER TO HEAR THE WORD!!

[Patricia A]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common?
One of the keys is to understand the view of dogs and pigs in Hebrew culture. Pigs, of course, were considered unclean animals; Jews were forbidden to eat pork of any kind. Only Gentiles raised pigs
What would holy food and pearls have in common?
Pearls were extremely precious. To throw them into the pig pen would be to not only lose them in the slime, but also to anger the pig, who might come after you for throwing him inedible food.
Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel?
When people openly reject the gospel.



To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?
They continued to witness to those who wanted to hear--the Gentiles

[AngelOnLine]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common?
Pigs were considered unclean by the Jews. At that time dogs were scavengers which would make them unclean also.

What would holy food and pearls have in common?
They were both highly valued items. The holy food was used only in the Temple and the pearls were valued as precious gems.

Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel?
Believers began to turn away from sharing the Gospel when people began to reject it.

To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?
They continued their witness to those who showed an interest in it and were receptive to the Gospel.

[RAJU]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?

Dogs and pigs are unclean animals . Holy Food and pearls are precious and just the opposite
We should turn away from sharing the gospel if a peron is argumentative for arguments sake

[June]

Dogs & pigs were unclean animals for the Jews. They could not eat pork. The Gentiles were the dogs they were raising the swine. The people that openly rejected Christ's Gospel. Holy food & pearls were precious.
If the Jewish people wouldn't listen to the words, then shake the dust from the feet and move on. Then they went to the Gentiles, who were more willing to listen & were hungry for the Word.

[masika]

Q4. (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? What would holy food and pearls have in common? Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?
Dogs and Pigs were unclean animals. Anyone who touched an unclean animal become “ceremonial unclean” and could not go to the Temple to worship until the uncleanness was removed.
Holy food and pearls represent Holy teaching.
We should not entrust Holy teaching to unholy or unclean people. It is futile to try to teach holy concepts to people who do not want t listen and will only tear apart what we say.
We should not stop giving God’s word to unbelievers, but we should be wise and discerning in our witnessing, so that we will not be wasting our time.

[emmaus]

The pigs and dogs were both unclean. Holy food and pearls would have great value in common. They turned away from those who there was no hope for. They went to those who welcomed them and hungered for hope.

[mags]

In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common?
They were the lowest of the low - unclean

What would holy food and pearls have in common?
The preciousness of both - they are both precious

In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel?
They heard yet they did not listen - they were openly preached to yet they didn't want to listen - their hearts were hard.

To what kinds of people did they continue their witness?
Gentiles - to those who would listen and receive