{17} Throwing pearls before swine [Mt 7:6]

Mt 7:6
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

Problem:

· “Good news” is meant to be given to everyone. Why should discrimination be exercised?

Context:

· last passage of the Sermon on the Mount

Explanation:

· Pearls mean things of beauty. The Kingdom of God is referred to as the pearl of great price (Mt 13:45-46).

· It is a further explanation or application of judging others (Mt 7:1‑5).

· General meaning: objects of value, special privileges, and participation in sacred things should not be offered to those who are incapable of appreciating them.

· Levertoff: “We may not judge or condemn anyone, but on the other hand, we must have “a sense of judgment” in our contacts with our fellow‑men.” That means to exercise a proper discrimination.

· Pearls of great price must not be offered indiscriminantly to those who would ridicule and despise them, and become increasingly antagonistic.

· Jesus Himself knew that it was useless to impart His message to some people, e.g. He had no answer for Herod Antipas when Herod questioned Him (Lk 23:9).

· Teaching should be given in accordance with the spiritual capacity of the learners. (NIV Study Bible)

Application:

· “Good news” is to be spread but it is not proper for Christians to exercise discrimination in deciding who should and who should not hear the good news. But in the event that the hearer despise the goods news, discrimination should be exercised.

{18} Violence and the Kingdom of God [Mk 11:12; Lk 16:16]

Mt 11:12
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.

Lk 16:16
The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

Problem:

· How is violence or force related to the Kingdom of God?

Context:

· Matthew version: after the proclamation of Jesus that John the Baptist is the greatest among those born of women.

· Luke version: between the story of the dishonest steward and the story of the rich man and Lazarus, linked together by the general theme of the Law.

Explanation:

· Both versions refer to the ministry of John the Baptist as an epoch marking the end of the old age and the approach of a new (Mt 11:13).

· Matthew version:

· NIV: “Kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing” — in the ministry of Jesus the Kingdom of heaven was on the march against the forces of evil that held the souls and bodies of men and women in bondage.

· RSV: “kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence” — e.g. imprisonment of John the Baptist, the climax in the attack is the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus.

· “forceful men” — men who violently attack the Kingdom at that time or the party of Zealots (men of Palestine trying to bring in the Kingdom by force of arms).

· Luke version:

· “forcing his way into it” — pressing into the kingdom “with the greatest earnestness, self-denial and determination, as though with spiritual violence”; or, pressing into the Kingdom must be at least as much in earnest as the party of Zealots.

· “Kingdom of God” means the “kingly rule” or “reign” of God. It is described in the Gospels that the reign of God has begun with Jesus. The messianic ministry of Jesus is the Kingdom of God because this is God acting in His royal power, visiting and redeeming His people.

· Twofold fulfilment of the Kingdom of God:

· Inauguration (initial coming) with Jesus’ first coming, Satan’s power restricted; after the resurrection, the Kingdom of God was on earth de jure (by right) or “in principle”.

· Consummation (eventual coming) with Jesus’ second coming, Satan destroyed, the Kingdom of God on earth de facto (in fact).