6 “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
Matthew 7:6
Dear God, this verse almost feels like it is on an island in the middle of this sermon. It’s right after not judging people–this feels like judging–and right before ask, seek, and knock. I supposed I should point out that this is the New Living Translation. The NIV starts with, “Do not give dogs what is sacred.” The note in my NIV Study Bible for verse 6 says, “Teaching should be given in accordance with the spiritual capacity of the learners. dogs. The unclean dogs of the street were held in low esteem.”
Well, I don’t know exactly what to do with this verse. I suppose it might be easier if I were to think of living as your disciple in the midst of people who are hateful towards you. How would I respond to them? How did you respond to them? Would it be foolishness to try to share my faith with them because it would only inflame their anger and turn them more against you? Is it better that I just love them and then have them ask me about you through the relationship we build?
Frankly, I’ve always struggled with this one sentence. It just seems so incongruous with the rest of your teachings. It seems out of step even with the first five verses of this chapter. The Communicator’s Commentary – Matthew by Myron Augsburger even seems to struggle with this verse a little: “The word-pictures in verse 6 are not easy to interpret. They evidently mean that we should not handle the pearls of the Gospel carelessly or present truths of grace to persons who will only seek to destroy them…the early church used this verse to mean discrimination in the fellowship with respect to pseudobelievers and followers of the various religions of the Roman Empire…Basically the passage is a call for discernment in relating to others.”
Father, give me a lot of discernment today. I have some leading to do at my work through some tricky waters. Help me to be exactly what you need me to be for people whom you love and who love you. Be glorified in my life.
I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Emails to God 
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
Matthew 7:13-14
Dear God, I wanted to see what the commentary I normally use (The Communicator’s Commentary) had to say about this passage. For Matthew, the author, Myron Augsburger, made this statement that I liked: “Conversion to Christ is a change of direction from our way to His way, but following conversion or change of direction we still need to decide at which level we will live our lives [emphasis mine]. We will live either at a level of magnanimity or at a level of mediocrity.”
How many of us settle for mediocrity? How often do I settle for mediocrity? Over the years, how many times have I settled? I suppose the good news is that, for some reason, I always get pulled back to the narrow path. Maybe it’s conscience. Maybe it’s guilt. Maybe it’s hunger for you. Even now, as I sit here at 4:21 in the afternoon writing this prayer to you, I have chosen a pretty mediocre path for the most of this day. I’m quarantining since my wife has COVID, caring for her and being available to her, but I haven’t taken any person time with you until now. Any dedicated contemplative time until now. I’ve watched some Olympics. I’ve read some in the book I’m reading. I took the dog for a long walk. But other than that I haven’t done much.
Not that every day has to be everything. And I suppose I cannot always be operating at 100% effectiveness. There is a call for Sabbath, after all. But I could have been here earlier with you today. I could have worshipped you more.
Father, maybe I’m sad about some situations in my life. I know of some people who are experiencing strife with others. That breaks my heart. Please let there be peace there and let the pain they are experiencing count. Whether it’s marriages, friendships, or family relationships, please bring peace and growth through the pain. For those who are sick, including my wife, please bring healing. I’m also thinking of a couple of friends who are experiencing illness. One who is at the end of his long life as well. Bring the healing you have for all of them. Oh, Lord, bring your healing in me as well. Heal my soul. Forgive me of my sin. Heal my heart and the scars that have formed. Comfort me. Guide me. And help me to stay on this narrow path.
I offer this to you in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Posted by John D. Willome on August 4, 2024 in Matthew, Sermon on the Mount
Tags: Myron Augsburger, Sermon on the Mount, The Communicator's Commentary