Title: Watch for Holiness (Matthew 07:6-14)
Content: God is love, and we must love our neighbors. But while you love, you must not love even sin.
Because our body is the temple of God, we must sanctify it without mixing it with sin. It is said that the blessed man neither stands nor sits in the way of sinners (Psalm 1:1-6).
1. Holy means 'earring' in Hebrew. However, in today's text, it is compared to a 'pearl'. It is set apart in the Old Testament meaning, and it means 'sacrificing' to God.
(Ex 29:33 Lev 2:3, 22:10-16, Num 18:8-10) If we are to become living sacrifices before God, and to offer living sacrifices, we must be set apart. Therefore, we must not neglect or expose ourselves to unclean sins and evils.
2. Do not give anything holy to dogs or pigs.
When the text tells us not to give holy things to dogs or pigs, it refers to the 'gospel of redemption of Jesus Christ'. However, this gospel of redemption must not be given to dogs or pigs.
So, what does a dog or a pig mean? Dogs and pigs are words used by Jews to represent Gentiles. Then, specifically, what kind of strangers like dogs and pigs are1) Dogs - Fallen apostates (workers) (Isaiah 56:11, Phil 3:2), those who practice dirty deeds by eating back what they have vomited.
In Philippians 3:2, "Beware of dogs, beware of evildoers, and beware of the circumcision." 2) Pigs - Refers to fallen believers. In 2 Peter 2:22, "The true proverb, saying, The dog returns to its vomit, and the pig, after washing, lies back in the filthy pit," has been fulfilled. 3) Pearl-holy thing = Gospel of Jesus Christ's redemption
3. Reasons not to give the pearls of the Gospel to dogs or pigs 1) Apostates or traitors do not work spiritually.
2) It is because they do not know the preciousness of the gospel, which is holy, and they do not know the vitality of the gospel.
3) This is to prevent misuse and abuse of the holy gospel.
<Conclusion> You should not work with or have fellowship with those who depart from the truth and degenerate from the true gospel, fill their lusts with the gospel, and go into foolish ways. You will only have to keep the truth and win through faith.