Who are the pigs?
I read this, this morning and had the thought..
Who are the pigs? The interesting thing is that it is in the beatitudes. Yet right after healing many in chapter 4. causing a large crowd to follow Him, then ending with Healing a leper in chapter 8 of Matt.
It seems to me that in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus addresses the contrast of those in power. The authority and challenges them with the coming of the Kingdom. Jesus is saying in affect that things in the Kingdom are upside down from this world’s power structure.
So, after he says “check the log in your own eye.”
He goes on to say;
“Matt7:6 “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.”
In that I have always assumed it to be, people in general who do not care to hear the Good News, yet here I see with the “political” attachment that Jesus is talking of the religious leaders. The same He called “vipers” and “white washed tombs”.
The reason I say that is because the Jews were looking for a political leader to run Rome out of town and instead this prophet, Jesus, shows up and seems to be against the religious leaders. To the point of going out of His way to touch those who were deemed unclean, such as the lepers. I see this is still actively true today… Be that anyone who desires to control others or God Himself by the power of Religion. In this they attempt to hold God hostage and His people hostage as they hold God to their doctrine… as opposed to having a relationship with the Father through Jesus. In essence they desire to be higher than God.
So, I am saying that my view has shifted in the last few years to seeing Jesus had and still has a specific agenda, of the, “on earth as it is in Heaven.” of tossing the Power and Authority structure on it’s head, and replacing it with a Relational system, based on our relationship with Jesus and being part of His Kingdom.
I guess I have tossed out enough fodder for thought... What think ye?
Blessings,
iggy
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4 comments:
The most widely accepted understanding of this passage (which seems to fit the context the best) is that the pigs and dogs in this verse refer to particularly vile persons (as pigs and dogs are ritually unclean animals) and that the pearls are reproofs given to them by the Scriptures. Basically it is saying not to bother pointing out the sins of people who are so lost to sin that they will not only toss out the message, but perhaps try to kill the messenger. It's kind of the counterpart to don't point out the sins of others when your sin is greater. One is saying that you are in no position to give correction and the other is saying that they are in no position to recieve it.
You are right that the "system" put in place by Jesus is based on our relationship to Him, but let us not forget that Christ's relationship to us is one of authority and thus dictates an authority amongst His church.
Dan,
I would disagree with the last statement... at least about the Christ's relationship is one of authority...
I still say it is love... as Jesus called the disciples his brothers.
In that there is not the need for the authority as Love fullfills the greater Law... which is Love.
Philippians 1:8. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
10. so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11. filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.
blessings,
iggy
Before I start responding to this, let me make sure that I understand you. Are you saying that Christ has no authority over us? Are we not to serve Him and his will? Do we have our own authority that is equal to his?
Dan
Dan,
No. In no way am i saying that at all. I am saying that the authority we think of as Power and Authority... is part, but it is Ruled by Love...
In a Kingdom the only subjects that need to worry about "authority and Power" are those who are doing things wrong... all the others can rest knowing that they are secure in the Kingdom and protected... and in a way loved by the King... now this falls short as an analogy as a worldly king would have conditional love while God's love is unconditional.
Yet, we are in a loving relationship with Christ, so in that we do nto need to worry about His Power and Authority as we are now joint heirs in Christ. We share that authroity and Power as Christ imputes it to us.
Many just approach God from the P and A position and miss out on the relational aspect of our faith. That we are now able to approach the Throne of Grace boldly and cry Daddy! I hope you do not think of your own dad as just a P and A in your life, but think of him as a loving relationship...
Blessings,
iggy
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