Who's Listening?

In recent weeks I have seen a massive uptick in the number of people talking with me about an already common complaint. It goes something like this.

“I get so frustrated trying to help people who just won’t listen!”

In fact, if I am honest, I’ve said this more than a few times myself. No one needs to be reminded of how unprecedented the times we are living in are. The addition of the presidential elections heating up certainly is not leading to peace, joy, and happiness either.

As Christians, we are called to be mirrors to reflect the love, peace, and grace our Lord has shown us. But sometimes you get the urge to give someone a throat punch instead of a comforting pat on the back. If we are honest.

In the midst of these frustrations and struggles, I’m reminded of a chapter in Matthew that puzzled me for the longest time.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. “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 turn and tear you to pieces. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:1-11 – NIV

This passage seems straight forward at first.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged” Well, that’s clear right? Jesus goes on to talk about removing your own issues before focusing on problems other people have.

Then He hits us with a curveball.

“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 turn and tear you to pieces.“

Wait, Wait? Then Jesus moves right along to assuring us that if we ask for something then God will give it to us and drawing some interesting comparisons about the giving of gifts.

The first part makes sense, the last part makes sense but the very middle…it boggled my mind. Did Jesus mean to put that there? Was I missing something? 

The answer to both of those was YES!

The secret to understanding this passage lays in some cultural ideas we just do not understand.

This weekend for our service we are going to focus on these verses and unpack what it means to throw pearls to a pig. We will unpack these statements meaning by looking into some historical teaching methods used during this time and diving into some culture we westerners just don’t understand. 

So, my question for you today is, are you listening?

Join us this Sunday live at 10:30 am in person or online.

See you soon!