Pearls, Pigs, Prayers, and People

In this practical message on Matthew 7:6–12, Chuck Swindoll guides believers through three distinct but vital relational dynamics: discerning when to speak, persisting in prayer, and treating others with Christlike dignity. Swindoll notes that while the previous passage warned against a critical, judgmental spirit, Jesus balances this by commanding His followers not to be simpletons. He urges them to use discernment, warning against sharing the "holy" treasure of the Gospel with those who have "dog-like" or "swine-like" hostility toward the truth [12–13, 17]. Swindoll then transitions to the topic of prayer, encouraging believers to move from hesitation to boldness. Using the acronym A.S.K. (Ask, Seek, Knock), he explains that the Greek text implies continuous action—"keep on asking, keep on seeking." He dismantles the fear that God is stingy or cruel, using the illustration of a father who would never give a hungry son a stone or a snake. If imperfect human parents know how to give good gifts, how much more will the Heavenly Father give what is good to those who ask Him [18, 22–24]. The message concludes with the "Everest of Ethics": the Golden Rule. Swindoll argues that the most powerful evangelism is a life that models this principle. He shares the moving story of a soldier who gave donuts to a starving boy in war-torn London, prompting the boy to ask, "Are you God?" Swindoll challenges listeners to live in such a way that their actions make the character of God visible to a watching world.

Message Key Facts:

• Discernment vs. Judgment: Swindoll clarifies that while we are not to judge (condemn) others, we must judge our audience. The command not to cast pearls before swine teaches that "discernment must temper our declaration." We must recognize when the timing is wrong or when a heart is too hostile to receive the truth.
• Defining "Dogs" and "Swine": In the context of Jesus' day, these were not cute house pets. "Dogs" referred to wild, diseased packs that would attack, and "swine" were unclean animals that lived in filth. These metaphors describe people with hostile natures who will trample spiritual treasures and attack the messenger [13–14].
• The "Napkin" Illustration: Swindoll shares a personal failure in discernment. While lunching with a physician, he drew a bridge illustration on a napkin to explain the Gospel. The physician snatched the napkin and rejected it, saying, "Not in a million years." Swindoll realized he had tried to force-feed truth to someone who was not ready, rather than waiting for a "thaw" in the man's heart [16–17].
• The Power of One Word: To illustrate the impact of communication, Swindoll lists single words that change lives instantly, such as "Benign," "Innocent," "Pregnant," or "Safe." He connects this to the power of the Gospel words like "Saved" and "Grace" [7–10].
• A.S.K. – Continuous Prayer: Swindoll notes that the verbs in Matthew 7:7 are in the present tense, meaning "keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking." He emphasizes that persistence is required and that God’s "wait" is not necessarily a "no" [18–19].
• The "Fish and Snake" Analogy: To illustrate God's goodness, Swindoll uses his own grandson, Austin. When Austin orders a massive seafood platter, Swindoll doesn't serve him a plate of snakes. This underscores the argument from the lesser to the greater: if human fathers are good, God is infinitely better [23–24].
• The "Revised Version" of the Bible: Swindoll quotes a poet who suggests that the world reads the "gospel according to you." He argues that "modeling must accompany our message," because a life lived by the Golden Rule is undeniable proof of God's love to a hard-hearted world.

Message References:

• Matthew 7:6: The command not to give what is holy to dogs or cast pearls before swine.
• Matthew 7:7–8: The command to "Ask, Seek, and Knock," promising that those who persist will receive.
• Matthew 7:9–11: The illustration of the father giving bread/fish rather than a stone/snake, highlighting God's "much more" willingness to bless.
• Matthew 7:12: The Golden Rule: "Treat people the same way you want them to treat you," summarized as the Law and the Prophets.
• Isaiah 40:28–31: Referenced regarding "waiting on the Lord" and gaining new strength.
• Proverbs 25:11: "Words fitly spoken are like apples of gold in pictures of silver".
• James 5:16: "The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much".
• Psalm 66:18: Referenced to show that regarding iniquity in the heart hinders prayer.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll