These dogs were not tamed pets, but an out-of-control, wild, dangerous, wandering, nomadic collection of diseased, mangy dogs. Even worse, they were always trying to get into people’s houses and gardens where they could find better food. To prevent the dogs from getting in where they weren’t supposed to be, walls often had to be built as defenses to keep them out!
Have you been putting your time and energy into someone who is bullheaded and resists you every step of the way? Does that person stubbornly defy your suggestions and act offended every time you try to help him? If so, maybe it’s time for you to turn your attention to someone else who is openhearted and who truly has a genuine desire to learn from you.
The word “holy” is the word hagios, which refers to something that is so hallowed that you would consider it to be very precious. So Jesus’ words should be translated, “Never give what is hallowed and precious to the dogs.…” Once again, there is no room for misunderstanding here — Jesus said this should never be done!
Yes, these people are precious, and you need to treat each of them as a unique creation of God. But your gifts are also precious, and you need to be valued and appreciated as well. If you have given again and again to the same people, but they consistently refuse to appreciate or value what you have given them, you need to respect yourself enough to quit giving away the precious things of your life to people who don’t even care.
Lord, I am asking You to help me discern when the holy things I share are being appreciated and valued, and when I am being ignored by those I am trying to help. Forgive me for investing too much of myself into people who aren’t committed to applying what I have to teach them. I just wanted the best for them, and that’s why it’s been so hard for me to let them go. But today I am making a decision to start viewing myself, my experience, and my wisdom as treasures to be valued and held in esteem. From this moment onward, I ask You to help me invest these treasures into people who will listen, take what I have to share deeply into their hearts, and then apply those truths to their lives.
Breaking Down the Key Parts of Matthew 7:6
#1 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.” Both dogs and pigs are unclean animals. The symbolism, though it sounds harsh, is that the people who have rejected God and his people are not sacred and not clean.
#2 “if you do, they may trample them under their feet,” The gospel should be preached to all people, but the children of Satan (Jn 8) will only trample the truth and go on the offensive in their hatred of God and the things of God. When an unbeliever who refuses God, though deep down they know the truth, hears the gospel, they are enraged. Christ says that they may be trampled by them. The other thing the “swine” may be is indifferent. In either case, moving on to fertile soil is in order.
#3 “and turn and tear you to pieces.” This will obviously come on a spectrum of severity. Some will stop at glaring and verbally tearing down the truth-teller. Others have violently persecuted prophets and preachers, even killing them.
Jesus marveled at her faith and declared her daughter to be healed of the demon oppression. His healing of the woman’s daughter was a foretaste of the broader mission He would assume, being a light to the Gentiles so that men and women from every tribe, tongue, and nation would confess that Jesus is Lord. This theme of Jesus as the expected Jewish Messiah who would become the Savior to the Gentiles is repeated throughout the Gospel of Matthew. This incident with the Syrophoenician woman was a hint of the Great Commission Jesus gives us to “make disciples of all nations.”
The passage you are reciting is often clouded with controversy because of the directness of Jesus’ words to the Syrophoenician (Canaanite) woman. Some argue that Jesus is exclusive and derogatory. He used the word “dog” to describe the woman and her ailing child. Let’s read the story of her encounter with Christ and then we will explain Jesus’ words.
So we ask, why did Jesus refer to this woman as a dog? Commentators, especially recent ones, try to pin Jesus as a racist and insensitive person. If that is the case, why did Jesus help other Gentiles in Scripture, like the Roman centurion? Why did Jesus talk with the adulterous Samaritan woman at the well? Why did Jesus speak of the “good Samaritan” as a godly example compassion over and above priests and Levites? Jesus was not racist or insensitive. He rather had a different intent in referring to the woman as a “dog.”
The word “dog” is a derogatory term in Ancient Israel. Dogs were not your normal friendly and helpful house pets. The dogs of the Old Testament were ravenous, blood thirsty hounds who traveled in packs. They devoured whatever came in their presence. The Israelites often referred to the Gentiles as dogs because they were not ceremonially clean. They were outside the covenant community. Jesus is not the only New Testament person to use the term “dog,” Paul uses the word to describe Jewish Christians who sought to undermine the Gospel by preaching a “different gospel” of circumcision in Philippians 3:1-2 (cf. Galatians 1-3). In summation, dogs were unfavorably viewed in Israel. To call someone a “dog” would be one of the worst insults.
Jesus’ use of the word “dog” tested the woman’s persistence. He repeatedly made clear what His original mission was: to save “the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. He was merely stating that she was not a Jew and did not have a seat at the table. However, just as the Roman centurion made comments to Jesus about how he is under Christ’s authority, the Syrophoenician woman asserted herself to be in the Master’s court, receiving the scraps from the table. She did not show insult to His comments, rather she made a confession of faith in Jesus, attesting to His healing power. She acknowledged Jesus’ first mission to the Jews, but considered herself one of the Gentiles who would receive the “overflow” blessing.