We’ve all been there—pouring our hearts out to someone, sharing something deeply valuable or personal, only to feel dismissed or misunderstood. It’s frustrating and disheartening, isn’t it? In moments like these, it’s easy to feel like we’ve wasted something precious. This is exactly what Jesus was warning against in Matthew 7:6 when He said, "Do not cast your pearls before swine." It’s one of those verses that grabs your attention but might leave you wondering, what exactly does that mean? How does it apply to our lives today?
Learning to love people because Jesus loves them, is important and good, yet Scripture also reminds us that Jesus didn’t entrust His heart to people (John 2:24-25), so there is a way for us to figure out loving people without giving ourselves to them — and perhaps learning this balance will make us more healthy on our end of relationships.
In this passage, Jesus wasn’t calling anyone a pig, but rather, He was teaching us about discernment—knowing when and where to share the valuable parts of ourselves, our faith, and our wisdom. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the meaning of this verse and explore how it can help us protect the things that matter most from being undervalued or misused. Whether it’s your time, your energy, or your faith, there’s wisdom in learning when to share and when to hold back. Let’s explore what Jesus really meant and how we can live it out in our everyday lives.
In Matthew 7:6, Jesus says, "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces." At first glance, this verse may seem harsh, but it carries important wisdom about discernment and how we share what’s valuable in our lives. When Jesus said not to cast pearls before swine, He was instructing His children to be wise and discerning about their relationships. In so many words, He was saying, “Consider the source.”
This verse is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, one of His most profound and comprehensive teachings, where He lays out the principles for how His followers should live in a way that reflects God’s kingdom. In Matthew 7, Jesus addresses various aspects of human relationships, focusing on how we should interact with others in a spirit of humility, discernment, and love. He emphasizes avoiding hypocrisy in judgment and encourages His listeners to treat others with fairness and compassion.
Just before this verse, Jesus speaks about the dangers of judging others harshly or hypocritically, urging His followers to examine their own lives before pointing out the flaws in others. This teaching focuses on self-reflection and humility, helping us recognize our own need for grace before trying to correct someone else.
The phrase "do not cast your pearls before swine" is a powerful metaphor that draws on the cultural imagery of Jesus’ time. In Jewish culture, both dogs and pigs were seen as unclean animals—symbols of those who do not value or respect what is holy. Pearls, in contrast, represent something precious, valuable, and pure. By using this imagery, Jesus is cautioning His followers against giving what is sacred and valuable to those who will not understand or appreciate it. It’s not a condemnation of people, but rather a reminder to be wise about when and where to share the deeper truths of faith.
It doesn’t sound “Christian” to call someone a swine. But all that means is someone who doesn’t value something Christ values. All of us, in one way or another, have been or are swine. All of us have in one way or another trampled something Jesus treasures. Most often, we don’t even know we are doing it. But that, is being a bit of a pig, isn’t it now?
Pigs are smart, amazing animals. But they are also some of the hardest livestock on fencing (for our purposes we might think about relationship boundaries) and they can wreak a ton of damage on the other farm animals (we might consider the damage self-centered people bring to those who love them). Pigs are so intelligent and wonderful they can be house pets. They can be just as endearing as your dog, but it isn’t their nature to be as loyal. And it could be argued that a herd of pigs is the most damaging animal commonly around, especially if it’s wild pigs/hogs.
Jesus said to watch out that you don’t cast your pearls before swine because you will lose your treasure and then to make matters worse, the pigs will turn on you and trample you.
This teaching is particularly relevant in situations where people may not be open to spiritual matters or may even mock or misuse what is shared with them. Jesus encourages His followers to exercise discretion and recognize that not everyone is ready to receive the treasures of the Gospel. Instead of forcing it upon unwilling hearts, we are called to be patient and sensitive, trusting that God will provide opportunities to share when the time is right. Know who you share your heart with before you share it. Know who you are speaking with when you open up about scriptural/spiritual matters.
There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies… (Proverbs 6:16-19).
This passage out of Proverbs has often served as a warning for me. It is meant to first instruct us to take an internal inventory of our own souls. But then we are to be wise and take stock of who we spend our time and heart on.
Do we have pride, deceitfulness/lying (mentioned twice!), hands that shed innocent blood, a scheming heart to “get at” or “get back” at someone, or a delight in watching violence or wickedness played out (consider what we watch and read).
All these qualities are in stark contrast to what Christ treasures. All these qualities trample His pearls. If we cherish any of these attitudes inside our hearts, we are being swine. If we are investing our time and our hearts with people like this, we are casting pearls before swine.
Jesus didn’t tell us not to interact with pigs. After all, we might be part of pulling a prodigal son out of the pigpen when we care for those who might fall under this piggy definition. But we aren’t called to give them our treasure. That’s where wisdom comes into play.
We must be wise with what we share with people, learn when we have given more than we should, and have wisdom and discernment to see how, what, and who God is calling us to share our hearts and lives with.
As a pastor’s wife, this has been a unique learning journey for me. People ministered God’s truth to me when I was a pig. When I was covered in mud and filth, they fed me His treasure.
I needed God’s truth and grace so badly, but I’m not sure I always received it in all the best ways. Sometimes, I think I might have trampled their pearls along the way. Redemption is such a messy process.
So, as I have tried my best to wash feet and serve the Lord’s sheep, I’ve tried to keep my own muddy process in mind. And it’s a hard thing to feel your way through. We offer help only to realize for one person, it was just the thing they needed, but for another, it was enabling them in their own destruction.
There are no easy, textbook-type answers to let us know exactly who the swine are. It’s only after all is said and done that Jesus separates the wheat from the tares and the goats from the sheep. So, we won’t be able to do this perfectly. We rest on the wise principles we find in Scripture (like the Proverbs passage) and lean into the Holy Spirit through prayer.
If you are struggling in a relationship where you feel you might be in danger of giving treasures to the wrong people or being trampled, ask the Lord to show you His wisdom for you. When you read your Bible, ask Him for wisdom and direction. Before you interact with them, ask for His help.
For further reading:
How Do We Show Love to Toxic People?
Why Does the Bible Have to Tell Us to Be Kind to One Another?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/iprogressman
April Motl is a pastor’s wife, homeschool mom, and women’s ministry director. When she’s not waist-deep in the joys and jobs of motherhood, being a wife, and serving at church, she writes and teaches for women. You can find more encouraging resources from April at MotlMinistries.com and on Amazon.