The title is a jumble of words that make sense in some way, and yet, have many double meanings. This page looks at a model and meanings (and double meanings) for the passage about giving what is holy to dogs and throwing pearls to swine as found in Matthew 7.

One often hears individual verses (or just a few) from Matthew 7 with some story or moral connected to them as to how to live or not live a Christian life. The goal here is to create a model that incorporates all of the verses from Matthew 7 in some way. This includes the following concepts.

• 1-5: rules such as measuring, judging, etc., going both ways, eyes and splinters and beams
• 6: giving what is holy to dogs, casting pearls before swine
• 7- 8: ask, seek, knock
• 9-11: gifts involving bread, stones, fish, serpents, etc.
• 12: do unto others, again, going both ways
• 13-14: wide and narrow gates
• 15: wolves and sheep
• 16-20: fruit as grapes, figs, with non-fruit as thorns, thistles
• 21-23: surprises
• 24-27: houses built on sand and on rock
• 28-29: astonishment at teaching and doctrine

Some verses are just mentioned in general and details left as future topics.

A relation R on set A is symmetric if for every x and y in A, x R y implies that y R x. This can be written in mathematical form as follows.

This is read as "for all x and y in (set) A, (condition) x R y implies (condition) y R x"

• The symbol "⇒" is read as "implies" where the result is true if when the left condition is true the right condition is true.

Verses 1 to 6 and 12 involve symmetry (going both ways) and will be left as future topics. The main emphasis here, and one that appears to be often forgotten, is that what is being said goes both ways.

Sometimes you feel like your are one of them. Sometimes the other. The idea is that what goes around comes around. One should consider both sides.

Many assume they are going in the narrow gate, they are sheep, etc. As you go through the verses, ask yourself the following questions.

• Am I a dog?
• Am I a swine?
• Do I give stones or serpents as gifts?
• Am I a wolf?
• Do I produce thorns or thistles?
• Have I built a house on sand?
• Am I asking, seeking and/or knocking on the wide gate?

Likewise, verses 16-20 will be mentioned briefly as there are interesting aspects that deserve a separate discussion.

The models presented are declarative models in that they attempt to include as many verses in Matthew 7 as possible but, as in many declarative systems, not necessarily in a beginning to end order as one might expect in a control system.

• A specification is often declarative in that it expresses what is to be done.
• An implementation is often procedural or command-based in that it has to do what the specification requires.

Thus, for the model, there is no need to use the verses, one by one, in the exact order provided.

This is much like a constraint logic system where constraints (puzzle pieces) are provided. Any solution that satisfies the constraints is a solution. In general, a MGU (Most General Unifier) is desired. One that explains as much as possible without unnecessary contradictions.

The programming language Prolog is a logic programming system that can be used as a simple constraint logic programming system.

More: Constraint logic: unification and resolution

One hears many Biblical explanations about swine. From the OT (Old Testament) the pig is an unclean animal. Swine are mentioned several times in the GNT (Greek New Testament).

In the use of double meanings, the superficial real sense only needs a somewhat plausible reality. The underlying model, however, should have a more precise meaning in terms of reality. Let us investigate.

More: Have you heard of the herd of swine? Did they sea it?

In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus talks of two gates.

Many people who read this assume they are headed towards the narrow gate. But how does one know? Will there be a surprise? Here is a table comparison of the two gates.

Is there a choice other than the narrow or wide gate?

A no-decision is a decision. Which gate might that be? The gates appear to be mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive.

• Mutually exclusive: you can enter only one of the two gates.
• Collectively exhaustive: you must enter one of the two gates.

A no-decision is a decision. if you do not ask, you get the default pre-approved gate.

The narrow and wide gate are often depicted in simple terms - from just the above two. Sometimes a decision node is added. There are the "many" going to the wide gate and destruction and the "few" going to the narrow gate and life.

Christian viewpoints are often characterized as conservative or liberal.

Might these viewpoints be better described as serious or not serious?

Some churches, Christian Universities, etc., will discuss openly how their gate is wider or less wide than another wide gate. Is this an indication of an underlying problem?

Discussion question: How many narrow gates are there? Do they vary in width?

In the diagrams, the straight and wide gates are depicted with appropriately sized gates. The narrow and wide ways are both depicted with some thickness arcs (as edges in a graph). The few and the many are depicted with the same sized vertices (as nodes in a graph).

From Luke and the parable of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus, one learns that there is a "gulf " between life and torment and/or destruction.

More: Genesis 1: A gaping gap between chasm and chaos

The "Didache" is a special Greek manuscript knowns as "The teaching of the twelve apostles". It is a short and early (first century A.D.) manuscript.

The Didache was considered by some early church fathers as scripture but eventually was considered (by most) as highly authoritative but not at the level of scripture.

The very first line of the Didache states that there are two ways, one of life, one of death, and there is a great difference between the two ways. This is a nice top-down backward-chaining way of starting the text. Barnabas makes a similar statement.

More: Didache: The doctrine of teaching

In nearby verses, Jesus relates the ask, seek and knock sequence.

The ask, seek and knock sequence is usually presented in just positive terms, but the verses do not say that.

The ask appears to be a common decision on direction but the seek and knock can apply to both gates which are presented a few verses later.

When one "asks" to be with the many, will one receive permission? When one "seeks" the wide gate, will one find it? When someone "knocks" on the wide gate to destruction, will it be opened for them? On which gate are you knocking? How do you know? Jesus warns of surprises near the end of the chapter.

The word for knocking is interesting.

More: Music: Anacrusis and knocking

Thus, the pearls can be interpreted as a passageway or access method through which one can access a gate. Literally, swine can trample pearls on the ground, not on a gate, but those pearls on the ground could lead to a gate represented by those pearls.

This can be incorporated into the diagram.

A dog as a "puppy" asking for crumbs that fall from the master's table, that would be granted or allowed.

More: The hunt for holy hounds

For diagram purposes, the "few" are divided into the "few" and the "some" while the "many" have been divided into the "many" and the "swine".

• White pearls have been added representing the true sayings of Jesus.
• A house built on rock has been added to the seeking part.
• Fruit has been added in the seeking part.
• A dog (e.g., sheep dog) has been added to visit and oversee the flock, as a bishop or other church leader.
• The term "humanism - socialism" is used for any human organization not oriented towards the God of the Bible.

Can you see where this is heading?

In the early church, the "ecclesia" as a gathering of believers and the "church", a word that means master or Lord, were very closely aligned.

Tyndale coined the word "congregation" from the Latin word for "herding into a flock" as a translation for the Greek word "ecclesia".

More: Matthew 16: Calling a masterful gathering of outgoing church believers

But this stable situation could easily become unstable.

The best of intentions sometimes gives way to less than pure motives.

Giving what is "holy", such as church leadership or your devoted attention, would not be good if that dog were a wolf dog. Or a dog that turned into a wolf - wearing the clothing (outward actions) of sheep or sheep dog.

A wolf-dog might be compared or related to a "werewolf" which is, literally, a "man wolf".

More: The age of werewolfs in the world

It is only a small step from a sheep dog to a wolf dog to a wolf, since all are related in that they can interbreed.

One thing that often happens is that the wolf will start to turn those white pearls representing passageways to gates into something less white, even gray.

The wolf may start to set up a personal house built on sand.

In order maintain their course to the narrow gate, the "few" must ignore the wolf.

The "some" may follow the lead of the wolf and innocently start building their house on sand - the human infrastructure that can lead one astray.

There are many warnings about false prophets and false teachers. In some cases, the wolf dog may persecute those in the church for following the path to the narrow gate instead of the wide gate.

Details are left as a future topic.

For the present purposes, the wolf-dog, wolf, false teacher, false prophet, etc., turn the white pearls to less than white.

The houses built and sand and on rock has been discussed at length.

One interpretation of "sand" is that of a human organization. The "dogs" and "wolf" in the model presented here represent the human control of an organization while the "swine" represent part of that human organization. When one builds their house on a human organization, much power is vested in those humans controlling the organization and those humans supporting that organization.

Here are the verses in question.

• This can be God giving good gifts.
• This can be the (evil) world giving good gifts.
• This can be human organizations giving bad gifts.

The first type of gift appears to fit the "ask" part of "ask", "seek" and "knock".

The second type of gift appears to fit the "seek" part of "ask", "seek" and "knock".

The third type of gift appears to fit the "knock" part of "ask", "seek" and "knock".

Matthew has only the first two. Luke has all three parts.

Luke adds the "knock" (with possible "surprise") part.

More: A scatter-brained approach to the sting of a scorpion

On the surface, these statements appear to lack significant logical meaning.

• Those being evil, Jews, non-Jews, Christians, secular people, etc., give good gifts to their children.
• The Father in heaven does so too, even more. That is nice.

If everyone does this, what then is the meaning? It can often as important as what is not said as to what is said? Who would not give good gifts but, instead, give the not good gifts? These declarative statements need some verses at the end of the chapter to complete the picture - the houses built on rock and on sand. Those people in the human sand infrastructure are the ones that would not give good gifts to their "children" as in followers, flock, etc. Examples include the Sadducees and Pharisees, and, later, many Christian church infrastructures (throughout the ages) who would rather take advantage of their flock than give them good gifts (or guidance or teaching, etc.).

Must one "cast pearls" individually.

Can the casting of pearls be delegated to an agent, or as a proxy?

Can the leader of a church be the one to cast pearls?

At some point, the wolf will look around, and try to increase power, revenue, attendance, etc. That may have been the original goal of the wolf. This could be a well-meaning but misguided effort. It may be an intentional act.

Discussion question: Provide some examples during history when this general patterns has happened. Hint: One example is that of what initiated, for better or worse, the Reformation.

Discussion question: If you follow a false prophet, will God hold you accountable for what you do? The goals of the "wolf" can be done by taking those previously white pearls that are now gray and emphasizing certain types of Bible passages, interpretations, etc., using logic that is not always clear.

Some arguments revolve around being more "inclusive". There are many outside the church, the "swine", that can be brought into the flock by casting those now gray pearls in front of them. This may attract their attention.

In the temptations of Jesus, Satan uses Bible verses, out of context, to achieve his ways. Wolves use the same techniques.

Jesus responds with Bible verses, in context, to refute the arguments of Satan.

Both sides of the arguments are interesting.

Details are left as a future topic.

The swine may then turn towards you and rend (divide) you. As they become part of the flock (intermixing, etc.), they may trample some of those pearls such that they become more black than white.

Remember that dogs, wolves, swine, sheep, etc., are figurative language that need only have a perceived basis in reality. They appear to refer to different types of humans.

One cannot determine the inside of a human from outside behavior. How does one distinguish a sheep-dog from a wolf-dog?

This has interesting parallels in both psychology and the foundations of computation (e.g., in computer science), as well as the Bible.

Details are left as a future topic.

The word for "rend" in the Greek is used for new and old wine-skins, as in bursting or coming apart, and for the general meaning of "division" as in "dividing" such that something breaks.

This is where the distinction between the "few" and the "some" become important. The swine are rending or dividing the "house". A house divided cannot stand.

More: Divide and conquer or be conquered

The "some" will often ridicule the "few" for keeping to "outdated" ideas. I have heard pastors do this in sermons.

The new (and gray and now black from trampling) "pearls" are better, it is said. A common slogan is "better together" as a group and not "better with God" on a one by one basis.

Does the following verse in Luke (as part of the Luke Beatitudes) describe anything happening today?

In the above verse, there is no mention of physical persecution.

• Is this only outside the church?
• Does it happen inside the church?
• Does it happen reflexively with the church against the (same) church?

Do any of the sheep get "thrown" out after throwing pearls to swine?

Arguments in favor of and favored by the "some" and the "swine" may move statements from "God is love" to "Love is God" and even to "Love is everything" while shading the definition of what love actually means. It now includes, presumably, loving sin, loving Satin, loving everything and everything in the name of perverted logic.
C. S. Lewis talked about this distinction.

More: Love is the only way

In the scenario described above, the "few" that do make it to the narrow gate and gain entry to "life" would be those that can do what is requested as the will of the father and, at the same time, ignore the wolf-dog leader, the "some" with the gray pearls and the swine with the blackened pearls.

The "few" might be a very small group.

Peter appears to describe a time in the future in which false teachers and the church will actually persecute the faithful.

Jesus in Revelation describes a time, at the church at Laodicea, when he is knocking at the door but the church will not let him inside the church.

Details are left as a future topic.

Those following the "some" and the "swine" to the wide gate may be surprised.

A few verses near the end of Matthew 7 talk about being surprised at having knocked and entered the wrong gate.

Those "few" that do "the will of my Father which is in heaven" may have to ignore the wolf and suffer some form of persecution - from the church in addition to persecution from the world.

The swine may have made the distinction between church and world less distinct.

Which is more important?

• What you say?
• What you do?

There are a number of parables that relate to this distinction.

Details are left as a future topic.

Some churches boast of the great work they have done for the community, without mention of any preaching of the "Good News" or other Christian connection.

Some may say that they are carrying the light to the world. The name "Lucifer" means "carrying light" so one must be careful as to the light one is carrying.

Details are left as a future topic.

Is this a case of "sour grapes"?

Why might this be? Discuss.

The idea of fruit, grapes, figs, thorns, thistles, etc. is interesting as it provides a way to get to the desired gate and a way to help discern sheep-dogs from wolfs-dogs.

Details are left as a future topic.

The first part of this verse is found in Proverbs 26:11.

How do these proverbs fit in with the above discussion?

Given the above model, how do these proverbs fit in with the verse in Matthew 7:6, repeated here.

Let us add some "salt" to the model, repeated below, from Matthew 5.

For more information, see the following (from other discussions).

• Salt salted with a salty salt

One way to clean pearls and to keep them white is to use salt in water - which requires some salt. Without salt, the pearls will not be kept clean.

• The "few", with salt, keep their pearls "white".
• The "some", with less salt, have "gray" pearls.
• The trampled pearls, with no salt, result in "blackened" pearls.

The word for "trodden down" is the same root word for the verse for "salt" and the verse for "pearls".

How well does the model incorporate the verse for "salt"?

Do you remember some of the questions near the top of this page?

• Are you a dog?
• Are you a pig?

In addition, consider the following.

• Have you given what is holy to the dogs? Did you give proxy for it?
• Have you cast your pearls before swine? Did you give proxy for it?

Consider the three verses immediately before the above verse.

Have the sheep dogs or wolf dogs throughout history considered that these verses might apply to them?

Have the sheep dogs or wolf dogs throughout history considered that they might have thrown "pearls" to swine?

Just something to think about.

To summarize, if the ecclesia as a gathering of believers and the church as an organization led by sheep dogs can maintain focus on God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit and the narrow gate and not be distracted, then everything appears to be on track for a good ending without surprises.

However, if a wolf dog takes control and diverts the organization of the church such that pearls are cast before swine who trample them and tear the church apart, then things there may not be a good ending for some and there may be some surprises. The model presented uses all of the verses of Matthew 7 in some way with some only mentioned and left as future topics for further discussion.