Beads are not tossed before pigs: the meaning of a phraseological unit. What does the expression "Throw pearls before swine" mean? What does it mean why throw pearls in front of pigs
The origin of the phraseologism is biblical. The Gospel of Matthew tells of Christ's conversations with his followers. In one of the sermons, the so-called Sermon on the Mount, which is considered “programmatic” in the teaching, it says: “Do not give holy things to dogs and do not cast your pearls before swine, so that they do not trample it under their feet and, turning, do not tear you to pieces” “Matthew 7 :6” (this means the seventh chapter “Judge not, lest you be judged”, sixth paragraph).
What does gospel mean?
- Three meanings
- Good News, News of the Coming of the Messiah
- Teachings of Jesus Christ
- The writings of the four evangelists on the life, work and teachings of Christ
Who is Matthew?
Levi Matthew is one of the twelve apostles, that is, supporters, disciples of Christ. All that is known about him is that he was a publican, otherwise a tax collector. The Gospel of Luke says
“After this [Jesus] went out and saw a publican,
in the name of Levi, who sits at the toll booth,
and says to him, follow me.
And he, leaving everything, got up and followed Him.” (Wikipedia)
What is the Gospel of Matthew?
The first book of the New Testament, which gives an idea of the personality, genealogy and biography of Hrits, the main points of His teaching, also tells about various miracles performed by the Savior. Chapter seven contains an exposition of Christ's Sermon on the Mount. The book of Matthew was primarily intended for the Jews and was written in Aramaic, which was then spoken in Palestine.
Use of the expression "Throw pearls before pigs" in literature
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“I wanted to start talking about the trial of Migulin, but I felt after the very first phrase that no one had much interest, and suddenly fell silent. It's all for nothing. Throw beads ". (Yu. Trifonov "The Old Man")
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“And you, you bastard, dared to take me for a White Guard? Me, a Russian pilot, Tentennikov? By the way, why cast pearls in front of pigs,” Tentennikov said angrily, looking at Rigaud with hatred.. (V. Sayanov "Earth and Sky")
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“The old woman was restrained, disgusting. Before sitting down to the instrument, she asked: “Do they understand?” - in the sense that it is worth throwing pearls in front of pigs. The priest nodded: they say, it's worth it.(V. Tokareva "Long Day").
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“But Chatsky was convicted not for the content of his speeches, but for their address. He throws pearls in front of Famusov and Skalozub.(M. Nechkina "Griboyedov and the Decembrists").
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“You are silent. Monumental, like bronze. It's you - according to the covenant: "Do not cast beads in front of pigs" - right? — I don't like preaching. And preachers,” said Samghin dryly.(M. Gorky "The Life of Klim Samgin").
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“Michel, you forgot the commandment of the Savior: do not throw pearls in front of pigs”(Belinsky. Letter to M.A. Bakunin, November 1, 1837).
Continuing to expound the concepts of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ said: “Do not give holy things to dogs and do not throw your pearls before swine, so that they do not trample it under their feet and, turning, do not tear you to pieces” (). How should these words be understood?
The parsed words of the Savior are closely connected with the previous passage of the Gospel, which says that only the person who is sinless himself can condemn the actions of his neighbor and teach how to get rid of sins. That is, a person who has taken a log out of his own eye and can be a worthy son of the Heavenly Father. Here is a person who has corrected himself, can correct other people, that is, remove a speck from their eye.
However, Jesus Christ warns even such people, saying that they cannot admonish any sinner. Jesus Christ in the words being analyzed says that not all sinners are ready for correction, not all are able to perceive the truths of Divine wisdom. Not everyone is able to understand the good intentions of a person who wants to set them on the true path and appreciate the compassion, mercy and love of a person who wants to enlighten, enlighten and instruct them. There are some sinners who do not want to be freed from their sins. They have become so mired in spiritual filth, so accustomed to the darkness surrounding them, that sin and vice have become pleasant to them. In such people, due to constant communication with vice, the character has changed. As a result, they became pleasantly evil. They cling to sin and are unwilling to part with it. Every ray of light and wisdom that illuminates their dark realm of sin, they meet with hostility and irritability. These people are possessed by the spirits of evil, which protect the inviolability of the dark kingdom of their souls and react with bitterness and bitterness to any attempt to enlighten the minds of erring people.
Such people, rooted in sin and corrupted by the spirit of evil, the Savior advises not to touch. Because in response to an attempt to acquaint them with the truth, they may show disdain for the gospel or mock it. In this passage, the word "holy" refers to the gospel and divine truths. Pearls mean impulses of the soul and pure desires to enlighten the minds of people with the light of truth. Pearls are also called true knowledge, Divine wisdom presented by an enlightener.
In the Old Slavonic translation, beads are written instead of pearls. However, in ancient Greek, pearls are indicated. It is the word "pearl" that must be taken in the interpretation, since pearls are similar to grains or acorns that pigs willingly eat, preferring food to jewelry in the form of pearls. And in relation to people, this means choosing the base, worldly instead of the sublime and divine. Pigs and dogs mean inveterate sinners possessed by evil spirits that prevent these people from getting rid of sins, and force them to react to enlighteners with anger and hatred. This malice and hatred is expressed in the fact that inveterate sinners will trample (that is, trample on) the shrine (that is, knowledge) with their feet and with their dirty words will mock and mock the truths and concepts of the Holy teaching. And then, in the frenzy of their malice, they can also harm the enlighteners. Therefore, it is not necessary to touch such people, since they have not yet matured for the perception of the teachings of Christ. Preachers of the word of God will not benefit such people.
Lost people, hardened sinners will not understand the word of truth and will treat them like pigs that pounce on pearls thrown to them, which reminds them of grains in appearance. After these sinners realize that the words of enlightenment addressed to them cannot satisfy their lustful desires, then they will act with the pearls of Divine truths like pigs, who, realizing that the pearls thrown to them are not grain and cannot be eaten, will trample the pearls with their feet. . And on those who presented them with pearls of knowledge, they can rush to be torn to pieces like ferocious dogs who were not given a delicious stew that satisfies their animal instincts.
The most hardened sinners before enlightenment must be freed from the evil spirits with which these people are possessed. And the expulsion of spirits should be carried out not by an ordinary enlightener, but by a spiritually pure person - a saint. Therefore, an ordinary enlightener, unable to exorcise evil spirits from hardened sinners, should not touch them and not present them with pearls of pure knowledge, that is, not give shrines to dogs, because first the hardened sinner must be freed from the spirits of evil that obscure his mind, and then filled with this mind is true knowledge. As you can see, hardened sinners need not an ordinary, but a special educator.
There is a relationship between this verse and the previous verses of chapter 7. The first five verses condemn excessive harshness towards a brother. And in the words being analyzed, a case is described of too much unreasonable indulgence, expressed in giving the shrine to the unworthy. The followers of Jesus Christ should not fall into these two extremes. In the first case, because they should not be judges of their brothers. In the second case, because in order not to squander the shrines to pigs and dogs, that is, unworthy people who are not able to perceive and appreciate the shrine.
The Savior, Jesus Christ, took the image associated with dogs from the life of the ancient Jews. In ancient Hebrew cities, dogs (dogs) lived in packs, which most often roamed at night in search of food. According to the way of life of the ancient Jews, scraps of food were thrown into the streets. And the packs of dogs that roamed the streets ate these leftovers. As you can see, the Savior used a very bright and expressive image of a dirty pack of stray dogs, which most often went out into the streets at sunset and squabbled among themselves because of the garbage, snorting and grumbling. This colorful image, taken for clarity from the everyday life of the Jews, the Savior transfers to people like stray dogs who are not able to perceive holy truths, but are only thirsty to delve into scraps and sewage, because they are not interested in anything other than domestic, everyday needs.
But despite this, Jesus Christ never left a person, no matter how low he fell, if this person is ready to accept the precious pearl of the Holy teaching. For many publicans and sinners, the words of the Savior became the beginning of spiritual rebirth and new life. For example, Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus Christ cast out seven demons, was so devoted to the Savior that she was the last to leave His tomb and be the first to see His bright Resurrection. Under the influence of the Divine truths of the teachings of Christ, Saul of Tarsus, who was one of the aggressive persecutors of Christians, became the Apostle Paul, the most devoted follower of Jesus Christ and an active disseminator of His teachings. Therefore, under the hatred, anger and irritation of the sinner, under the layer of sins and vices in such a person, a soul is hidden, which can thirst for salvation and which the Grace of the word of God can save, guiding it on the true path. And this soul, gradually getting rid of sins, can do many glorious deeds in the name of Christ. But, according to the ideas of Christianity, knowledge and clarification of Divine truths should be given only to those people who ask for it. "Ask, and it shall be given you" (). Their request and says that they are ripe for the perception of the Divine teachings.
“Beads are not cast before swine,” Jesus Christ said in his Sermon on the Mount. Time flies, forgetting about the brakes, and the meaning of some ancient sayings is lost. Therefore, today we will analyze the meaning of a phraseological unit, its synonyms and consider (quite a bit) cultural influence.
History
Let's start, as always, with the origin. The reader is primarily interested in what is the source of the expression. We willingly explain: this stable phrase comes from the Bible - the most printed book so far. Speech turnover “Do not throw pearls before swine” The Gospel of Matthew gave us. After all, it contains the famous Sermon on the Mount of the Savior, in which the core of the Christian doctrine finds its refuge.
Let's explain the terms "beads" and "pig". In general, pigs are pretty cute creatures, especially if they are decorative, of course, boars that bliss in the mud can hardly be called cute, but still. For Jews, as is well known, pigs are dirty, vile animals, so in this sense, to call the audience pigs is to give a very harsh assessment. Now you can understand how much Christ “highly” appreciated the ignorant crowd.
Difficulties in translation
Now the expression "beads are not cast before pigs" can be bewildering, because baubles are firmly associated with the word "beads". And here the rebus is solved simply: the whole point is in the difficulties of translation. But first let's bring full text sayings. “Do not give anything holy to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample it under their feet and, turning around, tear you to pieces.” Now it's time to talk about linguistic subtleties: in the Church Slavonic translation, pearls are beads. And we have given the full classical, synodal version of the expression a little higher. Here it is difficult to refrain from a remark: it is not surprising that the Bible is the most printed book in the world - what an energy of expressions!
Meaning
When the source of the aphorism “beads are not cast before pigs” (see above for the history of the origin of the expression) is established, you can move on to the meaning. So they say about unsuccessful attempts to convince someone of something. Usually, a speech turnover comes to mind when the speaker and the audience do not match in terms of intellectual capabilities, sometimes such a contradiction is imaginary.
For example, remember the case of A. E. Novoseltsev and L. P. Kalugina from E. Ryazanov’s comedy “Office Romance”. This biblical phrase sounds there, in the episode where Yu. G. Samokhvalov notes his appointment to a new position.
"Coot" Novoseltsev is sure that his boss cannot speak on high topics and appreciate the beauty of subtle matters. But it turns out that she understands poetry no worse than the "orator".
Is it clear now what it means "do not throw pearls before swine"?
Synonyms
About the words and expressions that are intended to replace the biblical aphorism, one should understand only one thing: they must convey the meaninglessness of the action. For example:
- Crush water in a mortar.
- At least a stake on your head.
- Everything is wasted/wasted.
- Everything is ashes.
In fact, there can be as many substitutions as there are contexts. Most of the replacements are stylistically justified. For example, with foreigners who may know the Bible well, but Russian poorly, you need to express yourself more simply so that there is no confusion. In other words, the speech turnover “they don’t cast pearls before pigs”, the meaning of which we are analyzing, needs to be fully replaced. Although a full-fledged synonym can hardly be found, the expression is too beautiful.
Hermann Hesse and his Glass Bead Game
You do not need to be a recognized literary critic to understand: the title of the novel and the idiom are connected. Only throwing beads turns into a game. You can re-read the novel several times, but you don’t really understand what the Masters of the game are doing. It is clear that they created a synthesis of art, religion and philosophy. The goal of the game is an endless interpretation of cultural meanings closed on itself.
Characteristically, the Masters of the game have lost the public: no one understands their studies. They do this in their narrow community in a closed state in the state - Castalia. The latter arose as a response and response to the vulgarity that swept the world. Modern, right? Castalia is the citadel of spirituality.
The game competitions are broadcast on the radio, but there is a suspicion that no one is listening to them, no one needs them. Why delve into something that you still don’t understand?
And so it happened: the speakers and the audience in Hesse's utopia (or dystopia, or parable) became separated.
The German writer drew certain conclusions from the biblical saying and turned the throwing of beads into an aesthetic gesture. But if the reader here at this place thought that the classic of world literature is at the same time with the Castalians, then he was mistaken. To clarify the position of the Master, we recommend reading the novel.
"Civil defense" and phraseology
Yegor Letov has such a song "The Glass Bead Game". The reader, if desired, can listen to it quite easily, because it lasts a little more than two minutes. So, for a Russian musician, the phrase "bead game" takes on new colors, even in comparison with Hesse, and not just with Christ. Throwing beads in front of a "pack of pigs" is a clear provocative act. Moreover, it is difficult to say who the poet meant by pigs, either his own audience, which does not understand the deep or deep (as you like) the meaning of the song, or party functionaries who at one time tried to fight rock music without sparing their belly .
And yes, if Hesse (let's reveal the secret) balances the game with life, then E. Letov revels in intellectualism and opposes himself to the "low" crowd of pigs.
"There are strange encounters." Who would have thought that Christ, Hesse and Letov would gather under one flag.
Not modesty, but rationality
We have already understood that it is pointless to practice eloquence in front of an unprepared public. Let's leave that side alone for now and talk, finally, about the personality of the speaker. What does phraseologism teach him?
Pride is the worst sin. And in order not to succumb to it, you need to vigilantly monitor yourself. Indeed, sometimes a person knows in advance that the audience is so-so, but still he is drawn to speak out, why? It's simple: he wants to show off, build a bridge between himself and people. It seems that if one interprets the expression "Do not throw pearls before swine" from the Gospel, one can also extract such a meaning.
Who needs guidance the most? Of course, young people. Youth still believes that it can fundamentally change something in the world, inflame the hearts of people. Ideological guys and girls believe, just like Socrates: people live this way and not otherwise, only because they wander in the dark and do not know the truth.
But Christ, by his saying, calls not to waste time on those who do not want to follow the path of light, but prefer to wander in darkness. As practice shows, strength may be needed for something else, for something more important and intimate.
There is such a program on Russian television "The Glass Bead Game". Its presenter Igor Volgin ends each issue with the same phrase: "Read and reread the classics." Good advice, especially since the Bible is an eternal book, regardless of confessional preferences. Moreover, even atheists can read it - there will be no harm.
Question. How does someone else give "shrines to dogs", or casts pearls before swine, and how it is added: "lest they trample it under their feet, and turn back and tear you to pieces"?
Answer. The Apostle explains this to us when he adds to what he said to the Jews: “You boast of the law, but by transgressing the law you dishonor God”(Rom.2, 23). Therefore, the Lord forbade here that dishonor, which we inflict on the holy words of the Lord by their crime. As a result of this crime, it happens that those outside the faith also consider the Lord's instructions to be easily neglected, and therefore they themselves rise up against us with greater courage, and, as it were, break the transgressor with their reproaches and denunciations.
Rules summarized in questions and answers.
St. John Chrysostom
Do not give holy things to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample it under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.
Christ added yet another rule, saying: Do not give holy things to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine. (Matthew 7:6). Although he goes on to say: What do you hear in your ear, preach on the rooftops(Matt. 10:27), but this latter does not in the least contradict the former, since even here not everyone is generally commanded to speak, but only to those who should speak with all the freedom to speak.
By the name of dogs, He meant here those who live in incurable wickedness, without any hope of correction; and under the name of pigs - always living intemperance; all such, according to His word, are unworthy of listening to high teaching. Paul expressed the same thing when he said: The natural man does not accept what is from the Spirit of God, because he considers it foolishness.(1 Cor. 2:14) . And in many other places He gives the corruption of life as the reason why the most perfect teaching is not accepted. Therefore, he commands such people not to open the doors, because, having learned, they become even more impudent. When this teaching is revealed to grateful and well-thought people, they revere it; but immoral people respect him more when they do not know him. So, since by their nature such people cannot know this doctrine, then let it be hidden from them, says the Savior, so that at least they honor it because of their ignorance.
And the pig does not know what beads are, and if he does not know, then let him not see, so as not to trample on what he does not know. Nothing but more harm will come from listening to people of that disposition. They swear at the shrine, not knowing it, and are even more exalted and arm themselves against us. This is the meaning of the words of Christ: Lest they trample on him with their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. But will you say: the holy thing must be so strong that, even after recognition, it remains invincible, and does not give others a chance to harm us? No, she will not give a chance to that, but the fact that those who receive her are pigs. So is the trampled pearl - it is not trampled because it is worthy of neglect, but because it has fallen into the swine. And well said: turned, did not tear you to pieces. Indeed, they first take on the guise of meekness in order to find out; then, when they find out, having become completely different, they swear, vilify, laugh at us, as if they were deceived. That is why Paul says to Timothy: Beware of him and you, for he strongly opposed our words.(2 Tim. 4:15) . And elsewhere: Get away from those(2 Tim. 3:5) . And further: Heretic, after the first and second admonition, turn away(Tit. 3:10) .
So, it is not the holy thing itself that arms the enemies of everything sacred against us, but they are driven to madness by the fact that, having known it, they are filled with pride. That is why it is of no small advantage to remain ignorant of them: in that case they will not be neglected; if they find out, then double harm: they themselves will not receive any benefit from it, except even more harm, and they will cause you countless anxieties. Let those hear this who, without any shame, associate with everyone indiscriminately and make an object of neglect that which is worthy of all respect. That is why we, when performing the sacraments, shut the doors and forbid the entrance of the unenlightened - not because we recognize the invalidity of the sacraments performed, but because many still are not sufficiently prepared for them. Because of this, Christ himself spoke much to the Jews in parables, that they seeing not seen(Matthew 13:13) . That is why Paul commanded so that you know how to answer each(Col. 4:6) .
Conversations on the Gospel of Matthew.
When you hear about pigs, do not consider them dumb animals; and when you hear about dogs, do not take them for dogs either. The Scripture calls pigs those who live in debauchery; but dogs he calls those who thoughtlessly rage against the Lord.
On the Holy and Life-Giving Cross.
St. Athanasius the Great
For even in this a right judgment is needed. The Lord did not say vaguely or indiscriminately: Give the holy things and pearls to everyone; but he says: do not give the saint a dog - evil workers; according to the Apostle: beware of dogs, beware of evil workers(Phil. 3, 2), beware of swine, that is, of the lustful. The lustful are likened to pigs not without reason; on the contrary, the comparison is close and true. As a swine considers itself a loss, if someone removes it from the mire; so, if someone distracts the lustful from the mire of voluptuousness, then he recognizes as his enemy, and not his friend, the one advising him to be chaste. So, we will not cast our beads - the most pure mysteries - in front of people like pigs. You say: and they desire to partake of the saints; but they are shameless dogs and pigs wallowing in voluptuousness. Therefore, don't give them. For even the sick desire water, but the doctors do not allow them to drink; and the thieves of power desire the royal purple, but those who guard it, foreseeing the danger, do not yield it. Hear you too, deacon; do not give to the unworthy the purple of the most pure Body, so that you do not fall under responsibility, not according to civil laws, but according to the Master's word. So, do not give the saint a dog, nor mark your pearls before swine: let them not trample their feet with their feet, unreasonable thoughts, and revolving terminated you causing schisms and heresies.
From the Conversations on the Gospel of Matthew.
Shmch. Onufry (Gagalyuk)
Do not give holy things to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample it under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.
To whom are these strict words of our meek and loving Savior addressed, whom does He mean by swine? Those who do not understand all the beauty and grandeur of the Christian faith, who consider it equivalent to any ordinary material good, or even do not appreciate it at all and laugh, trample it under their feet. But how is it possible for a preacher of Christ to fulfill this commandment of God, especially now, when Orthodox churches freely enter together with believers and people who do not believe at all, who are maliciously disposed against God and actively work against the Orthodox Church? After all, the preachers of the truth cannot but speak of the truth wherever they are and no matter how they treat their words - good or bad ... Moreover, we cannot read in the hearts of visitors to the temple of God or our listeners in general, when we talk outside the temple, how one relates to Christian truth... All this is true, and an Orthodox preacher should not be silent in any case. But he must always be on his guard and remember people with a burned conscience (Tim. 4:2), who even exist in the Orthodox clergy and who will use the knowledge received from us only to the detriment of the Church and, at the first opportunity, will try to tear to pieces those who speak them about the shrine.
In Defense of the Christian Faith. Meditations on Selected Scriptures.
Rev. Isidore Peluciot
Do not give holy things to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample it under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.
You are doing wonderfully and wisely, diligently reading the Divine teaching, saving yourself from the dizziness produced by this useless and bitter reading, and lovingly accepting Christ's commandments. Therefore don't let the holy dog, that is, the Jews who repeatedly received God's Word and again return to their vomit(2 Pet. 2:22), or those who come to the true doctrine from heresies and again indulge in their former wickedness. We are not commanded sweep beads before pigs, that is, before those mired in passions and leading a bestial life, don't trample them underfoot, with their crafty undertakings, blaspheming the name of God, and revolving terminated you for the communication of secrets to those who carelessly communicate them is an irreparable torment.
Letters. Book I
Truly admirable is the Divine saying which you asked me to explain to you. For the words: do not give the saint a dog, nor mark your pearls before swine; let them not trample them under their feet, and let them be torn apart by revolving, - have a meaning similar to the following. The Word of God is holy, and truly it is the most precious pearl, while dogs and swine are sinners not only in dogmas, but also in active life. Violation - discord and disputes about this of those who attempt to pervert the correctness of dogmas and offend a valiant life; and dissolution is a reproach on the part of those who live in the wrong and their dismissive attitude towards those who offer them the word of God and give good advice. Therefore, the Lord said: do not cast down words, like something of little value and easily acquired, so that you and the Lord will not be offended, and you yourself will not be ridiculed by those who do not speak and do nothing right.
Others - and they are close to the truth - argue that the Lord here commanded not to give the priesthood to the indecent and unclean, so that they would not defile it and begin to attack those who ordained, destroying that good reputation that they had before. If, however, they say that the Lord commands here also the sinning laity not to teach the Divine Mysteries, do not contradict this. And if they say that He forbids performing Divine Baptism on those who pretend to come to the faith, but do not leave their real occupations, do not argue either.
Letters. Book III.
Rev. Seraphim of Sarov
Do not give holy things to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample it under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.
When it happens to be among people in the world, one should not talk about spiritual things; especially when they show no desire to listen.
In this case, it is necessary to follow the teaching of St. Dionysius the Areopagite: “Having made yourself divine of divine things with knowledge, and in the secret of the mind, the saint, hiding from the unsanctified people, as if uniform, keep: it’s not righteous, as the Scripture says, plunge smart margarites into swine pure, light-like and precious adornment ”(Schmar. Dionysius the Areopagite. On the Heavenly Hierarchy. Ch. 2).
We must keep in mind the word of the Lord: Cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet,. Therefore, by all means one should try to hide the treasure of talents within oneself. Otherwise, you will lose and not find. For, according to the experienced teaching of St. Isaac the Syrian, "it is better to have help, even from protection ... rather than help, even from deeds."
Teachings.
Blzh. Augustine
Do not give holy things to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample it under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.
In this commandment, which forbids us give holy things to dogs and cast our pearls before swine, one should carefully examine what is a shrine, what is a pearl, what is a dog, and what is a pig. A sacred thing is something that cannot be desecrated and destroyed. Even the attempt and desire to commit such an atrocity is imputed, although this shrine remains invulnerable and imperishable by nature. Pearls mean some spiritual [things] of great value; and, since it is hidden in secret, it is as if drawn from the depths and found under the cover of allegories, as if in open shells. Thus, it becomes clear that one and the same thing can be called both a shrine and a pearl: a shrine - because it cannot be destroyed, and a pearl - because it cannot be neglected. However, everyone tries to destroy what he does not want to leave intact, and neglects what he considers insignificant, believing that it is, as it were, lower than himself. Therefore, everything that is neglected is called trampled.
Dogs are spoken of because they rush to be torn apart and tear everything to pieces, leaving nothing untouched. [Lord] says: Do not give shrines to dogs, because even if it cannot be torn to pieces and destroyed, and it remains whole and unharmed, one must take into account those who oppose it decisively and in the most hostile way and, as far as in their power, if it were possible, try to destroy the truth. Pigs, though they do not attack, like dogs, by biting, however, they defile, trampling everything around. That's why don't quit, said your pearls before the swine, lest they trample it under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces. Thus, I think that we have rightly called those who attack the truth dogs, and pigs those who neglect it.
It also says: lest they turn and tear you to pieces, and not: "they did not tear apart the pearl itself." For even when they turn, having set the pearl to hear something else, they will tear to pieces the one who threw the pearl that they have trampled. After all, it is not easy to understand what can be pleasing to someone who trampled pearls, that is, neglected the divine, found with great difficulty. However, I do not understand why they do not tear with fury and indignation the one who instructs them. After all, both dogs and pigs are unclean animals. Therefore, one should be careful not to reveal anything to one who is not able to contain. It is better for him to seek out what is hidden than to pursue or neglect what is open. And there was no other reason why they do not perceive what is obvious and important, except for hatred and contempt, because of which some are called dogs and others pigs.
About the Lord's Sermon on the Mount.
Blzh. Hieronymus Stridonsky
Do not give holy things to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample it under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.
Do not give shrines to dogs
Holy is the bread of the sons. So, we should not throw the children's bread and give it to the dogs.
and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they somehow trample it under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces
The pig does not notice the precious jewelry that is lying in the muddy mud, and, according to the saying of the Proverbs of Solomon: "If she has Golden ring it will seem even more vile" (Proverbs 11:22). Some consider it possible to understand by dogs those who, having believed in Christ, return to the filth of their sins, and by pigs - those who have not yet believed in the Gospel and are still revolving in the impurity of unbelief and vices. Therefore, it is indecent for people of this kind to quickly entrust gospel beads, lest they trample him And, returning, did not begin to destroy.
Blzh. Theophylact of Bulgaria
Do not give holy things to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample it under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.
“Dogs” are unbelievers, and “pigs” are those who, although they believe, nevertheless lead a dirty life. Therefore, one should not speak about the mysteries of the faith before the unbelievers and pronounce the bright and pearly words of theology before the unclean, because pigs trample or neglect what they are told, while dogs, turning, torment us, as those who are called philosophers do. When they hear that God was crucified, they begin to torment us with their philosophies, proving with sophisms that this is impossible.
Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew.
Evfimy Zigaben
Do not give the saint a dog, nor mark your pearls before swine, let them not trample them with their feet and turn around to tear you apart
Do not give a saint to dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine
He called the sacrament of our faith holy and beads, - holy, as divine, and beads - because of the preciousness of the teaching contained in it. On the other hand, he called those possessed by incurable wickedness dogs and pigs: dogs, as barking at Christ, and pigs, as passions covered with mud. So, he ordered not to transfer the sacrament of the dogmas of faith to such. Don't sweep, i.e. don't offer. They are not worthy to listen to such a shrine. Then he adds the reason.
let them not trample them under their feet, and turn you apart
It is better for them not to know this than to know, so that, having learned this from you with feigned sincerity, they do not swear and mock you. This means: trampled. Nogami called their unbelief, by which they go to destruction. Then, turning from feigned sincerity to open confrontation, they terminated you, i.e. will attack you and resist you. Not being able to understand the Divine dogmas decently, they attribute human passions to them, and then, armed, mock them and torment you.
Interpretation of the Gospel of Matthew.
Ep. Mikhail (Luzin)
Do not give holy things to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample it under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.
Do not give shrines to dogs And so on. Again, the speech is allegorical. Shrines to dogs: the image is borrowed from the fact that someone decides to throw the saint, that is, the sacred, sacrificed to God, to the dogs. Shrine or holy means here everything related to the Christian faith, the entire gospel truth: commandments, rules, teachings, as well as all sacred objects.
Pearl. A precious piece of jewelry serves as an image of high spiritual objects (Matt. 13:45; Rev. 17:4; Matt. 18:12-16) and here also means high objects of Christian faith or gospel truth (Athanasius the Great means, in particular, the Most Pure Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ). Dogs and pigs - these unclean animals mean people who are morally perverted and incapable of accepting the gospel truth, to whom sacred and spiritual things are alien and even disgusting, the prices of which they cannot understand (cf.: 2 Pet. 2:22; Lev. 22:15; Proverbs 11:22).
Trampled his feet. Just as pigs, not knowing the high price of precious pearls, would trample it under their feet if they found it, so morally perverted people, not understanding the highest price of gospel truths, confuse them with unclean objects, pervert them, and often mock them.
“And in many other places He gives the corruption of life as the reason that the most perfect teaching is not accepted. Why does he command not to open the doors for them, for, having learned, they become bolder ”(Chrysostom).
Having turned, they did not tear you to pieces. wild dogs, whose greed is irritated, but not satisfied, and gluttonous pigs, who instead of food would receive what they cannot eat, irritated, can rush to the one who irritated, but did not satisfy their greed, and tear him to pieces. Similarly, depraved people, unable to understand and accept the truth of the Gospel, correcting it, can turn violently on the very preachers of the truth and cause them various disasters, even death. The meaning of the speech, exposed from allegory, is this: do not offer the gospel truths and everything holy to people who are morally perverted, impious and evil, so that they, not understanding the holy and most precious, do not defile it, do not mix it with human wisdom, do not pervert, do not laugh at them, and that you yourselves may avoid needless destruction from them. How often, during their preaching, the Apostles had the opportunity to be convinced of this when they had to endure various disasters from evil, unreasonable and immoral people! Likewise, “the Lord forbade here that dishonor, which we inflict on the holy words of the Lord by their crime. As a result of this crime, it happens that those outside the faith also consider the Lord's instructions to be easily neglected, and therefore they themselves with greater courage rise up against us, and the transgressor is, as it were, tormented by their reproaches and denunciations ”(Basil the Great. 5, 334).
Explanatory Gospel.
Lopukhin A.P.
Do not give holy things to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample it under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.
The translation itself does not raise doubts, but the connection of the words under consideration with the previous ones has always seemed difficult. Some say that Art. 6 is directly adjacent to the previous one. The activity of persons capable of judging and correcting the shortcomings of others should not consist in throwing precious stones before the pigs. Therefore, there is no need to deny the connection here. They also explain the connection in such a way that if the preceding verses indicate an excess in judgments, not too great severity of judgments about the misconduct of others, then verse 6, on the contrary, indicates the rational or critical weakness of people, when, without any reasoning and fear, with complete condescension, not paying no attention to different characters, they give people what they cannot accept due to their malice and their character. Thus, according to this view, the internal connection lies in the designation of an essential difference between fanatical callousness and moral weakness in the treatment of a shrine. Further, they think that in addition to the internal, there is also an external connection, which consists in opposing the brother, whose correction and salvation we are hypocritically concerned about, dogs and pigs who treat us in a completely different way than brothers, and take our cares about themselves in a completely different way than a brother. The Savior says something like this: you are hypocritical in relation to your brother, to whom you must, out of your love for him, teach only the holy things. But, in relation to other people whom you cannot call your brothers and cannot behave with them as with brothers, you are not hypocritical, but you really teach the sacred. There is another opinion: the people whom we judge, but whom, however, we should not judge, are pigs and dogs. We refrain from judging them; however, at the same time, they should not be too sentimental, that is, refraining from condemnation, they should also teach them sacred things. Judging others is extreme; to be too indulgent towards people, to enter into communion with them, to try to enlighten them, to give them what is holy when they are unworthy of it - this is another extreme from which the disciples of Christ should refrain. The first 5 verses condemn too much severity; in verse 6 there is too much weakness. Students should not aspire to be judges of others; but they should not recklessly expose their high calling to people. Because the sacred and valuable is given to them not only for possession, but also for the purpose that they communicate it to other people. But the disciples would fulfill this duty badly if they taught their valuable and sacred blessings entrusted to them to such people that they know or can know that they lack any understanding of the sacred and its value. By all these opinions the content of verse 6, although explained, is but little. It is more likely to think that a new speech begins here, which has no noticeable internal connection with the previous one. External connection is given, as before, by negations. However, one can think that both the Lord Himself and His hearers could look at everything that He had previously said as if it were sacred. In verse 6 the Savior says that this holy thing should not be revealed to people who do not understand it. Or you can take verse 6 as an introduction to the following discourse and explain it in the same way.
Since the expression "shrine" is obviously figurative and applied to human relations, the interpretation largely depends, therefore, on the precise definition of the word "shrine" itself. This word is so difficult that in order to explain it, they even turned to the Sanskrit language and there they tried to understand what it means. In this language, similar to Greek. το αγιον the words jag, jagami mean I make a sacrifice, I honor; and jagus, jagam, jagnam (in Russian lamb) is a sacrifice. Further, this word was compared with the Jewish kodesh, a shrine; and this latter was derived from the word kad, which means separated, separated. But although the etymology, says Kremer, throws some light on the word in question, it rarely reveals its meaning in common usage. One scholar suggested that the Aramaic word used by Christ here was kedasha. In the Greek translation of the Gospel of Matthew, this word is conveyed inaccurately, by the word "holy" (το αγιον), while it means the actual amulet, mainly an earring. With such an interpretation, “shrine” could be brought closer to the further “pearl”, as an object that can be thrown in front of animals just like pearls. However, such a hypothesis is currently recognized as untenable, and, if one can still talk about it, it is not in interpretative, but in purely historical interests.
Unable to find any suitable images in real life and nature, they tried to explain the word holy, as well as other words in this verse, pearls, pigs and dogs, in a figurative sense. Thus, for example, Jerome understood the children's bread as holy. We must not take bread from children and throw it to dogs. John Chrysostom and others understood pagans by dogs both because of their deeds and because of their faith, and by pigs - heretics who, apparently, do not recognize the name of the Lord. An interesting reference to this verse is found in one of the most ancient documents, namely in the “Teaching of the 12 Apostles” 9:5 (Zan erroneously 10:6). Here we are talking about the Eucharist: “no one should eat or drink from our Eucharist, except those who were baptized in the name of the Lord; for this is what the Lord said: do not give shrines to dogs”.
Of the five words that the Greeks designated "sacred", the word άγιος is the rarest, and, unlike other synonymous terms, it mainly indicated the holy in the moral sense. Being little used among the pagans, this word, one might say, penetrates the entire Old and New Testament and expresses the concept in which all divine revelation is concentrated. Therefore, the word has a broad meaning in general. But the main point here is the moral idea, of which the Greeks and Romans have almost no concept at all. The concept of holiness gets its special coloration from the fact that holiness is attached to God and what belongs to Him. Apart from God, this concept is applied only to such people and objects that especially belong to God. The word "holy" or "holy" or "holy" (pl.) is used in Old Testament about the temple. Further, it is used, as in Lev. 22:14, about sacred food, usually in the plural. (cf. Matt. 13:11; Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10). He told His disciples that it was given to them to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God, while it was not given to other people, and He refrained from directly revealing these secrets to people without the help of parables. Further, explaining the mysteries of the Kingdom, He said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like “a treasure hidden in a field that a man has found and hidden, and for joy over it he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field”(Matthew 13:44) ; “to a merchant looking for good pearls who, having found one precious pearl, went and sold everything he had and bought it”(Matthew 13:45, 46) .
The first part of the verse: “don't give shrines to dogs” can be separated from the second and considered by itself. This is necessary because some interpreters could not understand how pigs can, having turned, tear people to pieces, because dogs are capable of this, and they attributed last words poem for dogs. But such an opinion has no basis for itself. Sacrificial food, meat and bread, for dogs is a pleasant food. In the first half of the sentence, therefore, the verb (δίδωμι) is used, and not the further one - to throw. Dogs are often mentioned in Old Testament writings. Moses tells his compatriots that their exodus from Egypt took place in such silence that even the dog did not move his tongue either on man or on cattle (Ex. 11:7). Judith tells Holofernes the same thing - that she will lead him to Jerusalem so that even the dog will not move his tongue against him. Much has remained from the good old days to the present, including dogs, which even now walk and live in multitudes in Palestinian cities. They sleep during the day, rise at sunset and begin cleaning up the dirty nooks and crannies of the streets. At this time, they howl, grumble, and a squabble begins between them because of the garbage and sewage that is thrown out of the houses, because in the eastern cities everything is thrown into the streets and eaten by dogs. They are the only orderlies in the dirty eastern cities. Let's move on to another image. The former “do not give” (μη δωτε) is replaced by the words “do not give up” (μη βάλητε). By pearl (μαργαρίτας) one must understand pearls, pearls, and, perhaps, mother-of-pearl, but not beads, as in our Slavic. In the Vulgate, margaritas is the same word as in Greek. Pearls are like peas or even acorns, which are loved and eaten by pigs. But these cheap edible items matter more to them than precious pearls. Of course, the facts, when pigs would tear apart, for example, a person, are little known, if only known. There is no need to understand here by the word "pig" any ferocious breed of pigs, such as, for example, a wild boar. It is known from practice about ordinary domestic pigs that they eat animals and sometimes bite children to death, and, therefore, they can bite an adult person. Based on the context, there is no reason to specifically refer the words of Christ to either pagans or heretics. The first would be wrong, if only because He came to preach to the Gentiles and save them, and the apostles, according to His command, had to "go and make disciples of all nations." But there was no mention of heretics then, and if Christ began to speak of them now, His speech would hardly be understood by His listeners. In concluding the explanation of this verse, we note that there is an increase in it from the beginning to the end - first it speaks of dogs that do not become ferocious, but can eat sacred meat, and then of pigs that become ferocious and tear the giver to pieces. According to Tolyuk, the shamelessness (άναισχυντία) of people in general is meant here.
Explanatory Bible.
Trinity leaflets
Do not give holy things to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample it under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.
Forbidding to condemn one's neighbor, the Lord does not forbid evil to be called evil and to distinguish good from evil. On the contrary, He Himself, and the apostles, and all the holy saints of God, always judged and condemned deeds that were contrary to the faith and commandments of God, and always fought evil. "Judge with righteous judgment"- says the Savior in the Gospel of John (John 7:24). So it is here, commanding not to condemn. At the same time, He commands His disciples to distinguish: who is worthy and able to listen to the word of God, and who is unworthy. Don't give, he says, shrines to dogs, do not offer the most holy mysteries of the true faith to the evil enemies of the truth, stubborn heretics who are unable to accept them with the meekness of lambs, but with bitterness of dogs bark at the preachers of the truth and are ready to tear them to pieces. Don't throw your pearls– do not throw priceless pearls of the word of God – before the pigs, in front of such people who live not like human beings, but like beasts, who are drowned in impure lusts and debauchery and do not want to know and hear about God, about Heaven, about the salvation of the soul. The pig is waiting for food - grain; pearls are like grains; throw her a pearl; at first she will pounce on him, thinking that this is grain, but then, having been deceived in her expectation, she will trample on him and, perhaps, will rush at you. So it is with corrupt people: everywhere they seek that which amuses their bestial lusts, and when they are offered the word of God, which condemns their vices, they impudently laugh at it and persecute the very preachers of the word of God. So beware lest they trample him, this pearl, these pearls of saving truths in their bitterness, with your feet so that they do not offend their sanctuary, do not pervert the truths themselves, do not mix them with vain human wisdom, like pearls with dirt; And than, turning upon you preachers of these truths, didn't tear you apart. And in this case, be guided by love for people and spiritual reasoning: have pity on these slaves of sin and the sons of darkness, so that your careless preaching will not serve them to greater condemnation and eternal death. True, in another place the Lord says: “whatever you hear in your ear, preach on the rooftops”(Matthew 10:27) ; but this is said only of those hearers who are able to profitably hear the word of God. Saint Isidore Pelusiot says that in the words: "don't give holy things to dogs" The Lord also forbids baptizing those who pretend to come to the holy faith, and ordaining priests those who live uncleanly; and St. Athanasius of Alexandria adds to this that the Lord forbids teaching the Most Pure Mysteries of the Body and Blood of His unrepentant sinners.
But, guarding the sanctity of the teaching of Christ from insulting it by others, let us take care that we also not be guilty of this insult; Saint Basil the Great says that we dishonor the words of the Lord by breaking them; unbelieving people, looking at our sinful life, consider the commandments of the Lord to be difficult to fulfill, and thus the holy law of Christ is blasphemed by our sins...
Trinity sheets. No. 801-1050.
goes "Passion Week". This is the name of the last week before Day of Christ's execution dedicated to the memories of last days earthly life of the Savior, about His sufferings, crucifixion, death on the cross, burial.
Many centuries ago, at about the same time (a week before his earthly death on the Cross), at the moment his arrest by Jewish chief priests and their servants, Christ said to them: "Every day I was with you in the temple, and you did not raise your hands against Me, but now is your time and the POWER OF DARKNESS..." (Luke 22:53).
And since then we all live underPOWER OF DARKNESS...
Alas, it is. This is true!
The saddest thing is that the tribe of Jews can now be found everywhere! In every country in the world! There are Jews in Russia, which adopted Christianity back in 988, according to historians.
In the Moscow Kremlin Palace, they, the Jews, now annually celebrate their Victory Day - Hanukkah.
Think about it!
Jews celebrate OUR Victory Day in OUR Kremlin Palace, allegedly in honor of the murder in 165 until the new era of King Antiochus (of Greek origin from Syria, which, by the way, they Jews, by the way, still do not leave alone!
At the same time, when they ask the "Chief Rabbi of Russia" Berl Lazar,"how do you feel about Jesus Christ and his "New Testament"?"
, he calmly answers all of Russia:no way! We Jews do not accept New Testament"Christ!
After that, one can only be surprised at the silence of the so-called "Russian Orthodox Church"!!! Do all the priests there continue the work of Judas?! And there is no one to raise his pastoral voice in defense of Mother Russia, desecrated by the Jews?!
"I was talking to three different people yesterday about the same thing... The conversation briefly boiled down to why not go to the 'Devil's children' and try to convince them...
Here are these three different conversations in one formula:
"Do not give anything holy to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample it under their feet and, turning, tear you to pieces"(Jesus Christ, Matt. 7:6).
So many people completely misunderstand this. direct indication Our Lord Jesus Christ about "what not to do and WHY".
If you remember how they usually write and in what context these words, then you will find that they write (say) only this: "don't give holy things to dogs" or "don't cast your pearls before swine" , but further the gospel words of Christ do not mention, although further it explains why this should not be done, and what it can threaten you with.
People do not take these words too seriously, they are often used to assert their own pride, in the sense that, "don't throw pearls..." this means for them - I'm smart, the rest are pigs, and therefore I do not talk to them.
I repeat once again - this is the Sermon of our Lord Jesus Christ. He directly explained what threatens us this very "throwing pearls or beads...".
I will give you some simple examples, so it is always easier to understand what is at stake.
We recall the beginning of the collapse of the Union, those same nineties of the twentieth century. Let's dive in at that time. We recall the "teleconferences with the USA" that Posner conducted, where our people tried to tell the Americans how not evil we really are, and that in fact, we do not want them to harm, and it was true!
We remember how the US senators came. Yes, they actually registered here then! Well, our people crucified before them again about how peaceful we are, and how we wish them happiness ...
Naive people!
You remember all this, clearly remember everything! This is important, because if you understand it ONCE, you will never forget it!!!
So, the Chechens can remember how "saviors" came to them - a kind of lovers of the Chechen people, and the Chechens told them how good they are and do not want harm to anyone ...
Poles, Hungarians, Romanians, etc. came. And in front of them in the literal sense - DANCED, danced, sang, explained to them that our people really love everyone ...
In general, a lot of "pearls" were poured out, tons !!! The people gave the pigs everything they could, whatever they had!
AND THEY, AFTER TURNING, THEN tore US to pieces!
Never think that the Lord said even one Word in vain!
As said - so be it! Therefore: Jesus told you not to cast pearls in front of swine and not to give holy things to dogs - FOLLOW, and do not reason!!! For then you will weep and weep, but the pigs will not spare you!
Holy Week, I wrote to you back in winter, it will be the most difficult and there will be another week after Easter. Hold on.
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