Trampled

Trampled (by David Peterson)

Jesus wraps up His first public sermon with Chapter 7 of Matthew. In Matthew 7:6 Jesus states: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

Jesus is warning us that there are people (metaphorically canines and swine) who do not believe in Him and will tread on, or crush, His directives out of their contempt. Jesus opens our eyes to the fact that the depraved lurk in our world and they will hate the gospel and its truth (your pearls!). Beware, Jesus says, for they will turn on you!

Martin Luther, the great reformer, once wrote: Faith must trample under foot all reason, sense, and understanding. Luther seems to be saying that faith serves us well and it even supersedes the mysteries of everything else, including rational thought. In relation to Jesus’ words about dogs and pigs trampling what is holy or divine, our faith is valuable to us as believers, and we should not even engage in their foolishness.

Clara Scott wrote “Open My Eyes, That I May See” in 1895 as a way to increase our awareness and acceptance of the “Spirit divine”. The first stanza goes;

Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me.

Place in my hands the wonderful key

that shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for thee,

ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Scott writes in this hymn that believers need to see, hear, and speak the truth everywhere in order to counter all things that are false.

Let us pray: Jesus, our powerful and inspirational leader, reveal to us those who have contempt for your gospel, and steer us away from their destruction and disaster. Direct us to protect our pearls of faith and belief through open eyes! Amen.