Text:  Matthew 7:6
Intro: Hogs and dogs represent the unholy, the defiled, filthy and rejected. In Israel both were considered the scum of the animal world.
    A. In both Old and New Testaments dogs and hogs are used to describe the greatest of sinners. Illus..
        1. "As a jewel of gold in swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion (Prov. 11:22).
        2. "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly," (Prov. 26:11)
        3. See also (2 Peter 2:22.)
    B.  Pearls are jewels of beauty.
        1. Beautifully shaped, and lovely to be worn.
        2. The more they are worn the greater their luster.
        3. They represent considerable value (Matt.13:45,46).
I. Dogs as Used in the Bible.
    A. Dogs are used to represent the immoral and those rejected of God (Deut. 23:18).
    B. To call a person a dog was to cast him into the lowest possible class. Examples:
        1. Philistine, "Am I a dog?" (1 Sam 17:43).
        2. Abner to express his disgust with Ishbosheth said: "Am I a dog's head?" (2 Sam 3:8).
        3. Mephibosheth, "What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?" (2 Sam 9:8).
        4. "Hazael said: "Is thy servant a dog?" (2 Kings 8:13).
    C. Jews referred to Gentiles as dogs. Jesus used the ephithet.
        1. "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs."
        2. "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to dogs." (Matt 15:26)
    D.  Paul called troublemakers dogs (Phil 3:2).
    Note some characteristics of dogs:
        1. They bite and devour one another (Gal 5:15).
        2. They greedily receive filth. Some church members
            a. Have "itching ears" for filthy gossip.
            b. They thrill at hearing filthy jokes.
            c. Many spend hours before TV, or at movies, that could better be spent reading the Bible.
        3. Dogs are liars.
            a. Often bark when there is nothing to bark at
            b. Keep people awake with senseless barking.
        4. Dogs are treacherous, sneaking, snarling, threatening; they’ll bite without warning.
    E. Peter likened habitual, filthy sinners to dogs (2 Peter 2:22).
    F. Those excluded from the Holy City are called dogs (Rev 22:15). For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and
        whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
II. Hogs as Used in the Bible.
    A. An unclean animal (Deut 14:8).
        1. Not to be eaten by the Jews,
        2. Nor were they to touch the carcass of a hog.
    B. It was an abomination to eat swine flesh (Isa 66:17).
    C. Incapable of appreciating beauty (Pro 11:22; Mt.7:6).
    D. Hog farming was a lowly occupation (Luke 15:15).
    E. Hogs are used to describe hypocritical and unredeemed sinners (2 Peter 2:22).
        1. "Sow that is washed," is self-reformation..,
        2. But reformation and salvation are poles apart, so the "sow returns to her wallowing in the mire."
        3. Could this describe many church members?
            a. Wash themselves and go to church on Sunday morning but by night they are wallowing in the mire of the world?
            b. On Monday they curse and swear like the infidels of the world.
            c. These do not know what church services are like on Wednesday night. (Matt 23:1-36
            d. Jesus' severest criticism was directed to the hypocrites.
    F. Hogs are dangerous creatures.
        1. Cannot appreciate the beauty of pearls.
        2. Only interested in satisfying their gluttonous appetites.
        3. Like dogs, they thrive on that which clean creatures reject (slop).
        4. If they don't get their slop, they will rend you.
    G. Hogs are filthy creatures. 'Wallowing in the, mire,"
        1. They thoroughly enjoy "wallowing in the mire."
        2. Some church members seem to enjoy
            a. Wallowing in the mire of sin, and
            b. Drinking the world's slop: beer, etc.
    H. People act like dogs and hogs when they show no appreciation for the riches and beauty of the things of Christ.
III. Pearls as Used in the Bible.
    A. Represent that which is good, holy, of value.
        1. Jesus used the pearl to represent something of great worth (all that he had) in parables of the kingdom (Matt 13:45,46).
        2. They are highly prized in commercial world (Rev. 17:4; 18:12).
            a. In the ancient world they were among the most prized of jewels.
        3. But the day will come when they will be worthless.
    B. Though of great worth, there are some things of infinitely more worth.
        1. Wisdom (fear of God Pro 1:7; Job 28-18).
        2. A godly woman, adorned "in modest apparel" (1 Timothy 2:9).
        3. The Gospel message (Matthew 7:6).
    C. Gates of the New Jerusalem each are of one huge pearl (Rev 21:21).
IV. How do Church Members Give That Which is Holy to The Dogs, and Cast Their Pearls Before Swine?
    A. By airing church trouble before the world.
    B. When they go, to court before the world (1 Cor 6:1-8).
    C. When they bring the world into the church.
    D. When they spend their time and energies trying to reform confirmed sinners.
        1. These need to learn that they are sinners.
        2. Sinners must repent before they appreciate the pearls of truth in the Gospel,
Conclusion:
    A. Let's heed Jesus, admonition (Matt 7:6 1). "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs."
        1. Nor cast our pearls before swine.
    B. Let's value the beauty of the, Gospel and the Holy Bible, and present it to those who will receive it.