By condemning a critical attitude, Jesus’ words connect with what the apostle Paul says to the church in Galatians 6:1–2. Paul simply repeats Jesus’ teaching in different words. If a brother is caught in a sin, if we come to see that someone’s life and manner does not fit with what God has revealed, we reach out to them in a spirit of gentleness—not harsh words, not a condescending manner, but a gentle spirit. This is our brother. This is our sister. We want to help them in their Christian walk.

As we do so, we keep watch. We recognize that the sins which we notice in others are the same sins to which we are susceptible. There may very well be logs in our eyes, so to speak, and we must deal with them before we will be able to do good for our fellow believer.

Encouraging us to look out for each other, Jesus gives us a perplexing statement to drive his point home. Do not give to dogs what is holy, do not throw your pearls before swine. Apparently, this is the most obscure saying in the Gospel of Matthew. Obscure not in the sense that there are no explanations for what Jesus meant, but obscure in the sense that the common interpretation does not seem to do it justice.

Historically, this verse has been understood as a call to show discernment. We must not judge with a condemning spirit but that does not mean there is no place for rebuke. And if a rebuke does come, then we should also know when it is time to stop. Like the disciples would shake off dust from the towns who do not welcome them, so you should only speak to your brother or sister if they would be open to correction. If you know they are going to respond negatively, it is best to stay silent.

The application highlights the difficulty of the traditional interpretation. Where would the Christian faith be if the apostles spoke only to those who were keen to listen? How can it ever be appropriate to tolerate and condone sin in God’s church? Certainly we must share God’s truth with a gentle spirit and concern, but if Christ is King, then Christ is King, and we do not pretend otherwise. We cannot be a member in his kingdom without submitting to him.

A better interpretation that makes more sense in the context of Jesus’ sermon, is to understand the holy pearls as a reference to your brother or sister in Christ. Do not give to dogs what is holy, do not throw your pearls before swine–do not behave in such a way that your brother is thrown out of the kingdom. In essence, stop judging your brother with a critical attitude, as if he does not belong. When you treat your brother as if he is a heathen, you discourage him in his Christian walk. You bring about his death as well as your own.

This is much more likely to be the meaning of Jesus’ words and they fit what has come before: a call to live as children and not as hypocrites, to help my fellow believer in his pursuit of Christ, to let go of a critical attitude, to stop judgments based on human tradition, to remember that you are no better than anyone else in God’s church. You are just as susceptible to sin; you have just as much need for God’s grace and mercy. Like everyone else, you are here not because you have earned God’s favour, but because you have heard the good news of what Jesus has done and had the Spirit work a true faith in your heart. Christ has paid for your sins; Christ has made you right with God, not your own deeds or actions.

Let this reality guide your conversation. Let this reality guide your thoughts, especially your thoughts towards the Christian that gets on your nerves and whom you struggle to live with. Speak to people where they are at; draw them close; do not chase them away. When it comes to formal discipline, when it comes to individual conversations—this is our aim. We want to help each other grow closer to Christ. As one family, we want to please the Father in response to his grace.