URC Daily Devotion Friday 14 November 2025
St Matthew 7:6
Jesus said: ‘Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.
Reflection
I am writing this Devotion sitting on my office chair which I am cosily sharing with my dog, Miss Eve the Dobermann. I have just eaten lunch, ham and cheese sandwiches, shared with Eve. This introduction describes to you my context regarding dogs and pigs.
In Jesus’ context, things were different: pigs were ‘unclean’ animals, not eaten by Jews; and dogs were potentially dangerous scavengers. Elsewhere in the New Testament, dogs are synonymous with evil (Philippians 3:2, Revelation 22:15).
On a simplistic level, ‘holy’ is that which is set aside for God. Years ago, one denomination struggled with the ethics of investing Church money in arms-manufacturers. Maybe this verse cautions us regarding our allies.
Like me, the Reformer Martin Luther had a soft-spot for dogs and their devotion: “If I could only pray the way this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on the piece of meat.” In his 260-page commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, Luther devoted 5 pages to this verse. We are probably unsurprised that Luther considered the “dogs and hogs” to be those who opposed and exploited the Reformation.
Even today, in some parts of the world, it is dangerous to preach the Gospel – that’s the being “mauled”!
Throwing pearls? Giving any precious stone/item to any animal is pointless: they can’t eat them!
At the end of August, a group of Christians from several churches took part in Manchester’s Pride parade and posted their participation on social media. Sadly, what followed in the comments was an increasingly vicious and unpleasant exchange. Clearly, neither side would be won over by the other’s words.
Herein lies a greater challenge. It is comparatively easier to avoid known intransigent conversations and emotionally inflammatory situations. But what about our precious things – our pearls – our time, our money and our resources? Are they being wasted anywhere?
I leave you with these thoughts on this day when the URC General Assembly begins its Extraordinary Meeting regarding the Church-Life Review.
Prayer
Loving God, through Your Word
and by Your Holy Spirit,
grant us wisdom to discern
how best to use
what You have given us.
We hold before You
this extraordinary General Assembly.
May we be led to love and serve You
and praise You more and more for ever.
You are the Source, Guide, and Goal
of all that is: to You be eternal glory. Amen.