Topic: What is the meaning of Matthew 7:6?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: December 9, 2002

Moderator who originally posted this source: Fr. Robert

Question:   I'm curious as to the meaning of these two bible passages:Matt 7:6 - do not throw pearls at pigsand (I can't find the passage right now...) but it's the bit where Jesus tells this woman that it is not right to give her scraps (?) and she responds that dogs eat scraps from the table. Do you know the passage I mean?Thanks.

Answer: 

Beth,

Matthew 7:6 has sometimes been referred to as a negative restatement of the golden rule, which says we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us. In the narrative you are referring to, which also appears in a very similar form in Mark, Jesus makes a statement that acknowledges the primary mission given to Him by his Father was to minister to Israel. It is not that Jesus did not care about others. He knew he had limited time and had to give priority to preaching first to Israel. The woman responds in an unexpected way. Not, "hey, we are as good as anyone else..." but more like "what you are saying is true, i am just begging you for the scraps of your time." Jesus is so impressed with her faith - and often in the Gospels it is the "outsiders" who often display incredible faith - that he does the healing.
This is one way to think about the passage. It does not totally exhaust the meaning we can get out of it. Biblical narratives are far too rich for that! I recommend you get a New American Bible with footnotes, and consider a good Catholic biblical commentary, such as the Collegeville Biblical Commentary. Thank you for reading God's Word!

Blessings,
Father Robert