6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces … 12 In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Some verses stand alone in their import and pithiness. Our reading for today focuses on two of these. The first seems quite odd, though the imagery itself makes perfectly good sense. How does this apply to followers of the Lord? How does one throw his pearls before swine?

Traditionally we understand this to mean we shouldn’t take holy things of God and allow non-believers to trample them down. In other words, don’t give non-believers any unnecessary reason to ridicule you as a Christian or to unnecessarily malign the truth, particularly with things they cannot as unregenerate beings understand or appreciate. Talking to unbelievers about election, predestination, or free will is an exercise in futility (it is hard enough for believers to wrestle with!) and will certainly incur scorn. Making an elaborate show of praying at lunch in a cafeteria crowded with unbelievers qualifies for this injunction as well. This is not to say one should hide one’s devotion to the Lord, but the question needs to be raised, is that really a witness to unbelievers or is it throwing “pearls before swine.” Would Jesus be suggesting that discretion is in order? Why subject our personal devotion to the Lord to unnecessary ridicule?

Jesus, in the other stand-alone teaching under our consideration, gives what is popularly called the Golden Rule, “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” Much has been made about the fact that just about every major religion has a similar teaching, with the misguided implication that all religions really teach the same thing. However, truth is true, regardless of where it is found, and it makes sense that this basic concept of ethical behavior authored by Jesus Christ would be imitated in other religions. He taught much more than just ethical conduct between people, though. Right behavior is rooted in a right relationship with God. That’s why He said earlier, “Seek first the kingdom of God …” All else is secondary.

Having said this, Jesus’ statement provides the succinct and memorable reminder of how we should treat others—namely as we ourselves would like to be treated. Much conflict would be averted before it happened if this principle were at the forefront of all our relationships.

Lord, help me to not “merely look out for [my] own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil 2:4).