Discussion of Matthew 7:6 “Pearls Before Swine (Epicureans?)”

Very interesting thought. In my experience actual animals don't find stone-like objects of any kind to be particularly interesting one way or another, so I wouldn't expect them to take much notice of pearls.

So is this a figurative slam at Epicureans and Cynics rather than actual pigs and dogs?

I'm not aware that there was a significant body of Cynics active during the times this statement was allegedly made, but I definitely think that's worth consideration, especially since I gather that the attitude toward dogs and pigs among the Judeo-christians of the time was generally negative.

I have never felt that what I understand to be Cynicism is attractive at all, but to the extent there is a core of affinity between their attitude and the honesty and forthrightness of dogs, then since I like dogs more than many people, I would find that to be the best attribute of "Cynicism."

Seeing the phrase not as a focusing on the obvious truth that it's not good to throw away valuable things, but as more focused on slamming "undesirables" like dogs and pigs, and connecting that with Epicureans, does make sense to me.

I'm intrigued! I'll admit that I never made that connection, and possibly both animals were seen as unclean... But the juxtaposition of dogs and swine is too juicy to pass up digging into a little.

The phrase comes from Matthew 7:6: μὴ δῶτε τὸ ἅγιον τοῖς κυσίν μηδὲ βάλητε τοὺς μαργαρίτας ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν χοίρων μήποτε καταπατήσουσιν αὐτοὺς ἐν τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτῶν καὶ στραφέντες ῥήξωσιν ὑμᾶς

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. (NRSVue)

χοῖρος, χοιρου, ὁ, from Homer down, a swine: plural, Matthew 7:6; Matthew 8:30,(31),32; Mark 5:11-13, 14 Rec.,(16); Luke 8:32; Luke 15:15f. (Not found in the O. T.)

So, the only other uses of χοιρος are Jesus casting demons into swine and the prodigal son eating what swine eat when he was starving from the famine.

But that juxtaposition in "Jesus'" words in Matthew does intrigue me, could it be Cynics and Epicureans?? The part about tearing you to pieces reminds me of Acts 17.

Acts 17 :: King James Version (KJV)

Acts 17 - Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth…

www.blueletterbible.org

Act 17:18 - Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection....

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

Questions for me:

Did the Jesus Seminar vote that Jesus said Matthew 7:6?

Were the Cynics and Epicureans active when and where Matthew was written?

What word did Horace use for "a pig in Epicurus' sty" in Latin? Is that the one in the Vulgate?

Have any scholars gone this route with Matthew 7:6?

Great question, Al-Hakiim von Grof !