Correspondence: Pearls before Swine; Disobedient Healed; John 10:16

Matthew 7:6; John 10:16  •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 6
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Question 33: In what way can the Christian throw his pearls before swine, or give the holy things unto the dogs? J. H. J.
Question 34: Was it disobedience on the part of the healed ones in the gospels in not heeding the Lord’s charge to say nothing about their being healed? Why is it mentioned in one gospel and not in another? J. H. J.
Answer: The Lord had always a reason for telling anyone not to speak about what had been done. Sometimes, it was because He was rejected. Other times, because as a Servant, He was hiding Himself. This is specially in Mark’s Gospel. You should specify what instances you desire light about.
Those who were healed, and told it, did disobey, but acted out of the fullness of their gratitude, and failed to enter into His purpose at the moment.
Answer: “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one flock, and one Shepherd.”
“One flock” is the right translation in this last occurrence of the word.
A fold is an enclosure. A flock is a number of sheep; this is a contrast between Judaism and Christianity. Circumcision, laws and ordinances, kept the Jews hedged in and separate from the nations or Gentiles.
Jesus came into this fold to deliver His sheep out of it; this He did through His death and resurrection. Christ went before them, and through His death the sheep are brought out of the sheepfold (John 10:3, 43To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (John 10:3‑4)).
John 10:99I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9) is salvation for “Any man” and liberty and pasture. This is what the believers have in Christ (Eph. 2:8,13-188For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)
13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:13‑18)). They have life more abundantly (John 10:1010The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)). There is now no fold. Christians are the flock of God (Acts 20:2828Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28); 1 Peter 5:22Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (1 Peter 5:2)). They are not under law nor ordinances (Rom. 6:1414For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14); Col. 2:2020Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Colossians 2:20)).