Zeal without knowledge
But supposing you have, by the grace of God, cast the beam out of your own eye, and do now clearly see the mote or the beam which is in your brother's eye, yet beware that you do not receive hurt yourself by endeavoring to help him. Still do not give that which is holy to dogs. Do not lightly account any to be of this number. But if it evidently appears that they deserve the title, then do not cast your pearls before swine. Beware of that zeal which is not according to knowledge (Romans 10:2). For this is another great hindrance in their way who would be perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Those who desire this cannot but desire that all mankind should partake of the common blessing. And when we ourselves first partake of the heavenly gift, the divine evidence of things not seen, we wonder that all mankind do not see the things which we see so plainly, and make no doubt at all but we shall open the eyes of all we have any intercourse with. Hence we are for attacking all we meet without delay and constraining them to see, whether they will or not. And by the ill success of this intemperate zeal, we often suffer in our own souls. To prevent this spending of our strength in vain, our Lord adds this needful caution (needful to all, but more especially to those who are now warm in their first love; Revelation 2:4): Do not give that which is holy to dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot and turn again and tear you (Matthew 7:6).
1771 text
15. But supposing thou hast, by the grace of God, cast the beam out of thine own eye, and dost now clearly see the mote or the beam which is in thy brother’s eye, yet beware thou dost not receive hurt thyself, by endeavouring to help him. Still give not that which is holy unto dogs. Do not lightly account any to be of this number. But if it evidently appear, that they deserve the title, then cast ye not your pearls before swine. Beware of that zeal which is not according to knowledge. For this is another great hindrance in their way, who would be perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect. They who desire this, cannot but desire that all mankind should partake of the common blessing. And when we ourselves first partake of the heavenly gift, the divine evidence of things not seen, we wonder, that all mankind do not see, the things which we see so plainly, and make no doubt at all but we shall open the eyes of all we have any intercourse with. Hence we are for attacking all we meet without delay, and constraining them to see, whether they will or no. And by the ill success of this intemperate zeal, we often suffer in our own souls: to prevent this spending our strength in vain, our Lord adds this needful caution (needful to all, but more especially to those who are now warm in their first love:) Give not that which is holy unto dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine: lest they trample them under foot, and turn again and rent you.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 30 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 7:1-12.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.