Relating to Dogs and Pigs

In the first five verses of Matthew 7, Jesus strongly rebukes a "judgmentalism" that exaggerates another person's issues while giving ourselves the best "benefit of the doubt." Then without any words of transition, in v.6 Jesus calls on his followers to make judgment calls about who we minister to. So, while the rebuke of judgmentalism stands and is needed, it doesn't forbid all practice of judging. "Dogs" in Bible times weren't domesticated but were a disdainful, scavenging, and often violent animal. A "pig" to the Jew especially was even worse – they were an abomination. After describing people with such terms, the Lord calls on his disciples to withhold ministry to some - lest they do more harm than good. Discrimination and discernment about where we invest our time and energy and resources in ministry is a mark of the true citizens of Christ's kingdom.