Correspondence: Matt. 7:6; Rom. 11:26; Psa. 138:2; 1 Cor. 15:29; Acts 2:16-17

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Acts 2:16‑17; Matthew 7:7; Romans 11:26; Psalm 138:2  •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 7
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Question: In what way can the Christian cast his pearls before swine, or give the holy things unto dogs?
Answer: It means that Israel as a NATION will be saved. It does not mean that every Israelite will be saved. All of them, as well as all Gentiles, who have died without Christ, are lost for eternity, for they have died in their sins. Israel is to be gathered into Palestine again, and all the ungodly ones will be sifted out from them, and the rest will have the national place and be twelve tribes again. (Ezek. 38; Rev. 7; Heb. 8:88For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: (Hebrews 8:8)).
Answer: The absolute authority of the Word is seen in this verse. Jehovah has made His Word great above all His renown. We must therefore receive and honor the written Word above all the general teaching about Him: above everything else.
Answer: The 29th verse must be read in connection with verses 16-18, verses 20-28 being a wonderful parenthesis. The word “for” has often the sense of “in view of.” God was pleased to let the church, during the first three centuries, be sorely subject to fearful persecutions. To be baptized was to take a step, with nothing in this world but death in view, or, as we say, death before them. They were baptized unto a crucified Saviour baptized into His death, and, so to speak, buried with Him in baptism. And why should they take such a place, with nothing but a cruel death before them? But Christ is risen, and this altered everything else. What should they do which are baptized for (or in view of) the dead, if the dead rise not at all? It has been said, Why should they fill up the ranks that were being swept off by the most cruel deaths? Paul then seems to refer to this in his own history. But why do this, if there be no resurrection? Truly they were “as sheep for the slaughter.”