Dogs according to our Lord

[gilbs72]

What does our Lord mean?

“Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you." Matthew 7:6 (NRSV)

He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” Matthew 15.26 (NRSV)

I am a dog owner and I am guilty of placing blessed salt in my dog’s water when she wasn’t feeling well.

But more importantly, why does the Lord speak of dogs as if they are very lowly creatures–even kind of evil? Is it a teaching He wishes for us to follow? Or is He just using a metaphor common at the time and therefore easy for disciples to comprehend? Or is it something else? How about the pigs?

I also note some patron saints for animals: St. Roch and St. Francis of Assisi.

Thank you.

 

[marty1818]

“Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you." Matthew 7:6 (NRSV)

Pagans are being referred to here as dogs and swine. Dogs being scavengers and swine being unclean.

He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” Matthew 15.26 (NRSV)

The children (Israel) get to eat first (receive blessings) before the dogs (Gentiles).

According to the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible :

dogs and swine are derogatory Jewish epithets for pagans. Dogs were generally undomesticated in Jewish culture, and most were stray scavengers. Swine were especially contemptible to Jews, they were unclean and could not be eaten. Jesus redirects these insulting labels to anyone inhospitable to the gospel, Jew or Gentile.

 

[centurionguard]

What does our Lord mean?

“Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you." Matthew 7:6 (NRSV)

He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” Matthew 15.26 (NRSV)

I am a dog owner and I am guilty of placing blessed salt in my dog’s water when she wasn’t feeling well.

But more importantly, why does the Lord speak of dogs as if they are very lowly creatures–even kind of evil? Is it a teaching He wishes for us to follow? Or is He just using a metaphor common at the time and therefore easy for disciples to comprehend? Or is it something else? How about the pigs?

I also note some patron saints for animals: St. Roch and St. Francis of Assisi.

Thank you.

It has nothing to do with animal dogs for their namesake.

Perhaps this will explain it better for you Matthew 7:6
haydock1859.tripod.com/id21.html

Ver. 6. Give not that which is holy, or holy things, (as in the Greek) to dogs; i.e. to scandalous libertines, or infidels, who are not worthy to partake of divine mysteries and sacraments, who sacrilegiously abuse them, and trample them under their feet, as hogs do pearls. (Witham) — The sacred mysteries should not be given to those that are not properly instructed in the sublime nature of them; nor should we hold any communication of religion with those that are enemies to the truths of Christ, which they tread under their feet and treat contemptuously, and will be so far from having any more friendship for you on account of such a criminal complaisance, that it is more probable they will betray you and turn against you. (Haydock)

Matthew 15:26-27
haydock1859.tripod.com/id33.html

er. 26-27. And to cast it to the dogs; i.e. to Gentiles, sometimes so called by the Jews. (Witham) — The diminutive word Kunarios, or whelp, is used in both these verses in the Septuagint. Our Lord crosses the wishes of the Chanaanæan, not that he intended to reject her, but that he might bring to light the hidden and secret treasure of her virtue. Let us admire not only the greatness of her faith, but likewise the profoundness of her humility; for when our Saviour called the Jews children, so far from being envious of another’s praise, she readily answers, and gives them the title of lords; and when Christ likened her to a dog, she presently acknowledges the meanness of her condition. (St. Chrysostom, hom. liii.) He refused at first to listen to her petition, says the same saint, to instruct us with what faith, humility, and perseverance we ought to pray. To make his servants more sensible of his mercy, and more eager to obtain it, he often appears to pay no attention to their prayers, till he had exercised them in the virtues of humility and patience. Ask, and you shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened to you. (Haydock)

 

[gilbs72]

Thank you, marty1818 and centurionguard, for these insights.

I am relieved to know this doesn’t refer to animal dogs. This also reminded me to read not just the plain words of the Bible, but to understand the deeper meaning and the context to which all the verses were written.

Again, my gratitude.

 

[coachdennis]

Thank you, marty1818 and centurionguard, for these insights.

I am relieved to know this doesn’t refer to animal dogs. This also reminded me to read not just the plain words of the Bible, but to understand the deeper meaning and the context to which all the verses were written.

Again, my gratitude.

Lesson learned.

 

[Newbie2]

Please do not, ever, put salt in your dog’s water, blessed or not.

This is a very good way of making your dog sicker or even killing her.

-Brought to you by your friendly neighborhood veterinarian.

 

[gilbs72]

Please do not, ever, put salt in your dog’s water, blessed or not.

This is a very good way of making your dog sicker or even killing her.

-Brought to you by your friendly neighborhood veterinarian.

Hi. Sorry for late reply. It was just a couple of grains and once (twice at most). The intention (then) was spiritual rather than to actually salten the water.

Just curious though. I’ve seen retrievers play fetch in sea water numerous times. Does that harm the dogs?

 

[thistle]

What does our Lord mean?

“Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you." Matthew 7:6 (NRSV)

He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” Matthew 15.26 (NRSV)

I am a dog owner and I am guilty of placing blessed salt in my dog’s water when she wasn’t feeling well.

But more importantly, why does the Lord speak of dogs as if they are very lowly creatures–even kind of evil? Is it a teaching He wishes for us to follow? Or is He just using a metaphor common at the time and therefore easy for disciples to comprehend? Or is it something else? How about the pigs?

I also note some patron saints for animals: St. Roch and St. Francis of Assisi.

Thank you.

All animals are lowly creatures compared to humans. We have dominion over all of them and we can use them how we want provided we do not cause them unnecessary suffering.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Dogs (actual dogs, not used as a metaphor for pagans) are portrayed as compassionate by Jesus in the parable in Luke 16:21. The dogs who were kept only as vicious guards (Isaiah 56:10) nevertheless clean Lazarus’s wounds by licking them when their master will not even give him the droppings from his dinner table, as the dogs responded to his gentle nature. (Dogs’ saliva is antibiotic, which Jesus would know, both as God and also from the culture of the time - archaeological digs in Aschelon, Israel have found Phoenician hospitals where people paid to have dogs lick their wounds as medical treatment.)

The Jesus who was present at creation was present at the creation of dogs. They evince enough longing, guilt, joy, and sorrow that I suspect they can be naught else but natural Catholics as God’s creatures.

 

[Mintaka]

It doesn’t hurt dogs to play in saltwater; many breeds are even adapted to sea life. (Like Irish water spaniels or Newfoundlands.) But as with humans, saltwater can make their skin itchy, so you usually have to wash off dogs in freshwater after they finish swimming in saltwater.

Anyway… if you want some dog scripture, you need to read the book of Tobit. There’s a faithful dog included, who even gets to hang out with the archangel Raphael!

“And Tobias went forward, and the dog followed him…”

“Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news, showed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail.”

And Jesus quotes the Book of Tobit, btw, as well as being the ultimate Author of all Scripture and all Creation; so obviously He was okay with actual dogs!