Brothers: Beware of the Animals (II)

This is the second in my new series on animalistic people against whom we are warned by the biblical writers. See the first (here). In this chapter we will look at people who are "dogs."

Certainly the apostle is not warning Christians of literal dogs. That is far outside the scope of his content. Rather, he is identifying certain people who are troubling the churches of Galatia, people called "Judaizers," Jewish people who thought that Christians, both Jew and Gentile, must be circumcised in the flesh and keep the law of Moses in order to be saved.

The Jews looked upon the Gentiles as being "dogs." We see that in this story about a Gentile woman who begged to see Jesus.

"21And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly." (Matt. 15: 21-28 esv)

So, it is ironic that Paul would label the Judaizing Jews "dogs." Not only that, but he calls the Jewish rite of circumcision a "mutilation" ("concision" kjv), and says of Christians who are under grace: "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." 

This text has been preached upon by many since Paul wrote it. Some preachers have gotten laughter from their hearers when they compared certain types of troublemakers in the church to various kinds of dogs. One famous sermon was by Rev. B.W. Smith titled "Watch Them Dogs!" (listen to it here) It is well worth listening to. As there are various kinds of false teachers and false brothers, so there are various kinds of dogs. It is a very good and funny sermon. He spoke of some who were like "hound dogs," and others like "mad dogs," "bull dogs," "coon dogs," and to those dogs who are "pointers" or "setters," etc. In that sermon Smith gets into a "sing-song" rhythm as many Hardshell Baptist preachers. 

Jesus spoke of some people who were dogs when he said:

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces." (Matt. 7: 6 nkjv)

To refer to someone as a dog is to show contempt for that person, and to judge them as morally unclean, as a "low life." So we read where the giant Goliath said - "am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?" (I Sam. 17: 43) Thus, a dog is a low specimen of humanity. Paul is not in the habit of calling people names for no reason, but in this case he has reason to do so. Paul is saying to these Judaizers - "you think the Gentiles are dogs, but you are the real dogs." He also calls them "evil workers." 

Paul says to "beware of" the dogs, meaning "watch out" for them. Why? Because they will sneak upon you, and will attack you when you turn around. Why? Because they are dangerous. "The apostle calls them so, because they returned to Judaism, as the dog to its vomit, 2 Peter 2:22; and because of the uncleanness in which many of them lived..." (Gill)

The psalmist spoke of dogs when he wrote:

"For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet." (Psa. 22: 16 kjv)

"Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns." (Psa. 22: 20-21 kjv)

Though these verses use the word "dog" in a negative sense, there are those who are like dogs in a good sense. In the above sermon the preacher spoke of good dogs who are the best friends of their masters. So too in the bible do we see these kinds of dogs, such as "guard dogs," and "shepherd dogs." These are alluded to in these words of Isaiah:

"His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter." (Isa. 56: 10-11 kjv)

What good would a "guard dog" be if he could not bark? Such dogs have often been leaders in the church of Christ. They preach simply to entertain or tickle the ear and will not warn against sin. Isaiah also called the shepherds "greedy dogs." They were religious because it was a way to make money, to fleece people. We see lots of those preachers today and throughout the history of the church. Paul spoke of them when he wrote: "whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain." (Titus 1: 11 nkjv)

Apostates from the Christian faith are compared by Solomon and the apostle Peter as dogs: "As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly." (Prov. 26: 11 nkjv; II Peter 2: 22) This is especially true of those apostates who become persecutors, ridiculers of the bible, and who mock Christ and his followers.  

The fate of "them dogs" is told to us in the Book of Revelation. 

"But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie." (Rev. 22: 15 nkjv)

We even have among the constellations the "Dog Star" or "Sirius," the brightest star in the night sky, located in the constellation Canis Major (the Greater Dog). Many think this is a constellation that alludes to Satan in the same way the constellation Draco or "the dragon" points to him. The Draco constellation appears as a long, winding shape in the northern sky, resembling a dragon or serpent winding around the North Celestial Pole. This serpentine form is a key characteristic, with its tail snaking between the Big Dipper and Little Dipper. So, we might say that the tail of Draco wraps its tail around a third of the stars of heaven. (See Rev. 12: 4) Satan is therefore "the head dog." He is the Alpha dog, the leader of the pack of dogs. We must look out for him and be on guard therefore.