Matthew 7:6

Give not. From minor or imaginary wrongs in the life and character of others Christ turns to the Christian’s attitude toward those who are clearly and completely in the wrong and have no desire to escape from sin.

That which is holy. Probably a reference to offerings or sacrifices brought to the Temple and consecrated to sacred use. The Mishnah says, “We are not allowed to redeem dedicated [animals] in order to give them to the dogs to eat” (Temurah 6.5, Soncino ed., p. 224; cf. Talmud Behoroth 15a, Soncino ed., p. 105). The gospel worker is not to waste time upon those who “make the gospel only a matter of contention and ridicule” (see MB 129; 3T 450).

Dogs. Throughout the Orient even today dogs are the scavengers of town and city, and are, for the most part, half-wild creatures. For the Jews the dog was also a ceremonially unclean animal, and since it had but little domestic value, was looked upon as utterly despicable (see on Job 30:1).

Pearls. Gr. margaritae, from which comes the English name Margaret. Jesus here possibly thinks of the small seed pearls, similar in size and color to grain, and which might at first be mistaken by the swine as feed.