“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs” is a behest that was given in a parallelism; the second phrase is “neither cast ye your pearls before swine.” The parallel clearly defines ancient Israelites’ regard for the dog. Unlike in modern Western society, the dog in Israelite culture was not “man’s best friend” but an ill-respected scavenger. Jesus said in the New Testament record, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs” (Matthew 15:26), a hyperbolic statement of the priority of gospel dissemination and of the care with which the mysteries of the kingdom should be reserved for the spiritually attuned. Figuratively, then, dogs represent unworthy persons, or, as in another case, persons who are not prepared for sacred things (Matthew 15:21–28).
The delicate structure of pearls is implied in Jesus’ warning not to cast pearls before swine, since, unlike other gems, pearls are relatively soft, and trampling on them could destroy them. Our most precious and sacred gems of the gospel must be shared only with those who are prepared to receive them. The Lord later added another dimension to this admonition:
“And the mysteries of the kingdom [for example, sacred teachings, covenants, and ordinances of the temple] ye shall keep within yourselves; for it is not meet to give that which is holy unto the dogs… . for the world cannot receive that which ye, yourselves, are not able to bear; wherefore ye shall not give your pearls unto them” (JST, Matthew 7:10–11, in Bible appendix; compare D&C 41:6).