Pearls to Pigs

Matthew 7:6 (ESV)
"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
Luther uses this verse in his admonition concerning the Lord’s Supper. The gist of it being the Lord’s Supper should not be administered in an indiscriminate manner. The Lord’s Supper is holy. And therefore this verse does apply. The question for me is how?
It seems rather harsh words to refer to people as dogs and pigs. Well nothing seeming about it. It is harsh. I’ve been reprimanded for less. So much for Politically Correct Jesus.
The question is though, who would Jesus consider to be a dog or a pig. I think we might consider those guilty of gross and manifest sin. And there is certainly warrant for bringing people guilty of such sin to repentance before they commune should one but skim 1 Corinthians. But I don’t think that is who Jesus is signaling out here.
Dogs and pigs, neither are adored in this society. The word dog was a perjorative term used for male prostitutes, and by extension any who carried out acts of Homosexuality. Dogs have a reputation for being indiscriminate about such things, lacking self control. To this day I cringe when men refer to themselves as dogs, even though this is supposedly complimentary. But then “you dog” though it doesn’t refer to homosexuals today, is often used, it seems, to praise a man for doing something less than honorable, and often within the realm of sexual conquest.
Pigs, are just nasty animals. Every pig farmer I know has tried to disagree with me. I do love eating them, don’t get me wrong. But I have raised a few myself. I’ve watched pigs eat their own fecal matter. In fact, I’ve watched piglets eat their brother’s family jewels. And pigs will turn on you.
You sort of get the picture. You have to be careful to whom you give the holy things. The Lord’s Supper ought to be treated with a little more respect than a feeding trough. And that isn’t to say that you consider every one you ask to refrain from communing to be a dog or a pig, for there are many reasons why a responsible pastor might ask someone to refrain for a while. But the things that are holy are those things that forgive sins. And the forgiveness of sins is for those people who are repentant for their sins.
In fact, I don’t think Jesus had in mind here the tax collectors, prostitutes and others guilty of shameful sins, but the Pharisees, who expected that they deserved these gifts. It does happen that you find people guilty of those shameful sins that don’t feel any guilt or shame and refuse to repent. It is not for them either, they are no better than the Pharisees. Perhaps it is merely a matter of instruction. But in my book, those who are truly dogs and Pharisees are those who scorn the gifts and deny the grace they convey, refuse them to their children, and believe they are doing something for God by gracing him with their company.