In Matthew’s Gospel, he continues to narrate Jesus’s ministry in Galilee. In this portion of his narration, Jesus travels to an area populated by the Canaanites where he meets with a woman.
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting,
“Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon”(Matthew 15.21-22).
When Jesus sent his disciples on their first mission, he said: “Do not take a road leading to gentiles, and do not enter a Samaritan town, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10.5-6).
With this woman, he followed the instructions he had earlier given to the twelve. Matthew reports, “He did not answer her at all.”
The disciples were twelve strong men and could have easily shooed the woman away from Jesus. Instead, they came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us” (Matthew 15.23).
It’s possible that the disciples were irritated with the woman and were asking Jesus to send her away by granting her what she wanted.
Jesus finally acknowledged the woman. This is the account of their interaction.
Jesus: I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Woman: She came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
Jesus: It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.
Woman: Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Jesus: Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.
The Result: Her daughter was healed from that moment. (Matthew 15.24-28)
Understanding Jesus
If you don’t read the story as a whole, this encounter between Jesus and the woman appears to be Jesus at his most insensitive moment.
The Canaanites were historically some of Israel’s greatest enemies, and it seems that Jesus used the term, “dog,” to refer to them. In that era, “dog” was one of the most painful insults someone could receive.
Jesus seemed to be saying that the children are in a place of right and privilege, and the dogs can’t share it. What is holy, Jesus taught, is not to be given to dogs (Matthew 7.6).
The woman’s wise response is that dogs do have the right to be fed, even if all they get are leftovers. This is the important point that Jesus was drawing out from the woman.
Israel was not to just focus on themselves; they were to be a blessing to all the nations. This was God’s plan for Israel.
I will give you as a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. (Isaiah 49.6)
Jesus approved of the woman and qualified her faith as “great.”
It is an interesting study to place this woman’s faith beside that of Peter when Jesus had to save him while trying to walk on water.
Jesus said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14.31).
When a boatload of disciples were afraid in a storm, Jesus said to them: “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” (Matthew 8.26).
This brief encounter with the woman foreshadows a time when the people of God will be linked with Gentiles and Jews based on faith.
Outsiders
Jesus consistently included those who were customarily excluded. He also raised those who were normally put down by society.
As we look at Jesus’ behavior, the question to us is: Who do we exclude or put down?
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 