Bible meaning- matthew 15- 21:28

[trowe87]

I've just read the faith of the gentile (canaanite) woman in Matthew chapter 15 verses 21 - 28.
Could someone explain to me what happened and the meaning behind it?
I can't understand why he ignores her and what he means when he speaks about only helping God a lost sheep and taking food from children to give to dogs?

Thanks in advance

 

[theophilus40]

Apparently Jesus was testing her faith.

This is a possible explanation of why her faith was so strong:

A Canaanite woman’s faith | clydeherrin

 

[parsley]

I know it sounds offensive, to treat her as though she is less than a person. I think Jesus was challenging her to stand up in defense and in faith; as He usually understood people's hearts, and would have seen good intent in her.

Jesus' earthly ministry was to the Jews. Later, Paul took the gospel out to Gentiles.

From what I have seen, Canaanites were sometimes Semitic, but mixed religions. Throughout the Bible, mixing the truth was always abominable. In the long run, it destroys many people and distorts the faith. Mixing was considered unclean.

And dogs at the table are considered unclean, but people still adore their dogs and want to make sure they are fed. The do not starve the animals because of the uncleanness, but still don't let them jump up and sit with the guests.

I don't think it was intended as an ethnic slam, but a purity issue. Doctrinal vs. personal. Jesus wanted her to commit to following Him, with a pure form of Judeo-Christianity-- not mixed with Greco-Roman deities and whatever else. He wanted to hear her say that she knew she needed to set aside all else, to follow in His steps.

The Religion of the Canaanites

The topic seems very similar to current conversations on mixing paganism with Christianity, or accepting Freemasonry in church leadership.

 

[Harry3142]

trowe87-

The importance of identifying the woman as a canaanite cannot be overlooked. It identified her as an idol worshiper. in all likelihood she had a shrine set up in a corner of her home, where she would worship the idols rather than the one true God.

But then her daughter became ill, and her prayers to her idols didn't help her daughter improve. So out of desperation she turned away from them, and instead sought out a man who worshiped only one God, and that God a stranger to her, but who had a reputation as a great healer.

Under these circumstances Jesus had to hear from the mother herself a statement of faith that would indicate that she had 'seen the light' and from that time forward was putting her faith in the one true God. Was she approaching him as a 'one time deal', or was she truly turning her back on the idols she had in all likelihood worshiped her entire life, and choosing to worship the God of the Jews instead?

So he pressured her. He asked his questions in such a way that if she was devoid of faith, she could not answer them correctly, but if she truly had faith, she could answer correctly. And through her answer Jesus knew that even as she journeyed home to see her now-healed daughter, from that day forward she and her family would worship God, and him alone.

 

[Bjornke]

Dear brothers and sisters,

I believe these are great answers. I greatly enjoyed reading your responses to trowe87's questions as it has helped me understand too somewhat better than before.

I have always thought that because she was a gentile and therefore worshiped man made idols that she was considered lower as a dog, yet even they are fed (as in God rains on the good and evil) and thus so she asks for scraps as well. I have never understood this well either, but always believed it to be a great show of Jesus love even for those who are of the gentiles.

Thank you for your explanations, they have helped me greatly.

 

[timf]

I can't understand why he ignores her and what he means when he speaks about only helping God a lost sheep and taking food from children to give to dogs?

Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Jesus came in fulfillment of prophecy. Jeremiah foretold of a new covenant that would be made with the household of Judah.

Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Israel was given every opportunity to receive this new covenant. Jesus didn't wink and tell his disciples, "I know you guys are going to blow it, so here is the real plan".

The exclusion of gentiles at this point was not a slam against gentiles, but a focus all on Israel. Israel would not be able to say that when the Messiah came he was distracted by ministering to gentiles so it wasn't really their fault that they didn't receive the Kingdom when it was offered.

We can see this same theme played out even towards the end of Jesus earthly ministry.

John 12:20-24 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Jesus came for Israel first. He would have been ruling on earth for the last 2,000 years if Israel had been faithful. We get a little picture of this as Jesus gives instructions to his disciples for their role in ruling the twelve tribes and the expectation that they would go to the whole world.

Mark 16:15-18 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

At the first covenant, the entire nation of Israel agreed to the covenant with God.

Exodus 24:3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.

At the offering of the second covenant, not many were interested. Even when the miraculous signs and wonders were performed, Israel was still not interested. Even when gentiles were being given the powerful gifts of the Spirit as proof of their salvation, Israel still was not interested.

There is coming a time when a remnant of Israel will be faithful and will receive her King and all of the prophecies of Israel will still be fulfilled.

I think the fact that Jesus gave the gentile woman her request is a result of her persistent faith similar to the parable of the woman and the unjust judge (Luke 18)

 

[ReapoDeon]

TRUTH!!!!! wat jesus said to her is true! he was not sent but to israel....but anybody can accept him and able to get salvation. there are things u have to do. for one, u can only get salvation if u come through a israelite, "salvation is of the jews". u can only get true doctrine form israel. anyone that has a prob with that must have a prob with the lord plain and simple. its in his word and he says it. if u would like details contac me through msg. im sure ppl will kick against this lol but its truth. if u think diff than disprove me.

 

[paul1149]

Yes, she was at best mixed breed Hebrew. She stood off from afar mouthing Jewish religious code - Son of David - that she had no claim to, in order to ply Jesus. But Jesus will have nothing to do with worship from afar. He demands intimate personal relationship - a fact we see demonstrated in scripture again and again.

If He had granted her wish on her terms, she would have had what she wanted but she would not be changed. Jesus perfectly knows her heart and its desperation, and so He stonewalls her to force her out of the prison of her religious charade.

Of course, it works. She rushes in and falls at His feet, calling Him "Lord". This is personal. And then when she expresses faith that Jesus will have mercy even on her, a Gentile, the requirements for the transaction are complete. Jesus does what He wanted to do all along - He grants her wish and heals the daughter, and at the same time brings another soul into the fold of personal faith in Him. This woman walked away not only with a well daughter, but with a heart and eternal destiny changed by the knowledge that the true God loved her and saved her.

So many have misunderstood this passage, and not a few opponents have used it to attack Jesus as uncompassionate, or even not in agreement with His mission of saving the whole world, which becomes clearer later. But these criticisms are completely without merit. Jesus shows a bit of tough love here, but it is the truest love you'll ever see. And He ministers to the Samaritans several times in the Gospels, so He was clearly aware of the fullness of His salvific role.

 

[Bible2]

trowe87 said in post 1:

Could someone explain to me what happened and the meaning behind it?

Matthew 15:24,26 meant that the children of Israel needed to be ministered to before Gentiles (Matthew 10:5-6), not that Gentiles would never be ministered to, because they would be (John 10:16, Mark 16:15, Romans 1:16, Isaiah 49:6).

The gospel of salvation goes to genetic Jews first (Romans 1:16, Matthew 10:5-6, Matthews 15:24, Acts 3:26), and salvation is of the Jews (John 4:22b), because salvation is of the New Covenant (Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6, Hebrews 9:15), which is made only with Israel (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Gentile believers are grafted into Israel so they can partake of the salvation of Israel (Romans 11:17,24, Ephesians 2:12,19, Galatians 3:29, John 10:16). And all believers, no matter whether they're genetic Jews (Acts 22:3) or Gentiles (Romans 16:4b), have become spiritually-circumcised Jews if they've undergone the spiritual circumcision of water-immersion (burial) baptism into Jesus (Romans 2:29, Philippians 3:3, Colossians 2:11-13).

 

[Johnnz]

Dear brothers and sisters,

I believe these are great answers. I greatly enjoyed reading your responses to trowe87's questions as it has helped me understand too somewhat better than before.

I have always thought that because she was a gentile and therefore worshiped man made idols that she was considered lower as a dog, yet even they are fed (as in God rains on the good and evil) and thus so she asks for scraps as well. I have never understood this well either, but always believed it to be a great show of Jesus love even for those who are of the gentiles.

Thank you for your explanations, they have helped me greatly.

Jews of that day saw Gentiles as dogs. But Jesus never did. Every person bears a stamp "made in God's image". Th promise to Abraham was that all nations would be blessed through him. Gentiles were always in view. Jesus came within a specific Jewish context without which we people of his day and us too would not be able to understand what He was about. Several times in the Gospels Jesus interacts with Gentiles, because he was the Saviour for all of humanity who chose to follow him, and that inclused non Jews such as you and me.

John
NZ

 

[trowe87]

Yes thank you, i understand now.

I have also been looking at other bibles and see the translation is different in some he seems to be portrayed as being (for lack of another word) meaner to her and less interested, whereas in others it just seems as he is being friendly but too busy to stop.
The irritation of different versions!

Thank you for your comments though, i do as a new Christian seem to constantly find it difficult to discern and interpret some of the scriptures could anyone recommend a good guide book to use alongside the scriptures to help better explain their meanings?

Thanks

 

[jannikitty]

He is simply stating what His priorities were in that situation. She was Canaanite and, therefore, not a believer and not part of the house of Israel; but she showed him that she believed in Him and so He healed her.

 

[TheGuide]

The woman was not Jewish, who, throughout the old testament, were God's chosen people. So her coming up to Jesus asking for something (reserved for Jews) prompted his response. Now instead of her being insulted and huffing off, she reasoned with him. Her faith in him and his ability to deliver not only surprised him, it opened his eyes to other possibilities that gentiles could also believed he was Lord. And he gave her what she asked.

This was in the beginning stages of Jesus' ministry. In he would encounter many more gentiles who looked upon him as their Lord and savior as well, opening the door for gentiles to inherit the same birthright as the Jews. It's moving for me to think how pivotal his exchange with that woman was.

God bless you,

The Guide