Matthew 15:21-31 Was Jesus being mean?
When one first sees this passage, one seems to conclude that in this passage Jesus is being mean. He's going through a very spiritually dark area. Tyre and Sidon was an area where human sacrifice was part of their religion which was entirely pagan worship.
So when this woman comes demanding help for her demon possessed daughter, Jesus doesn't immediately respond in a positive way. It seems a little rude. The disciples knew this woman was more than likely a worshipper of Baphomet. And they were imploring Jesus to send her away, which He did not do.
He doesn't even address their concern, He tells the woman that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. She understands His reluctance to help, knows Jesus is a holy man who won't excuse her people's sin. But she cries out again and Jesus says something unique.
It is not good to take the children's bread to give to dogs. I didn't understand that for quite some time. So I've spent time on it. The gift the woman asked for, of a healing for her daughter, was one meant only for Israel. Now we've just spent the better part of 4 months learning about the Gospel message being for the world, not just Israel.
So why did Jesus act aloof? Again, we have to return to the point that this woman was from a race of people for whom demonic service is second nature. And someone under the spell of Baphomet will not surrender to God. Was she a former pagan? Regretful of serving Baphomet? Possibly. What is known is that she had faith Jesus could do this and she was willing to take whatever blessing God would give.
So when her reply came back, Jesus praised her faith. This plea to save her daughter came and because of her nationality she would be considered a traitor to demons this plea for her daughter could easily earn this woman a swift sacrificial death. She would gladly accept the role of dog eating scraps if it meant her daughter being healed.
Her daughter was healed and she went on her way. The chapter concludes with multitudes being healed in the open view of Jews and the people of Tyre and Sidon. I often think of these unnamed heroes of scripture and what it will be like to finally meet some of them. What happened after this? We will all find out.
No Jesus was not mean, not bigoted, He was giving her an opportunity to demonstrate the reality of her faith. And she did.
[21] Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. [22] And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely demon-possessed.” [23] But He did not answer her with even a word. And His disciples came up and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us!” [24] But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” [25] But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” [26] Yet He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” [27] And she said, “Yes, Lord; but please help, for even the dogs feed on the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” [28] Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed at once. [29] Departing from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee, and after going up on the mountain, He was sitting there. [30] And large crowds came to Him bringing with them those who were limping, had impaired limbs, were blind, or were unable to speak, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them. [31] So the crowd was astonished as they saw those who were unable to speak talking, those with impaired limbs restored, those who were limping walking around, and those who were blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
When one first sees this passage, one seems to conclude that in this passage Jesus is being mean. He's going through a very spiritually dark area. Tyre and Sidon was an area where human sacrifice was part of their religion which was entirely pagan worship.
So when this woman comes demanding help for her demon possessed daughter, Jesus doesn't immediately respond in a positive way. It seems a little rude. The disciples knew this woman was more than likely a worshipper of Baphomet. And they were imploring Jesus to send her away, which He did not do.
He doesn't even address their concern, He tells the woman that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. She understands His reluctance to help, knows Jesus is a holy man who won't excuse her people's sin. But she cries out again and Jesus says something unique.
It is not good to take the children's bread to give to dogs. I didn't understand that for quite some time. So I've spent time on it. The gift the woman asked for, of a healing for her daughter, was one meant only for Israel. Now we've just spent the better part of 4 months learning about the Gospel message being for the world, not just Israel.
So why did Jesus act aloof? Again, we have to return to the point that this woman was from a race of people for whom demonic service is second nature. And someone under the spell of Baphomet will not surrender to God. Was she a former pagan? Regretful of serving Baphomet? Possibly. What is known is that she had faith Jesus could do this and she was willing to take whatever blessing God would give.
So when her reply came back, Jesus praised her faith. This plea to save her daughter came and because of her nationality she would be considered a traitor to demons this plea for her daughter could easily earn this woman a swift sacrificial death. She would gladly accept the role of dog eating scraps if it meant her daughter being healed.
Her daughter was healed and she went on her way. The chapter concludes with multitudes being healed in the open view of Jews and the people of Tyre and Sidon. I often think of these unnamed heroes of scripture and what it will be like to finally meet some of them. What happened after this? We will all find out.
No Jesus was not mean, not bigoted, He was giving her an opportunity to demonstrate the reality of her faith. And she did.
[21] Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. [22] And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely demon-possessed.” [23] But He did not answer her with even a word. And His disciples came up and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us!” [24] But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” [25] But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” [26] Yet He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” [27] And she said, “Yes, Lord; but please help, for even the dogs feed on the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” [28] Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed at once. [29] Departing from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee, and after going up on the mountain, He was sitting there. [30] And large crowds came to Him bringing with them those who were limping, had impaired limbs, were blind, or were unable to speak, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them. [31] So the crowd was astonished as they saw those who were unable to speak talking, those with impaired limbs restored, those who were limping walking around, and those who were blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
Matthew 15:21-31 Was Jesus being mean?
When one first sees this passage, one seems to conclude that in this passage Jesus is being mean. He's going through a very spiritually dark area. Tyre and Sidon was an area where human sacrifice was part of their religion which was entirely pagan worship.
So when this woman comes demanding help for her demon possessed daughter, Jesus doesn't immediately respond in a positive way. It seems a little rude. The disciples knew this woman was more than likely a worshipper of Baphomet. And they were imploring Jesus to send her away, which He did not do.
He doesn't even address their concern, He tells the woman that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. She understands His reluctance to help, knows Jesus is a holy man who won't excuse her people's sin. But she cries out again and Jesus says something unique.
It is not good to take the children's bread to give to dogs. I didn't understand that for quite some time. So I've spent time on it. The gift the woman asked for, of a healing for her daughter, was one meant only for Israel. Now we've just spent the better part of 4 months learning about the Gospel message being for the world, not just Israel.
So why did Jesus act aloof? Again, we have to return to the point that this woman was from a race of people for whom demonic service is second nature. And someone under the spell of Baphomet will not surrender to God. Was she a former pagan? Regretful of serving Baphomet? Possibly. What is known is that she had faith Jesus could do this and she was willing to take whatever blessing God would give.
So when her reply came back, Jesus praised her faith. This plea to save her daughter came and because of her nationality she would be considered a traitor to demons this plea for her daughter could easily earn this woman a swift sacrificial death. She would gladly accept the role of dog eating scraps if it meant her daughter being healed.
Her daughter was healed and she went on her way. The chapter concludes with multitudes being healed in the open view of Jews and the people of Tyre and Sidon. I often think of these unnamed heroes of scripture and what it will be like to finally meet some of them. What happened after this? We will all find out.
No Jesus was not mean, not bigoted, He was giving her an opportunity to demonstrate the reality of her faith. And she did.
[21] Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. [22] And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely demon-possessed.” [23] But He did not answer her with even a word. And His disciples came up and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us!” [24] But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” [25] But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” [26] Yet He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” [27] And she said, “Yes, Lord; but please help, for even the dogs feed on the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” [28] Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed at once. [29] Departing from there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee, and after going up on the mountain, He was sitting there. [30] And large crowds came to Him bringing with them those who were limping, had impaired limbs, were blind, or were unable to speak, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them. [31] So the crowd was astonished as they saw those who were unable to speak talking, those with impaired limbs restored, those who were limping walking around, and those who were blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
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