Matthew 15:22-28 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
PERSONAL COMMENTARY
Many people think that it was offensive for Jesus to call this Canaanite woman a dog. However, I looked up the explanation for this on the Christian Apologist site christian-thinktank.com.
Here is one of their explanations:
The image Jesus has chosen is an image of endearment, not insult. The picture of supper-time, with little kids at the table, and their pet “puppies” (the Greek word for ‘dog’ here is not the standard, ‘outside’ dog–which MIGHT BE an insult–, but is the diminutive word, meaning ‘household pets, little dogs’…) at their feet, maybe tugging on their robes for food or play. The puppies, dear to the children and probably so too to the master (cf. 2 Sam 12.3f: but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.), were to be fed AFTER the children (notice: not DENIED food–there was no “NO” in Jesus image–only “WAIT”). But the temporal order is clear–Jesus must take care of His disciples FIRST, and if meeting her need involved interrupting their rest and GOING SOMEWHERE, then it was going to have to wait.
I guess the woman’s reaction was unmerited when she responded “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” She must have misunderstood Jesus’ “image of endearment.”
[Read today's reading in The Brick Testament - An Illustrated Bible]
Are you kidding me? That’s what they came up with?
Although dogs are supposedly man’s best friend, and are usually fed under the table during a meal or on the scraps after the meal, I think there is an underlying principle revealed in both the Scriptural reference and the Apologetic explanation, and this principle is also revealed throughout Scripture.
It is the principle of starting at the center and working outwards as it pertains to learning, growing, living, and teaching.
It is the principle that says we must first learn ourselves before teaching those of our house and before teaching those in our community, or as Luke 24:47 says, “Teach the Good News beginning in Jerusalem”, which was the center of Israel.
IOW, the principle is that of moving outward from the center, much as a seed grows, how the universe came to be, and how knowledge is dispersed, for example.
So in a manner of speaking, it wasn’t right that a non-Jew should gain something before the Jews, who were ‘next in line’, received it.
In addition, I believe Jesus also went through a spiritual growth process before He became to know that He was One with God, and I imagine He had quite a few social prejudicies and fears to overcome on His journey as well.
But starting with the self and then working outwards is the underlying principle of those types of verses, this being a principle that underscores life itself.
I think that i means that Jesus was showing a little bit of humanity. I mean he is in human form and this verse shows human qualities, such as prejudice.
I disagree that this was meant as a term of endearment. Keep in mind, Jesus is God. He new the woman’s heart and what would be the content of that moment before she was born. Notice in the passage the disciples response. Clearly negative and hate filled. My ‘opinion’ is that Chirst was exposing the disciples own bigotry by saying out-loud what the disciples held in their own hearts. He did this because as The Christ, he new of the woman’s faith and how she would respond. The effect was clearly a convicting experiance for the disciples.
Roopster, Roopster, Roop….ster.
Love ya Man.
This is the funniest one by far. I appreciate your humor.
Gotta go with underwood on this one. Jesus helped only two Gentiles in his career (Matthew 8:5, and this one you’ve posted[not counting the mixed blooded Samaritan woman]) and both were commended for their faith to shame those who lacked faith. Jesus knew he was sent to Israel and for what purpose, according to his Vineyard parable (Matthew 21:33-45, Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-19) specifically Marks version, Jesus says,
6 “He had ONE more to send, a beloved son; he sent him LAST OF ALL to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’”
Jesus was the last attempt to gather Jerusalem to him “like a hen gathers her chicks”. After that then the Gentiles would reap the benefits because of Israel’s disobedience. Jesus even said that the disciples would “not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 10:23) referring to the coming in judgment spoken of in Malachi 3:1-5. So Jesus knew that the time he had was short.
The reason Christ was called “last of all” was because the seventy weeks of Daniel ran out three and a half years after Jesus died and after that the Apostles went to the Gentiles. Jesus had to fulfill all that was written about him and the Apostles would carry out the rest. But Daniel’s “seventy weeks” were required to be fulfilled first in which it says,
“Seventy weeks have been decreed for YOUR people and YOUR holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.” (Daniel 9:24)
If you’ve read Hebrews lately then you know that all these were fulfilled in Christ. Jesus had an agenda as do we all. Jesus said “I have other sheep that are not of this fold”, and it was not known what he meant, most likely, until Peter saw the vision of the sheet and the Lord sent him to Gentiles to see them filled with the Holy Spirit confirming that the Gentiles would also be heirs with the believing remnant of Israel. All this probably took place three and half years after Christ’s death and resurrection to fulfill Daniel 9:27
“And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering;”
Which Jesus fulfilled with his death because no other sacrifice is needed after His own. The rest of the week would then run out three and a half years later.
So the reason for these verses spoken of here is to say, 1) I was sent only to Israel to fulfill all that is written and I have only three and a half years and 2) to show the kind of child-like faith that is in the Gentiles to shame those who were the “Sons of the Kingdom” (Matthew 8:12)
I honestly do not think this was meant to be a term of endearment but I also don’t think that Jesus was calling her a dog. Instead, I truly think he was giving an illustration using the Children/dog example. Parables and metaphors were common with Christ. The woman, realizing his illustration could also work for her, then utilized the same image to make her point.
I just don’t see the problem with this one.
In Jesus,
Sam
It’s a metaphor! Geez.
HeardofGod is spot on on this one.
Christians are also referred to as “Sheep.” Anyone who has spent time with Sheep know that they are the stupidest animal alive. So, it is far from an endearing term.
I just don’t see the big deal with this one either.
Simply put this is prophetic to the woman being a gentile. At that time Jesus message was to the house of Isreal. I dont think that in no way shape or form that Jesus was prejudge her
Christ is a Jewish God, one that can grow and ‘learn’ from an exchange with Man. Here Christ erases once and for all any racist aspects of Christianity. Black Liberation Theology wilts in the sun of the truth of this story.
Ok …. The words Dogs was used as a term for Gentiles used by the Jewish people of the day. But the very same word can be used as the endearment of puppies under the table also. The words Jesus says can have many meaning at the same time. I think I have an idea about why she said that response.
“but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Firstly she calls Jesus ‘Lord’ earlier in her response, recognising who he is.
Jesus was saying wait because Jesus wanted to give the Jews a chance to respond first. But her response was pleading Jesus to do something for her child. She wanted a little bit as if like a crumb that a puppy joyfully leaps and eats when everyone else is eating. The puppy will get fed later by everyone in the house but it still gets a chance to eat the crumbs. So in essence Jesus chucks her a crumb.
ok hope that made sense
Racist bastard and false profet to boot!
By the way, jews never called gentiles dogs. Don’t lie.
Pray For Family That Live Beside me God will put Peace, Love & Joy in there heart. Family next door will get save in The Blood of Jesus Christ… Pray For Each Families Has Jobs With good Pay.
I do Pray that any of our nation’s leaders who do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior would develop a relationship with Him. Pray that those who are believers would grow closer to Him each day. In The Name Of Jesus Christ I Pray. Amen
Please Pray for Street Bullies In The Name Of Jesus Christ & Pray For Schools
Prays for President Obama and Wife, & Children’s and his new administration. Your efforts will work powerfully in our nation.
I’M PRAYING FOR YOU AND OTHER PEOPLE AROUND ME
Prayer for families is the very foundation that keeps a family unit together. Have you heard the phrase “A family that prays together stays together”? The concept is true – a family that has their focus on praying to the Lord Jesus Christ has a foundation that may be shaken at times, but it will withstand all that comes against them.
Pray For World Homeless Families. & Please Pray For Homeless Women to… In The Name Of Jesus Christ
Hear our prayers, O God, In The name of Jesus Christ I Pray
Hear our prayers, O God;
Incline your ear to us,
and grant us your
Matthew 7:7-11
Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me. —Psalm 143:1
Jesus calls the children dear,
“Come to me and never fear,
For I love the little children of the world;
I will take you by the hand,
Lead you to the better land,
For I love the little children of the world.”
Refrain
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Pray For Israel, & Jews
Religious zealots of all hues will find some sublime interpretation for every naiive and/or idiotic words of the makers of their scripture.
Look at these facts :
The woman did not askn to be enlightened, baptised or sermonized. She had a simple and human appeal : please heal my suffering child.
Did the son of god have to wait till all the suffering jews were healed? Couldn’t the guy who made bread for thousands from a few crumbs heal one gentile child while also healing others?
If god loves all his children, why a priority listing for jews? Isn’t that racist?
Jesus didn’t ask the woman to wait nor tell her come later. He simply ignored her in sulk.
It was the desciples who took pity on her and begged him to heal the child.
Cross your heart and tell me : If a muslim jihadi called Christians dogs would you interpret that as an endearing term?
Is dog (not puppy)an endearing term in any race, let alone jews?
When trapped by his disciples, Jesus turned the table on them. Why did the disciples have to be ashamed? Did they have an occasion to say the kind of words that the woman spoke? Hadn’t they suffered enough insults every time that they approached him with a question? Did they show anything but servitude in return?
Let’s not forget that Jesus was speaking to the disciples, not the Jews at large. Even the Jews at large listened patiently to his new theories and praised him and pursued him until the day before his trial).
I have heard Hindu Pundits interpreting Krishna’s urging Arjun to kill his relatives with sublime reasons; I have known Muslim Clerics explain at large why it was important for the Prophet to marry a pre-puberty girl or his own dauaghter-in-law, albeit divorced. . Christianity happens to be a lot more defensive because the sacred book is long-winded and hence more self-contradictory, racist, pornographic, violent and supportive of human sacrifice.
As with all things several things are in play here. For one, Jesus did come primarily for the “lost sheep of the house of Israel”, which meant those who his Father (like a parent but simply the person that actually birthed him (Jesus) into their real Kingdom) so he was protective of his time and energy and of course that entails those who he did locate and was working with. Now comparing it to throwing his “bread” to the dogs wasn’t necessarily a degrading expression. It just wasn’t in his job description, thus was not his Father’s instrution at the time and instructions in the Kingdom of Heaven are of top importance just as they are amoung important organizations on Earth amoung humans. If you are a soldier and can’t follow instructions you are a danger to those around you and yourself. So Jesus had to pick and choose what he would do as there are ramifications. He knew he was hated by many, so he could have been walking into a trap or a difficult circumstance that could jeopardize the timely completion of the task he came to do. He wasn’t working for humans. He was working for the one he called His Father, a real person that humans just couldn’t see at the time but who Jesus knew was real and was present and who he answered to and sought guidence from so much so that when the women responded, he felt to change his mind and help her. Now on the aspect of the use of the word Dog. If I am a teacher of math and I have a college classroom and a grade school student wanders into my classroom if that were possible and started asking for/demanding time from the professor, the professor may say…sorry I don’t have time for 4th graders, my task is with these college students. Would that be a put down to the 4th graders? So it also is with the classrooms of the Kingdom of God. On Earth there are all sorts of grades and all can benefit from the presence of a teacher like Jesus but like I said before he has his post, though when he saw her faith and desire he changed his mind and helped her with her request. Now that is some teacher that is willing to change their mind as all are always capable of upgrading all that we do.
Jesus calls the woman a dog and there’s no way around it. How dare you to explain or interpret, let alone know what God meant. That’s heresy if I’ve ever heard one. The Bible is a Holy Book and nothing can be written there that requires your apologizing for what our Saviour said. You read the Bible, you shut up and do what it says without thinking. Thinking is of Satan (so is reason and logic, by the way)
Personally I think the woman was a dog and Jesus helped her regardless. That’s my man!
Please Pray for Street Bullies In The Name Of Jesus Christ & Pray For Schools
Pray For The Family Live Be side me & Around me. Bless There Home & Work & Shool. Bless There health to, & The One’s who do not know Jesus As There Saver Salvation will Get Saved In The Blood Of Jesus.
Prayer of a Mother whose children are no longer at home. In The Name Of Jesus Christ
I’M RAYING FOR YOU AND OTHER PEOPLE AROUND ME
Prayer for families is the very foundation that keeps a family unit together. Have you heard the phrase “A family that prays together stays together”? The concept is true – a family that has their focus on praying to the Lord Jesus Christ has a foundation that may be shaken at times, but it will withstand all that comes against them.
Prayers for Justice and Peace
If this had been a story with Mohammed refusing to help a Christian woman, referring to his own people as deserving and Christians as dogs, then being pleased and helping her only when she groveled and accepted that title and admitted she deserved only crumbs, no christian apologist would have any problem whatsoever calling a spade a spade. There would be no alcolades for this great “moral teaching” of Mohammed.
A truly moral object lesson would have occured if Jesus had refrained from indulging/acting out prejudices that everyone is so quick to assume were not his own; refrained from ignoring her, refrained from calling her names, and had simply turned to her and said, “Oh my dear woman, of course I will help! I’m the perfect embodiment of the purest loving compassion towards all races, because all are exactly equal in my sight; nothing could possibly inconvenience almighty me, and that’s what I’m here for!” Period.
Apologists, if you’re defending something here that you would not defend in any other person’s holy book, stop and take a good hard look at why you’re wearing these special glasses that only work one way. The first step toward recovery is admitting you have a problem.
We must understand that speciel things need be done in special situations at a specific time. But I am not seeing Jesus or God the Father as one who chooses a certain people to give special knowledge and attention to. I believe that there was a great need for a people during this time for this nation of people. It is difficult to talk about religious things nowadays because so many people get offended, take it personal, and get downright outrages. All I will say is that we must pray to God to search our hearts, teach us how to search and know ourselves as well as what God has us in line to do in our life path. Hatred, bickering, downtrodding,verbally assaultiveness, are note asssociated with “Fruits of the Spirit”, bottom line. “I am not seeing this calling of the lady a dog, but I am not going to debate about it, because, it;s neither here nor there. Let’s move on into our present and live into our future. We can interpret the Bible tenfold, and you will ALWAYS find someone who disgree with your interpretive understanding. What is the most important thing here? Arguing and debating over the dog thing or living as witness to God’s love on a daily basis. The time for this is gone, but many keep it alive. I choose to live into the faith given me that God the Father and the Son Jesus loves us all and have always loved us, and at time is not pleased with the things we do and the choices we make. Allow yourself to go past argumentative interpretations and move more towards Godly mental manisfestations for your heart.
Peace