Even the Little Dogs Eat the Crumbs

It used to stun me every time I came across this story that seemed to show an alteration of impartial Jesus to one who appeared almost ethnically prejudiced. Did Jesus not know that this would be one of the many controversies tied to him through out the ages?

“Difficult times in Israel” was not a good enough excuse for me. What made this lady different from the others?

²¹ Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region ofTyre and Sidon.

²² And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

²³ But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”

²⁴ But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

²⁵ Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

²⁶ But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

²⁷ And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Of course it’s important to do a background study on the events in Israel at the time, the meaning of the term "dog" in the original language, the immense amount of occultic practices in the region and so on. Sure, it helps soften the blow; but minus the nitty gritty details there are some facts that are glaring obvious.

In Israel Jesus was frustratingly trying to convince the people that He was the Messiah, having to work against their stubborn heads and hardened hearts by proving his message with signs and wonders. But here in Gentile land we meet a woman who was so convinced He was the Messiah and He couldn't extinguish her fire!

First He refuses to answer; next He slams her with a reminder of His real mission and finally ices the cake with a painful recollection of the historic distinction between the cursed Canaanites and blessed Israelites. Was it really a test of faith to watch what she would do with her "stumbling block"?

Did she stomp of in rage because her ego was hurt?- No. She agreed that Christ was the Lord that was sent to the Jews first. She may not be ranked equally with their ethnic hierarchy; she may be forbidden to dine at the same table but she was willing to nibble on the crumbs that fell from it. She wanted a piece of the uncovenanted mercy and general saving grace that is available to all people.

Her persistence and immense faith in who Christ is and the power that He holds paid off.

But why wasn't this healing as snappy as the others? Why wasn't it like the ten lepers or the lame and the mute? Why did this woman have to climb her mountain to get to the top? Would Jesus have not healed her otherwise?- I don't know.

Isn't faith a funny and powerful thing and don't we sometimes give up too easily when faced with challenges?

Jesus had healed many Gentiles before, but this was the first time it was done in Gentile and not Jewish territory. The Canaanite woman took what the Jews didn’t want and history played out the same way.

What are you doing with your mountains and hurdles? Leaping over them or getting trampled to pieces?

Paul Sent to the Gentiles

Legacy of Stubborn Faith