Recognized in Gentile Territory

February 7, 2010

Background Scripture: Matthew 15:21 – 31; Mark 7:24 – 37
Lesson Passage: Matthew 15:21 – 31

In this Unit of Study, we examine Testimonies to Jesus as Messiah. This unit begins with Jesus’ ministry in the Gentile regions of Tyre and Sidon. In spite of his role as a Jewish Messiah, the Gentiles did not allow this to impede their determination to receive blessings from him.

In our lesson today, Jesus had entered into the coastal towns along the Mediterranean Sea. This was a distinctly Gentile territory that had never been settled by the Jews. Jesus had withdrawn from the area around the Sea of Galilee apparently for some rest. He entered into a house for some privacy but Mark records in his gospel account that he could not be hid. Put another way, the citizens there knew of his presence. The encounter that took place there is best understood when Matthew’s account of it is studied in conjunction with Mark’s account. Mark lets us know that it took place in a house and Jesus was apparently trying to have some down time since he did not want anyone to know he was there. As a Gentile woman cried unto Jesus for mercy, he did not respond to her. The lesson passage says that he answered her not a word. Jesus’ disciples appear to have become irritated with this woman and requested that he not ignore her but instead send her away from them. It was at the disciples’ request that Jesus responded. Jesus’ response made it clear that his ministry did not involve or include her since his ministry was to the lost Jews. Now that she had Jesus’ attention (that is to say that he was at least acknowledging her presence), she came and fell down at his feet and worshiped him and again made her request for help known to him. Jesus now responded to her with a metaphor. Metaphorically speaking, he said it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs. This is to suggest that when food is purposely prepared for children that you should not overlook their needs and throw the food away where it can be devoured by the dogs. This woman did not come up with her own metaphor. Instead, she worked within the bounds of Jesus’ metaphor. She said to Jesus you are right in what you said but even the dogs under the table are allowed the privilege of eating the crumbs that fall off the table onto the floor. In other words, if the children are not careful and appreciative of the blessings they receive, then what they waste will be gladly received by those who are underprivileged. (Remember, “Eat all the food on your plate because there are children in Africa starving.”?) Where children that are blessed with bread become unappreciative and allow some of it to crumble to the floor, then there are those in need who are willing to receive the blessing that they don’t appreciate. Note that this woman’s response settled the whole matter with Jesus. The scripture does not suggest that she saw herself as a dog but that she understood Jesus’ analogy. She did not challenge Jesus’ right to focus only on the Jews but she did understand that many of them didn’t really appreciate the blessings they were being offered. She didn’t ask to take away the Jews’ blessing. What she requested quite clearly was the blessing that they let slip from their hands and crumble to the floor. Although she was a Gentile, she still recognized Jesus as the Messiah.

Robert C. Hudson
January 28, 2010