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Jesus says NO

Matthew 15:25&26
"25 Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs."

This woman of CANAAN is desperate, Her daughter is possessed by a demon and she knows only Jesus that can help her. She has been following them trying to get Jesus's attention. The Disciples said "SHE CRIETH after us." The Disciples know and expect certain things from their Rabbi. The place she is from, Tyre and Sidon, have often led Israel into idolatry. How can they expect anything less from this woman who is a stranger to them?

Jesus tells her His ministry is confined to the Jews! It will NOT be until after Jesus's ascension that the gospel was preached to the Gentiles. Nonetheless, this “Syro-Phœnician" woman not only knows about the Messiah, she believes better and stronger than many Jewish people!!!

In today's verses she seeks to show her outstanding FAITH to her Lord; "Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, help me. But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to CAST IT TO DOGS." The Greek word for "worship" is the same as "prostrate." Which would indicate that she layed herself down on the ground at Jesus's feet. She is demonstrating humility and submission to the Messiah. To our ears the rebuttal "...CAST IT TO DOGS" sounds VERY HARSH. But, it was a turn of phrase of the time that would be our phrase “Charity begins at home.” Which would be Jesus restating His boundary of helping Israel before helping others. Try to imagine what this woman is going through; she believes and has turned to her Savior for help and He is telling her "NO." Repeatedly, "NO."

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