Skip to main content

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."

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

broken

Luke 22:61 "And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice." The cock crowed. Peter had denied Jesus—three times. Peter, who had walked on water, confessed Jesus as Messiah, and opposed the cross (earning “Get behind Me, Satan”). That day was already crushing: the Last Supper, Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest. Peter drew his sword, then stood down. Following at a distance, he was recognized: “You were with Him.” “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Third denial. Earlier, Jesus warned Peter would deny Him thrice. Peter swore: “Even if all fall away, I never will. Even if I must die with You, I will not deny You.” (Matt 26:33–35; Mark 14:29–31; Luke 22:33–34; John 13:37–38) Now Jesus—beaten, bound—looks at Peter. Not with condemnation. With love. Peter breaks. He is not who he thought he was...
Post a Comment
Read more

Elisha’s example

1 Kings 19:19-21 "19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? 21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him." In Luke 9:54, after James and John sought to call down fire on a Samaritan village that rejected Jesus, they referenced Elijah, saying, “even as Elias did?” Jesus then taught three lessons about rejection: 1- Discipleship demands sacrifice, embracing hardship and forgoing earthly security. 2- Following Jesus requires immediate, un...
Post a Comment
Read more

I will make you

Matthew 4:19&20 "19 And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him." In our "Follow Me" series, we study Jesus calling His disciples in the Gospel of Matthew. By the Sea of Galilee, a thriving fishing hub, Jesus saw Simon and Andrew casting nets as humble fishermen. His disciples were ordinary workers, not wealthy or educated elites. Jesus approached them and said, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Remarkably, they immediately left their jobs to follow Him. This brief exchange conveys a profound truth: Jesus says, "I will make you." Only God can transform us to accomplish His purpose. We should often pray, "Help me, God," seeking Jesus' guidance to follow His plan for our lives.
Post a Comment
Read more