Ministry to the Gentiles

Setting and Overview
The second half of Matthew 15 opens up with one of the most uncomfortable passages to read in all of the Gospels. The encounter begins like so many do: a desperate person in great need comes to Jesus for help. What is different here, is that at first Jesus doesn’t help her like he has helped so many before her. What is even harder to understand is that Jesus does not only decline to help her, but he isn’t even answering her. Yet, when we get to the end of the encounter we see him grant her request so suddenly and fully that we think that we must have missed something in between. What is missed however, is the real reason that Jesus delayed answering her appeals, the significance of what it shows about Jesus, the invitation that it created for a remarkable demonstration of faith, and how it introduces a new stage in Jesus’ earthly ministry.

Exposition
Verse 21 describes Jesus leaving Galilee and heading 30-50 miles away to the area around Tyre and Sidon. The woman who comes to great him is described as a Canaanite, the ancient opponents of Israel, but she recognizes Jesus as “Lord” and “Son of David” and appeals to him to help her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus doesn’t respond to her at all, and his disciples beg him to get rid of her, probably meaning to grant her request so that she would stop bothering them. His reply to them is that he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6, Ezekiel 34:5-6, 11-16.) This is somewhat puzzling however, because we have already seen him heal other Gentiles. The woman either does not hear him or is undeterred and so she begs again for help. His reply is even more uncomfortable, especially as it seems to refer to her as a dog. Mark includes the helpful note, however, that he also said that the children (Israel) should be fed “first” and not only (Mark 7:27.) After all that he has already done to point forward to a ministry to the Gentiles (Luke 4:24-26, Matthew 8:10-12, Matthew 10:18, John 4:22-23, Mark 7:19) this should be a clue to us that his intent isn’t to turn her away. She does pick up on this, perhaps recognizing the promises of Genesis 12:1-3, and replies that even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table. As we will see in the following sections, this does not mean minimal blessings, but rather just a preservation of order that would see salvation come to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. Because she has begun with such a remarkable Messianic proclamation, Jesus challenged her to see and acknowledge the significance of that proclamation to the immediate priority of Jesus’ ministry to the Jews. She sees it, acknowledges it, and accepts it, and thus receives a rare commendation from Jesus of “great faith” (Matthew 8:10, compared to Mark 6:6) and her daughter is healed immediately.
This interaction is important here because the sections that immediately follow are very similar to the healing and feeding miracles that we have seen previously, with the important difference that now they are to Gentiles (Mark 7:31.) Both the parallels to previous accounts and the differences seem to be intentionally emphasized. Jesus is doing similar miracles among the Gentiles that he has done among the Jews, but these are definitely different encounters, not just duplications of previous accounts repeated in a different setting. Although his primarily earthly ministry was to the Jews, he came to bring salvation to all peoples through them (Matthew 28:18-20.)

Examination and Application
God’s faithfulness is demonstrated clearly here. Jesus is indeed Israel’s promised Messiah and he comes first to them, but he also offers blessing to all peoples through them. So, we are reminded that God honors his promises and also extends mercy to those who do not deserve it. We also learn important practical lessons here. Jesus in one single encounter shows us both vivid compassion and gentleness (Matthew 11:28-30) but also challenges a profession of faith for sincerity and true understanding. When the woman meets the challenge, he joyfully praises her faith and grants her request. If we could also evangelize with such conviction and compassion in perfect complement to each other, then we would surely see the fruit of it. The woman herself also gives us a remarkable example of faith. She acknowledges her helplessness, she does not resent or envy the blessings or position of others, she listens and learns even while suffering, and then she responds to Jesus on his terms. This is how great faith responds, and is how we are expected to approach obey Jesus as well.