Crumbs for Dogs

“And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. “-Matthew 15:27

Did Jesus call the woman a dog?  Did she agree? Did he change his mind?

“Lord, Son of David,” she cried, “have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

It is a curious exchange, and I am certain that we would know much more by observing the body language and facial expressions in this conversation. There were often multi-layers to dialogues Jesus had with people. Sometimes, people were slow to catch on, but not this woman. She was with Jesus’ every word. She came to him with a need. Her daughter needed deliverance from her bondage and suffering. Jesus heard his disciples trying to send her away because she was not Jewish. She was a Canaanite. She was considered unworthy by Jesus’ people.

So, Jesus echoed their sentiments by saying, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

The woman challenged him. This time, she knelt in his presence and pleaded, “Lord, help me!”

His response, at face-value, seems insensitive, narrow, and rude, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

Who are the dogs? She knew some considered her and her people dogs. The subject was the “elephant in the room.”

Jesus got it out of the way. That gave the woman the opportunity for a brilliant response. Don’t try to “out-Jesus Jesus,” by explaining his words away or removing their shock value. Their shock value was intended to continue the dialogue and reveal this woman’s faith and wisdom.

“Yes, it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

It was then that Jesus revealed his heart and remained consistent in his compassion and commitment to receive all who came to him, ““Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”

It was at that moment that the girl was healed.

It is true that Jesus’ physical ministry was focused on his own people-group. It is also true that God was preparing them to take the message of the kingdom to the whole world. It is true that Gentiles were getting crumbs during Jesus’ ministry. It was also they who often became great examples of faith.

God loves outsiders and God loves faith.  This woman and this encounter were paving the way for a future gospel movement with universal significance.

Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

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.

And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:

Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.

And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.

And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

King James Version (KJV)