"Bread Crumbs"

“Bread-Crumbs ”
Brian Reid - August, 2007

Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30

This story seems very straightforward and easy to understand. A woman comes to Jesus seeking help for her daughter, who is possessed by a demon. The woman asks Jesus to rid the demon from her child; and (in the end) Jesus does. All is well.

Well, not exactly. Things are not as they seem to be – all well and good. Taking a closer look; there are some things in these passages that causes one, to ask some deep and probing questions.

Verse 21
“Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.”

Whenever we read the word “withdrew,” usually it means that Jesus needed to separate Himself (from those who followed Him) – for whatever reason.

It could mean He simply needed to rest; it could mean that He needed to get away and pray; it could mean that Jesus was seeking refuge from the crowds, from all the people who sought Him out, as well as seeking refuge from those who opposed Him.


Jesus may have left “that place” (Galilee), to escape His challengers, His enemies. Long before, the Scribes, the Pharisees, and King Herod had branded Him as a sinner who broke through the rules and regulations - that everyone else lived by; and regarded Him as a menace. And the people of Nazareth, His own people, His own hometown, had treated Him with scandalized dislike.

So, after Jesus had finished, visiting and teaching on the importance of inner purity, He leaves Galilee, and travels (about 30, 40, 50 miles - north) to the port cites of Tyre and the nearby, Sidon.

Tyre soon became known for its wickedness; and it was into this evil and materialistic culture, that Jesus brought His message.

He comes to one of the most wicked and selfish cities in the region. He has come to teach, to preach and to heal; but He comes quietly, but soon the news travels, and the people come to see Him, to hear Him and to touch Him.

Verse 22
“A Canaanite woman from the vicinity came to Him, crying out, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.’”

This woman is called ‘a gentile, indicating that she was from the territory, northwest of Galilee – which would be near the cities that Jesus was not traveling in. She is called a Gentile, which meant she was separate, from the Jews.

Why was there such a distinction between the Jews, and the Gentiles, here in this passage?

Verse 23
“Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came to Him and urged Him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.’”

The disciples asked Jesus to get rid of her, because she was bothering them with her persistent begging. They showed no compassion for her, or sensitivity to her needs.

Here, Jesus (too) was ignoring her. This doesn’t sound right – for Jesus loved everyone – that was what His whole ministry was based on – love and acceptance. So, why did He pay no attention to her, pay no heed to her, and overlook her? Because she was a Gentile.

In Verse 24, He explains;
“I was sent, only, to the lost sheep of Israel.”

Say what? Pardon me? Can you repeat that?
‘I was sent only, to the lost sheep of Israel,’ meaning the Jewish people – not the Gentiles. Is that what this passage is saying? That’s right! Jesus was sent (only) to the lost Jewish sheep.

But wait a minute;

Isaiah 56:7, says;
“…for my house (the Lord’s house) will be called a house of prayer – for all nations.”

Psalm 22:27;
“All the ends of the earth, will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him…”

Matthew 28:19;
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit…”
Romans 15:10;
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.”

Psalm 117:1;
“Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples.”

These verses, these few passages (altogether) point to “all nations of the world;” not just the Jews – so, what’s Jesus say here? “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

Verse 25
“The woman came and knelt before Him. ‘Lord, help me!’ she said.”

Again, the woman begged for mercy. Again, the woman asked Jesus for help. Again, the woman reaches across the cultural barrier, and sends a strong message to Jesus.

Verse 26
“He replied, It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.’”

Jesus was telling this Gentile woman, ‘what I have to offer, will be offered to the Jews – first.’ For the Jews were the chosen people of God – not the Gentiles – not the Greeks.

Jesus was telling the woman, that the Jews were to have the first opportunity to accept Him, as the Messiah; because God, wanted the Jews, to present the message of salvation to the rest of the world.

Jesus was not really rejecting the woman, maybe testing her faith, maybe testing the disciples to see what they would say or do, or He may have wanted to use this situation as another opportunity to teach that faith is available to all people.

Whatever the reason, she persisted…And maybe that’s what He wanted her to do – for all to hear.

Verse 27
“‘Yes, Lord,’ she said, ‘but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.’”

The woman did not take offense to His words, she did not argue with Jesus, she used the very language, which He spoke; her response was rational and reasonable.

She was saying was that some Jews rejected the Messiah; and why waste that salvation, why waste that message on deaf ears – when she, and other Gentiles, were willing to listen.


Many Jews, would lose, and had already lost, God’s blessings and salvation, because they rejected Jesus; and many Gentiles, would, and did, find salvation, because they recognized and accepted Jesus, as God’s Messiah.

Was this what Jesus really wanted her to say?
Was this what Jesus wanted His disciples, other Jews and Gentiles to hear – loud and clear?

Verse 28
“Then Jesus answered, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”

In a round about way, Jesus had drew out of the woman, those words that He wanted others to hear, the words that would make a difference, in so many lives.

So, this seemingly, incident, interaction between Jesus and this Gentile woman, was not really about healing her daughter, but a strong message, to all who chose to hear it;

“…that even though salvation was offered to the Jewish people first, it is also available to the Gentile – to anyone who accepts God’s plan and God’s Messiah, Jesus.”


In Romans 1:16, the Apostle Paul tell us this;

“I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God, for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”

Why did the message go to the Jews first? That’s the question!

Well, they had been God’s special people for more than 2000 years; ever since God chose Abraham and promised great blessings to his descendants (way back in Genesis 12).

God did not choose the Jews because they deserved to be chosen, but because He wanted to show His love and mercy to them; for it would be through the Jewish people, that God’s Messiah would come into the world.

God chose them, not because He was playing favorites, but because He wanted them to bring His message, and tell the world about His plan of salvation.

For centuries, the Jews had been learning about God, by obeying His laws, keeping His festivals, and living according to His moral principles. Often, they would forget God’s promises and laws; often, they would have to be disciplined; but still, they had a precious heritage of belief, in the one true God.

Of all the people on earth, the Jews should have been the most ready to welcome the Messiah, and to understand His mission and message – and some of them did; but most did not.

The Jews rejected the Messiah, Jesus. They expected their deliverer, to be a great warrior, to ride on a white, war-horse and to take back their freedom by force. But, Jesus came, like a whisper, He was a gentle man, who spoke of love; not retaliation.

The Jewish people were to accept Jesus, accept God’s message and plan of salvation; and spread it through-out the world.
That was God’s plan, and this is why Jesus first ignored, and rejected helping this Canaanite woman; for she was not a Jew.

Conclusion
Sometimes, it is possible, that we become so preoccupied with spiritual matters, that we overlook, and become oblivious to, the needs around us, that are right under our noses.

So, was the case of this Gentile woman and the Disciples. When Jesus said that He had come (only) to the lost Jewish people, He was merely echoing and verbalizing, what was in the hearts and minds of His Disciples.

I feel Jesus had every intention of helping her, but want to ‘test’ and ‘teach’ the Disciples, a priceless and important lesson.

I also, feel that the woman knew that Jesus would help her, and she had ‘read between the lines.’

All though this conversation between Jesus and the Gentile woman, the words would have meant one thing, but, if Jesus was saying them in a particular manner of speech, then the meaning would be quite different.

If, Jesus spoke in a question tone, then it was a ‘test’ and an optimal, teachable, moment; for all who were present.



For, it was the woman’s persistence, humility and faith that won her, her request. To the disciples, and the other people (Jews and Gentiles alike), the lesson learned was that faith in Christ would bring salvation. (x2)

Her faith was tested, and her faith was real; and her prayer was answered.

That happens so much to us, today. Our faith is tested, and sometimes it holds true; but often, so very often, our faith fails us.

Symbolically, this woman represents the entire Gentile world; which includes you and I. This woman, and other Gentiles, easily understood God’s message, earnestly accepted Jesus as God’s messiah, and eagerly seized the Bread-Crumbs that the Jews threw away – which was the Bread of Life, the Bread of Heaven…Salvation.

My question to you, today;

If God’s message is so easy to understand;

…faith brings salvation.

Will you earnestly, and eagerly, accept Jesus as your Lord and savior, today, and for ever more?

If you want a personal relationship with Christ, come.
Come to the front, and I will pray for you.


Let’s Pray;
Creator of things, and of all the seasons of our lives, we are thankful for the days that have been – and those that will come. Lord, sometimes we get lost along the way. We are your children, who need your constant guidance.

We pray that we would have faith, hope and courage; till we have become one with You; through Your Son, Jesus. We wait, in anticipation, for the transformation that will change us for ever; as we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Amen.