Universal Outreach – Matthew 15:21-28

It appears that one of the charges Muslims bring against Christianity is taken from Matthew 15 where Jesus says he came only for the lost sheep of Israel. Christianity, they argue, is only for the Jews, according to Jesus, that is. Jesus’ followers have changed Jesus’ mission and numerous other things Jesus taught.

Did we really misunderstand Jesus’ intentions?

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:21-28 ESV)

Jesus goes even further from Israelite territory into Gentile territory, signaling a change in his ministry because of the opposition.  But a Gentile woman who has some knowledge of who he is begs him to remove the demonic presence in her daughter.  Jesus’ lack of response doesn’t bother the disciples the way it bothers us.  Why would Jesus not acknowledge her?  He does tell the disciples that his primary mission is to the Jews, his own people, but could he not still tell her, “I’m sorry, but we are doing no ministry today,” or something?

Jesus did everything by the leading of the Spirit.  In this case it appears that his silence and then his remarks to her, that she is not Jewish and the bread he has is for Jews, is hoping to prompt the very remarkable faith that came from her. She picked up on his remark about little pet dogs and asked for crumbs.  Even crumbs from Jesus, she understands, would radically change her daughter’s situation.  So Jesus heals her daughter without seeing the girl.

Jesus said he was sent only for the lost sheep of Israel, but surely he meant in this particular phase of his ministry only. The Old Testament is replete with predictions of God’s outreach to Gentiles. In Genesis 12 Yahweh tells Abraham that in him all nations of earth will be blessed. Jesus has already healed the Centurion’s servant and now heals this Gentile woman’s daughter. His current mission is to reach Israel. As Paul did, he goes to the Jews first, then to the Gentiles. The Jews is not his only mission.  It was Jesus who gave us the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28).

Jesus’ ministry here foreshadows the many Gentiles who are going to be drawn to Jesus and exercise faith in this Jewish Messiah and so find healing and freedom, enjoying the fruits of Israel’s promises from God as they have been grafted into Abraham’s vine (Romans 11).  Faith remains the key to receiving God’s blessings.