Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32
Matthew 15: 21 – 28
This has to be one of the most puzzling stories in the Gospels. At first glance, you would be forgiven for feeling that Jesus is being both rude and misogynistic, possibly even racist – “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” – calling a woman in desperate need a ‘dog’.
But that’s not the Jesus I know, the Jesus who is at ease with sinners, occupying troops, lepers and even women, sharing meals and healing them despite the ‘religious’ rules forbidding Him to do so.
So we have to delve a bit further into the significance of what is happening – and when we do, there seem to be two possible interpretations, both of which demand that the passage is contextualised by an awareness of its background.
One possibility is that throughout the Gospels, Jesus is continuously learning about the breadth of His mission. The woman challenges Him to consider whether His ministry is exclusive – for the Jews only – or universal – even to the ‘dogs’, if they accept Him and place their trust in Him. “Great is your faith – let it be as you wish”. Remember that this event takes place before the Transfiguration, when God proclaims Jesus as the Son in who He is well pleased, to be followed by the journey to Jerusalem which results in the fulfilment of Jesus destiny. Everything that has gone before incrementally prepares Him for the cross.
The other explanation is that Jesus knows exactly what He is doing. In front of the Pharisees and scribes, who have taken great offence at Jesus’ teaching (Matthew 15:12) Jesus offers a practical demonstration that, though God has chosen salvation to come from Israel, it is not just for Israel, but the whole of creation. The Messiah they want would reject the dogs (the Gentiles, the unclean, the women). That’s not what they get.
There are arguments for either interpretation. Food for thought.
But whichever, there is no argument that the woman is healed. As are we all, whoever we may be – Jew, Greek, slave, free, man, woman. One in Jesus, the Christ. That’s the important bit.
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These things are worth meditation and thought, as we enter this Holy Week – but the even more important question that we can only answer for ourselves, is embodied in twelve straightforward words written by Charles Wesley.
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Simeon, though, didn’t just hear about the Messiah being incarnate in the child – he also knew that the child’s destiny would involve pain and suffering in order to fulfil His mission. And Mary knew too. The consolation of Israel – of the world – would cost her the life of her child.
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Is Jesus suggesting, not to eat and drink? And is he saying we should not wear clothes but go naked?
How unrealistic is this, and how depressing – we need to eat and drink, and we need clothing.
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Christ’s words are given to all His people in the face of the difficulties we ourselves face in life. We claim them and are assured of Blessing. And that is all we need.
Praying Together January 25th 2026
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.