Dear Explorer,
Today's passage is very interesting and can make you feel a little worried about Jesus' attitude toward non-Jews. I think that there are pieces to this story that we don't quite understand. But let's read the text and then we'll discuss it.
Read Matthew 15:21-28
And
Read Mark 7:24-30
This is one of those stories that, if taken out of context, is quite terrible. Some people DO take it out of context and say that Jesus was prejudiced or racially biased. If you put it in context – in other words – in the light of all Scripture and everything He taught, you readily agree that He is not prejudiced or racially biased in any form or fashion.
So, how do we interpret these verses, because what He said were rude and racially biased statements of the day.
The way I see it is that Jesus knew the thoughts of the people in the room. When this foreign-born woman came into the room and made her request, I believe that there were racially prejudiced people sitting there thinking these thoughts. I believe Jesus just said aloud what probably most of the people in the room were thinking! I believe this because another one of His statements is directly opposite of everything He has been teaching and practicing. Not only does He call this woman a dog, but He says He came only for the Jews. So, let's look and see what we can learn from the text.
In Matthew 15:23, what did the disciples say when they came to Jesus?
Does it sound like they were on the woman's side or against her?
Do you think maybe He was addressing prejudice within the disciples?
Could be. They had a lot to learn!
We've talked about the Jewish people feeling superior to those nations around them because God had called them His chosen people. Yes, God chose them to produce the Messiah – but from the very beginning – God's plan was to bless the whole world through the Jewish people. Instead, the Jewish people wanted to keep all the blessings to themselves!
Jesus essentially called her a dog. That was the degrading way that Jews would refer to Gentiles. They called them dogs. I personally believe that Jesus already knew this woman's heart. He knew that she had already faced a lot of prejudice and ugly name-calling and that she could handle being the object lesson He needed to teach His disciples and all the people in the room that the people they labeled “dogs” were capable of great faith. I think Jesus knew her faith.
Or it's possible that He was addressing her prejudices and racial hatred. We don't know for sure. But based on the whole of Scripture, I can promise you – Jesus loves all the people of the world. He made them, He loves them, and He died for them. And He is not racially biased.
Are you?