24.146 - THE DOGS UNDER EAT THE CHILDREN'S CRUMBS - Mark 7:24-30 - God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

Text: Mark 7:24-30 (ESV)

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

THE DOGS UNDER EAT THE CHILDREN'S CRUMBS

Jesus went to Tyre and Sidon. This is the first and last time Jesus wentt to a Gentile territory. Tyre and Sidon are the major cities of a district known as the economic competitors of Galilee. Thus, the Jews distanced from them. Josephus, the historian, called them "our bitterest enemies." Here, Jesus and the disciples retreated wherein they could avoid the Jewish crowds in a hostile Gentile district. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden.

But, a Syrophoenician woman took the opportunity to seek Jesus' help. Her daughter had an unclean spirit. Hence, in desperation, she went to Jesus bowing before Him and begging for Him to cast away the Spirit out from her. Jesus’ popularity as a healer has spread beyond Galilee. A feeling of desperation has prompted her to seek Jesus.

In quite a strange response, Jesus said, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” Was Jesus indifferent? Was there a racial slur and insult in His comment? Matthew gives more context to this particular encounter. This Canaanite woman is begging Jesus to free her demon-possessed daughter, while the disciples beg Jesus to send her away (Mat 15:23). Once Jesus has the disciples' attention, He tells the woman, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Mat 15:24). This was purposely done to demonstrate the faith and wisdom of a Gentile woman.

The woman understands Jesus' metaphor. The "children" are the Jews (Deut 14:1) and "bread" is God's provision in whatever form it may take. She is the "dog," and although He uses a diminutive form of the word that means household pet. It was not an insulting remark but not very flattering as well. She was begging. And, she couldn’t be demanding but wait and expect Jesus would act out of mercy and kindness. She was expecting the least, as the happy pet dogs eating crumbs falling from the table. Similarly, the woman with an issue of blood was just happy to touch Jesus’ garment. Such simple faith has caught Jesus’ attention and commendation.

Evidently, Jesus introduces an image of the children and the dogs as a metaphor for Christianity. God has fed the Jews with truth until they could take it no more. They hanged Jesus on the cross. Then, He sent the gospel to the Gentiles (Rom 3:29). The Gentiles who are happy to receive the crumbs under the table will find themselves at the wedding feast of the Lamb (Rev 19:6–9).

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