A Quick Bible Study Vol. 253: A Critical Gospel Passage About ‘Jesus’s Mission’

A Quick Bible Study Vol. 253: A Critical Gospel Passage About ‘Jesus’s Mission’

Author’s Note: All previous volumes of this series are here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into the book “Bible Study For Those Who Don’t Read The Bible.” “Part Two,” featuring volumes 57-113, was published in December 2022.

Thanks for joining our study. I feel blessed to write this weekly Bible Study that this month begins its sixth year. In Vol. 250, I thanked all who needed thanking, and number one was, and is always: “God – Our Lord Jesus Christ: He ‘writes’ this study while my fingers do the clicking.”

Today’s discussion exemplifies “God as my co-writer” and why Matthew 15:24 is featured. Last week in Vol. 252: “What the New Testament Says About Leadership,” I wrote the following paragraph:

“His divinity explains why Jesus was the greatest leader who ever walked the earth with indisputable, lasting influence. However, He never led a military conquest, expanded territory, or ruled God’s people. Jesus came to serve those same people and made that clear when He said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” (Matthew 15:24).

While I wrote that verse, I experienced what I call a “ding ding.” The Lord’s silent (but unmistakable) inner bell instructing me to write about a specific topic, verse, or person. Since I am obedient to His will, today we dive into Matthew 15:24, which is often overlooked and needs more explanation. For context, let’s read the entire passage called “The Faith of the Canaanite Woman”:

“Leaving that place, [Gennesaret] Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.’ 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.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.’”

“The woman came and knelt before him. ‘Lord, help me!’ she said. He replied, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.’ ‘Yes it is, Lord,’ she said. ‘Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed at that moment” (Matthew 15: 21-28).

There are several theological concepts present in that passage.

First, the mission of Jesus. He is the Messiah whose coming was anticipated and prophesized throughout the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament. For further study about Messianic prophesies, see Vols. 21, 50, 53, 93, 94, 227, and 228.

When Jesus told his disciples, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel,” he referenced His Jewish people. They were God’s “chosen people” whom Jesus came to serve. Through Jesus’s human incarnation, the God of Israel called them back to repentance and salvation after they strayed from His ways, written in the Ten Commandments.

Note that Matthew 15:24 is the second time Jesus said He was “sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The first was in Matthew 10:5-6:

“These twelve [disciples] Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.’”

Jesus had a direct mission on earth to serve the people of Israel. They were the descendants of the people to whom God gave the Promised Land. The Lord chose them with the promise that they would always worship only Him — the one true God, creator of the universe, ruler of heaven and earth —unlike other ancient peoples who worshiped many gods or idols.

Then, from Israel and through Israel, Jesus would touch the world.

Second is the test of faith. Although not a Jew, a distressed and desperate Canaanite woman recognized Jesus for who He was. This interaction sets up a contrast with the Jewish authorities who mocked Jesus and, later, on trumped-up charges of blasphemy, allowed the Romans to crucify Him. See Vol. 210.

Since instinctively the woman knew that Jesus had the power to heal, she came to Him saying, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” But Jesus ignored her, while His disciples advised, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” Since the woman was not Jewish and therefore not part of His mission, Jesus rejected her, saying, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” One could consider His response very “un-Christ-like.” However, Jesus knew the outcome and that it would demonstrate great faith.

Undaunted, the woman persisted because she knew of His power. Kneeling before Jesus, she cried, “Lord, help me!” But again, Jesus rejected her plea with another mission-centric statement, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” Jesus was adamant that His powers and teachings were only for the Jews.

Then, showing endless motherly love, coupled with extraordinary faith in Jesus’s power to heal her daughter, she answered with a brilliant retort:

“‘Yes it is, Lord,’ she said. ‘Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.’” Jesus was so impressed by her boundless faith in him, He said “‘Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed at that moment” (Matthew 15: 27-28).

Third, this foreshadows the expansion of Jesus’s teachings to the broader world of the Gentiles. The book of Matthew famously ends after Jesus’s resurrection with a “mountain” meeting in Galilee. There, he gave his disciples what today is known as “The Great Commission,” — the exact opposite of what he initially told the Canaanite woman:

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:16-20).

Why the change? What happened?

Jesus’s earthly mission, which focused on “the lost sheep of Israel,” had ended with this death and resurrection, proving that He was the Messiah. Then, post-resurrection, the Gospel of Lord Jesus was meant for others to preach and “to make disciples of all nations.”

As a Messianic Jew, I find “the lost sheep of Israel” very inspiring since practically all my “tribe” do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, initially sent only to them. And when I try to evangelize, that message is not well received. Nonetheless, I will continue to emulate that Canaanite woman because I know, as she did, that Jesus is Lord.

Amen to that!

Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, “Bible Study For Those Who Don’t Read The Bible,” reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. “Part 2,” with the same title, reprints Vols. 57-113. Order it here.

She is also the Executive Director of the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit, dedicated to building a future permanent Shroud of Turin exhibit in Washington, D.C. In July, The National Shroud of Turin Exhibit hosted a four-day exhibit (with a VIP guest) at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, IN. Contact: <MyraAdams01@gmail.com>

This article is reposted from Townhall.com.

Myra Kahn Adams

Myra Kahn Adams

Myra Kahn Adams is a media producer and political writer. She was on the 2004 Bush campaign's creative team and the 2008 McCain campaign's ad council. Writing credits include, National Review, Washington Examiner, World Net Daily, Breitbart and many others. Contact Myra at MyraAdams01@gmail.com

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