Matthew 15:21-28

Matthew 15:21-28

[21] Then  Jesus  went  thence,  and departed  into  the coasts  of Tyre  and  Sidon.  [22] And,  behold,  a woman  of Canaan  came  out of  the same  coasts,  saying,  Have mercy  O Lord,  thou Son  of David;  daughter  is grievously  vexed with a devil.  [23] But  he answered  her  not  a word.  And  his  disciples  came  and besought  him,  saying,  her  away;  for  she crieth  after  [24] But  he answered  and said,  not  sent  unto  the lost  sheep  of the house  of Israel.  [25] Then  came she  and worshipped  him,  saying,  Lord,  help  [26] But  he answered  and said,  not  meet  to take  the children's  bread,  and  to cast  it to dogs.  [27] And  she said,  Truth,  Lord:  yet  the dogs  eat  of  the crumbs  which  fall  from  their  masters'  table.  [28] Then  Jesus  answered  and said  unto her,  O  woman,  great  faith:  be it  even as  thou wilt.  And  her  daughter  was made whole  from  that very  hour. 

What does Matthew 15:21-28 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

As previously, opposition led Jesus to withdraw to train His disciples (cf. Matthew 14:13-33). However, this time He did not just withdraw from Galilee but from Jewish territory altogether. The response of the Canaanite woman in this story to Jesus contrasts with that of the Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes in the preceding pericope. She was a Gentile with no pretensions about knowing the law, but she came to Jesus in humble belief trusting only in His grace. She received Jesus" commendation whereas the critics had received His censure. This incident helped the disciples know how to deal with people who believed in Jesus, even Gentiles.
"This section at the close of the Galilean phase of Matthew"s story thus marks a decisive break from the previous pattern of Jesus" ministry, a deliberate extension of the mission of the Messiah of Israel to the surrounding non-Jewish peoples. The whole new approach is a practical enactment of Jesus" radical attitude toward Jewish purity laws which has just been declared in Matthew 15:11-20; he and his good news will recognize no such restriction of the grace of God." [1]