Crumbs

formula1 said:

What a glorious feast it is to dine on the crumbs from the Master's table!

Matthew 15
21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

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JB0704 said:

Of everything we have on Jesus, verse 26 causes me the most confusion.

Anybody have any thoughts on why he might have said that, or the purpose?

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gordon 2 said:

Ya got to Love dogs and goats pilgrim.

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formula1 said:

To look for and find faithfulness in those He meets, though the bread was intended for His own people (or so it was thought)! I am sure Jesus knew exactly where He would find faithfulness and where He would not and this was an opportunity to showcase His awareness of His mission! What does John say?

John 1
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The better question might be, 'Why does this woman have more faith than the men of Israel?'

Faith is born in the heart and spirit of the woman and not by flesh or inheritance.

So even if I am a dog, I would be content with these crumbs that the master provides. Crumbs for the spirit are eternal. Feasts of the flesh are temporal.

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formula1 said:

What a glorious feast it is to dine on the crumbs from the Master's table!

Matthew 15
21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

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hummerpoo said:

Every time I read vs. 28 I picture Jesus with a little smile on His face; like the one on my face many years ago when my 6 yr. old son walk up to me, having just come from visiting a 90+ yr. old lady a couple of houses up the street, and said "Dad, you just got to be cool to be a little old lady".

Like many of his gifts, God places His wisdom where we least expect to find it.

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JB0704 said:

Of everything we have on Jesus, verse 26 causes me the most confusion.

Anybody have any thoughts on why he might have said that, or the purpose?

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formula1 said:

What a glorious feast it is to dine on the crumbs from the Master's table!

Matthew 15
21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

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formula1 said:

To look for and find faithfulness in those He meets, though the bread was intended for His own people (or so it was thought)! I am sure Jesus knew exactly where He would find faithfulness and where He would not and this was an opportunity to showcase His awareness of His mission! What does John say?

John 1
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The better question might be, 'Why does this woman have more faith than the men of Israel?'

Faith is born in the heart and spirit of the woman and not by flesh or inheritance.

So even if I am a dog, I would be content with these crumbs that the master provides. Crumbs for the spirit are eternal. Feasts of the flesh are temporal.

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mtnwoman said:

Amen.

and we the 'unclean dogs' (gentiles) were grafted in.
I, too, will take the crumbs.

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hummerpoo said:

Every time I read vs. 28 I picture Jesus with a little smile on His face; like the one on my face many years ago when my 6 yr. old son walk up to me, having just come from visiting a 90+ yr. old lady a couple of houses up the street, and said "Dad, you just got to be cool to be a little old lady".

Like many of his gifts, God places His wisdom where we least expect to find it.

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mtnwoman said:

Awwwwwwww that's such a sweet story. I wish we could stay as pure and 'simple' minded as children, we would get much more out of life and give much more life to others, wouldn't we?

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formula1 said:

To look for and find faithfulness in those He meets, though the bread was intended for His own people (or so it was thought)!

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JB0704 said:

Ok, so you believe it was a test? Or am I mistaken what you are saying?

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formula1 said:

I don't call it a test so much as I call it a 'bringing to light' or 'exposure' of where true faithfulness lies for all to see and learn from..

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formula1 said:

I might add that the teachings of Christ cannot be understood intellectually, but rather spiritually. But that's beyond the scope of your question.

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JB0704 said:

Can one aid and assist the other? Such as Ravi Zacharias building his career on apologetics. That would appear to be an intellectual pursuit.

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formula1 said:

So what is the purpose of apologetics in your view?

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formula1 said:

When you come to Christ, the Holy Spirit comes and makes his dwelling place inside you, in the innerman, the 'heart' or the spirit. God promised insight into His truth and understanding by His Holy Spirit.

The intellectual or natural mind is said to be a detriment to the understanding the things of God.

So using the passage you quoted as confusing from Jesus (V26), a intellectual understanding says Jesus said, 'You don't deserve the power I have for it is meant for my people'. The spiritual understanding was returned by the woman in Verse 27, both accepting the Lord's decree yet also knowing and understanding the love gift resident in Christ. She portrayed confidence, respect, and loyalty to Christ and received a declaration of great faith and the answer from the Lord she desired. A purely intellectual response would not have received the blessing.

Intellectual faith, for another example, says one can believe in God because of a test based upon an accepted validity of evidence, like the historical record perhaps. But it is not a personal and intimate relationship with the Spirit of the Living God, therefore lacking much in its validity.

Saving faith by contrast says that I have met Him and know Him and He knows me, and further, that I am doing my part to understand Him by His Word through the Holy Spirit, build relationship with Him by prayer, and set Him on the throne of my life as Lord and Christ.

Now, I could have quoted a myriad of scriptures on this subject, but as you requested I tried to put it in my own words. I hope it helps!

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