Faith That Frees

Was Jesus a racist and misogynist?

On the surface, from our viewpoint, it looks like Jesus is a complete racist and misogynist.

There may be some inherent problems with that question, but as always, it depends on the heart with which it is asked.

In our culture it is generally accepted that such positions are wrong.

Our normal steps of logic tells us that if Jesus’ words and actions fit the descriptions of such positions, then he is one, and he is wrong.

Such an approach does not factor in context or circumstance, nor His deity.

If we can truly accept and place ourselves under Jesus as King, then we can learn and gain understanding of we we need for growth.

Jesus is our judge. We are not His.

The scripture corrects us. We do not correct it.

If we come to the scriptures, pledging to be honest students, we will find better questions and better answers.

As always, a greater understanding of the context helps.

v24 Jesus was STILL trying to get He and His disciples away, so they headed up north, tried to hide out, but could not go unnoticed.

v25 But even in Jesus' day, news travels faster than people. Long before cellphone, telephones, and telegraphs, there was the grapevine

v25-26 The woman was a gentile from that area, a Greek culture but Syrophoenician roots (Lebanon, Tyre and Sidon). Isaiah 23 talks about what a great merchant area they were and about how they would be laid waste for 70 years (just like Jeremiah prophesied for Judea) and then rebuilt, but 23:18 says

"Her merchandise and her wages will be holy to the LORD. It will not be stored or hoarded, but her merchandise will supply abundant food and fine clothing for those who dwell before the LORD. Is 23:18, ESV.

Interestingly enough, at this time, their bread was supplied by the nearby Jews.(Acts 12:20, ESV.)

"In his commentary on Isaiah Eusebius says that when the church of God was founded in Tyre, much of its wealth was consecrated to God and presented for the support of ministers. This is also the testimony of Jerome, the Latin church father writing in the fourth century.” -----Tonia Slimm, Growing With God

Jesus was on a focused mission, "the lost sheep of Israel."

Jesus had done very few miracles for Gentiles. In each case, they came to Him and displayed great faith!

In fact, when Jesus sent out the 12, He instructed them,“Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Mt 10:5–6, ESV)

The plan of salvation for all of humanity was through the Jews. God wasn't against other nations, but He knew that He could not effectively reach man without having a special people.

That means special treatment.

This woman had not become a Jewish proselyte.

It helps also to understand that, not only was Jesus trying to ‘catch a break’ for a few days to invest into His disciples, and get them all the rest they needed, and not only was He trying to keep His ministry focused to be more effective, He was not here to please people or to perform for them.

Some of His reaction was actually a teaching method.