Q and A’s from the Net

Nancy Lussow

The Text (I used the NLT)

 Mark 7:24–30 “ Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn’t keep it a secret. 25 Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, 26 and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter. Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, 27 Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” 28 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.” 29 “Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.”

Your Question:

Do you know what this parable means

Like when he told her that's a good answer at first I was thinking he was meaning he needs to take care of his family first before he helps another but then she said about the dogs and I was like wait a minute I got lost

Now I'm starting to get worried cuz Jesus also said The parables should be easy to understand for those who believe and I'm over here like I believe but I don't understand oh no lol but then again the disciples they were believers and they didn't understand in Jesus had to tell him at night time or when he was alone with them what he meant I feel like that's where I said I need him to tell me what he meant 😂

It should be a book that explains Jesus parables lol

An Answer

Number one, this isn't a parable. It’s Mark telling about Jesus staying in a Gentile area and was invited into a home, trying to be private/rest, but the woman kinda pushed in because desperate.

Number two, Jesus never said parables are easy for us to understand. Thats why the disciples begged Him to explain after he taught them. :) So you got that right. 

Remember when in Matthew He sent his guys out and said, only go to the house of Israel. (Matthew 10:5–6) Jesus when He came, it was first for Israel. Even the Gospel that saves us was first for the Jews. Romans 1:16–17 “ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.””

Jesus uses figurative (metaphor/symbolic) language the woman could understand because of her interactions with Jewish people. He uses the word for puppies, but of course many jews considered gentiles to be no better than dogs. Greeks used it like when we call a girl a B. But Jesus uses the word little doggies not the other. But its still kind of a dis. But he's not attacking, just making a point. And its not time for Him to break the barriers but when He is resurrected it will be.

He is pouring everything into the people of Israel so they might take the message to the whole world. I would say they did a great job (by His Spirit :)

Jesus has a lesson for all to see. Those watching saw a woman willing to humble herself and place her faith totally in Jesus. Like a dog watches it master eat and scrambles to grab the crumbs, she will take what ever he can give. What kind of crumb might the Son of God give? Her heart is out! Jeremiah 29:13 “ And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Mark 7:29–30 “ Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.”

Her faith trusted what Jesus said. She accepted it and went home. What amazing faith!

In Closing: Some dumb tik-tok and Facebook demons foolishly try to make this about misogyny or racism. Its not. This is about us truly seeking Jesus through faith. And she did at every turn. And Jesus responded. He never called her directly a dog (but certainly insinuated). He was simply saying what he brought was for the kids, not everyone. But she needed Him greatly.

This doesn't mean if we insist and have faith, Jesus will heal us or our kids. But man, it would bless us to try. You can pray to Him, talk to Him, sing to Him, Cry to Him. He is more real than any of us. Give it to Him. 

Victor Candelario

Ok, another friend sent these texts and asked:

 Romans 7:2–3 “ For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.”

 1 Corinthians 7:39 “ A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.”

Question

 I'm not 100% these are the only verses that speak on the death of the spouse but…could you share why in these 3, it only speaks to the Wife, by saying IF The Husband dies….Do these verses apply also if the wife dies ?

Answer

Its mostly in the context of those sections of scriptures. First question though, is are there verses that speak of death of spouse. I say yes and no, because the point of the Romans verses aren’t about marriage and are about law. You also asked if they apply to a man. 

Lets read the section Romans 7:1–6 ok, right there. 7:1 answers you right away. He uses how a woman is set free to marry another as an illustration. A dead man or woman is no longer under the rule of law.

So the wife is not bound to husband and vice/versa. So we are set free from the law of sin when we die to this world to be born again in Christ.

So what Christ is saying is true, but is really a metaphor for our new life in Him.