Dogs at the Dinner Table

I want to tell you a story I heard of a man who owned a big house that overlooked Calgary, and every morning, he cooked a huge breakfast for any family members and friends who happened to be around.

The sound of a big, home-cooked breakfast sounds great to most of us, it was a little unusual. You see, He had cats. Lots of cats. And these cats had the run of the house. They were on the couches, on the chairs, on the tables, and on the counters. That’s right. The cats were walking around the bacon, eggs, and other items as they sat on the counter and stove. It wasn’t unusual to find cat hair on your plate. And if you think that sounds gross, listen to this. One family member witnessed Him scooping cat poop out of the food with his spatula he was using to cook. He didn’t even rinse it off either. He just kept cooking!

There are reasons we don’t allow pets at the dinner table. It’s not healthy for them to eat our food, but more than that, it’s just unsanitary. It’s equally unacceptable in our time to refer to people as animals or dogs, but in Jesus’ time, the Israelites often referred to foreigners as “dogs.” Even Jesus used the phrase once when he was approached by a Canaanite woman who was looking for a miracle.

Jesus calling anyone a dog seems out of character for the Son of God, but He had a purpose in using such harsh language. Jesus didn’t view anyone as a dog, but when the woman approached Him unexpectedly, He saw a teachable moment for His followers. Every single person in that crowd would have called the woman a dog and ignored her, but Jesus taught them a different way by His actions.

Matthew 15:21–28 “Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.”

Jesus knew the prejudice that was in the hearts of his disciples. He knew they’d been brought up looking on Canaanites as being inferior, not only for their race but their religion. Jesus had come to die for the sins of all people, including Canaanites, and Jesus saw an opportunity to teach not with words, but with actions.

The first thing Jesus teaches us is to be open to new directions when we are following Jesus. Jesus didn’t go looking for this woman. She came and found Him while He was traveling. Jesus and the disciples traveled everywhere on foot, which could be exhausting. That probably explains why the disciples wanted to move on from her so quickly.

Jesus could have ignored her and kept on walking, but He stopped. He shows us that sometimes, the mission we’re on is not the one God has planned for us. Sometimes God puts people in our paths who need help. He gives us opportunities to stop and do ministry in unexpected places and at inconvenient times. None of us like to have our plans interrupted, but Jesus wants us to be open to such moments. We never truly know when our moments to serve God are going to come, and if we’re too busy to stop and listen, we could miss them!

Jesus teaches one other important lesson too. He shows us that all people matter to Him. This woman the people saw as a “dog” was someone made in the image of God. She was a child of God, the same as all the “sheep” whom Jesus had come to save. Jesus loved her just as much as the men who were urging Jesus to push her aside.

It certainly seems strange to see Jesus speaking of this woman as a dog, but Jesus used that word to leave His followers with a memorable lesson. Even dogs get to eat the scraps from their master’s table, and this woman was no dog. Jesus wants us to be alert. He wants us to be prepared to stop our plans and take care of the people in need that we meet. And He wants us to look beyond their clothes, their skin, their personalities, and see them the way He sees them.

Everyone matters to Jesus, and we should be prepared to share His love with everyone who needs it.

The strange thing Jesus teaches us this week ties right in with what we learned last week. God wants us to put Him first and others second. He wants us to be willing to make our plans third when someone else is in need. And He wants us to be willing to make that exception for anyone we encounter. Jesus is counting on us to be His hands and feet, to share His love with everyone. Let’s open our hearts, and our schedules, so we can be the one to make someone’s day and show them the love of Christ.

CLOSING PRAYER:

Dear God,

Thank you for the love you have for us. Thank you for stepping down from Heaven

to save us. Give us hearts that are willing to stop what we’re doing to serve you

where we’re needed.

In Jesus’ name, Amen