Matthew 15:21-31 “Jesus Goes to the Gentiles”

Good morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! If you are new…I’m Pastor Marc…Welcome! Calvary Chapel is known for a relaxed atmosphere, relatable worship, and teaching the bible chapter-by-chapter and verse-by-verse!

After service today, we are having communion and a fellowship lunch, so please join us in breaking bread…it would be great to get to know you better!

If you don’t have a bible, raise you hand and we will have an usher bring you one.

We are continuing today in Matt Chapter 15, picking up in V21. Last time we saw Jesus confronted by Pharisees from Jerusalem on the issue of why His disciples were not ceremonially washing their hands…which was a complicated ritual created by religious leaders, and not mandated by God’s word.

And, Jesus calls out the Pharisees for holding their traditions high while transgressing God’s commandments. And, too often people want to look good on the outside, but their hearts are far from God…just like these Pharisees.

Well, after this encounter Jesus departs…and not just from Capernaum…He left the entire Galilee region…heading west into a Gentile region…the region of Tyre and Sidon, where He encounters a woman of low pedigree…a Canaanite and a Gentile, and they have a very interesting conversation, and that’s where we pick up today...

The title of today’s sermon is “Jesus Goes to the Gentiles.”

Let’s pray!

Matt 15:21 “Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.”

Stop there…let’s get a feel for the setting for Vss 21-28…the region of Tyre and Sidon…the region was called Phoenicia…modern day Lebanon. I have a map of the Phoenicia region which is just north of the Galilee region.

Jesus was last in Capernaum, which is at the bottom middle of this map…just North of the Sea of Galilee.

Some scholars think Jesus specifically visits Tyre and then travels further north to Sidon, but that’s not what the text states…both Matthew and Mark state Jesus went “to the region [meaning the boundary or vicinity] of Tyre and Sidon” which is a very general designation…we don’t know exactly where Jesus went in this region.

Maybe He visited Tyre and Sidon specifically, but he may have just been on the outskirts, and I lean towards the latter because we see no great multitude following Him here, and Mark 7:24 tells us, “...He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden.”

Interesting that Jesus again is seeking solitude...Just prior Jesus was debating the Pharisees, and immediately following He departs the entire Galilee region to seek solitude.

This is not the first time we have observed Jesus seeking solitude after rather large ministry moments...after the ‘Feeding of the 5000’…we read Jesus “went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.”

But, He could not be hidden…His fame proceeded Him. Remember, the Jews thought He was the Prophet, or an old prophet risen again…some thought Elijah…all kinds of grand thoughts circulated about who Jesus was. And, now, even in a Gentile area…He is recognized.

There is what was known as Jesus’ “Great Galilean Ministry”…it’s what we’ve been studying over the last several months.

Jesus’ ministry to the Jews in Galilee began sometime in Jesus’ 1st year of ministry, encompassed His 2nd year of ministry, and ended early in His 3rd year of ministry…from Matt 4:12 to Matt 15:20.

Here in V21, as Jesus Travels to the region of Phoenicia…this ends Jesus’ “Great Galilean Ministry,” and gives us some perspective on Jesus ministering, as Paul said in Romans, “to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Greek being a general title for all Gentiles). We will see echoes of this focus to the Jews first today…for example…in V25 Jesus tells the Syro-Phoenician woman “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” We’ll come back to this in a moment.

So, Jesus is now North-West of Capernaum…somewhere in the Gentile Phoenician territory.

The cities mentioned in V21...Tyre and Sidon were rival cities... being only 77 miles apart. And, they were ancient cities...Tyre is first referenced in the Book of Joshua, and Sidon in Genesis.

There is a lot of rich history both biblical and secular for you to study…you can read about these cities in the conquest of Canaan, the Sidonians oppressing Israel, Alexander the Great’s ingenious conquest of Tyre…so much rich history.

Well, continuing on in Matthew...

Matt 15:22-24 “And behold [behold should always grab your attention that something extraordinary is about to happen], a woman of Canaan [referencing a Canaanite would have been a very interesting detail to Matthew’s Jewish audience; Mark omits this detail, as he writes to the Romans, and describes her as “a Greek [meaning a Gentile], a Syro-Phoenician by birth.” Syrian-Phoenician. This woman...] came from that region and cried out to Him [Mark adds she “fell at His feet.”], saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! [Lord- meaning ‘master’ and “Son of David”- the Jewish Messianic title]. My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” 23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Wow! These are some difficult verses to unpack. Here is a woman crying out to Jesus, pleading with Him on her knees for her demon possessed daughter, professing faith in Jesus, and it seems like Jesus gives her the cold shoulder and the disciples are being unsympathetic punks (and maybe they were).

Is that what’s going on here? At face value it seems like it, but certainly this is not the case.

There are several observations to note in these verses.

First, as you read through Matthew’s gospel there is an obvious contrast between the Pharisees and this Gentile woman. The Pharisees, in the previous segment, should have responded to Jesus as this woman did- falling down in worship…professing Him as Lord and Messiah, but their hearts were far from Him.

D.A. Carson stated, “They [the Pharisees] belong to the covenant people but take offense at the conduct of Jesus’ disciples, challenge his authority, and are so defective in understanding the Scriptures that they show themselves not to be plants the heavenly Father has planted. [referring to V13] But this woman is a pagan, a descendant of ancient enemies [Canaanites], and with no claim on the God of the covenant. Yet in the end she approaches the Jewish Messiah and with great faith asks only for grace; and her request is granted.”

Well…I kind of told you the end of the story there, so if you are not familiar with this account…I just ruined it for you. Sorry about that!

The second thing to observe, is Jesus does not initially reply. After she pleads to Him, V23 records “But He answered her not a word.” Why the silence?

It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact reason, but given the context it could have something do with awkward timing being that Jesus came to the Jews first.

Also, she addresses Him with a Jewish messianic title, which positionally as a Gentile, and a Canaanite (a wicked race destined for extinction), she had no ground to address Him as such.

Jesus seems to also be stretching her faith...as he waits and how He responds…her faith expands. And, I wonder if Jesus is using her as a model to His disciples about “persistent faith.” Like keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. I also think about the parable of the woman and the unjust Judge.

So, a difficult verse, but I don’t think Jesus is just giving her the silent treatment…there is purpose behind what Jesus is doing.

And, even when Jesus is silent in our lives, there still remains a purpose.

Third, note how the disciples respond… V23 “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” Was she now pleading to the disciples as well?

There are two to look at the disciples response...

We could interpret their response as... “Send her away and deny her request for healing.” Were the disciples annoyed and see her as a nuisance? Or, were they trying to protect Jesus from being bothered?

An alternative view is...“Send her away after healing her daughter.” “Lord, help this woman because she will not cease persisting until you bless her!” This response seems consistent with Jesus’ response in V24, which is our last observation...

In V24, Jesus states, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Other translations read, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Note Jesus does not say, “Begone woman…out with you.” His response allows for the conversation to continue. He is not denying her request to heal her daughter, but He throws out a response that will cause her to dig deeper.

But, what does this statement mean?

Is Jesus saying He was ONLY sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and NOT to Gentiles? Is He telling this Gentile He did not come to be the Good Shepherd to Gentiles?

Jesus was a Jew, and His Twelve Apostles were all Jews, and predominately Jesus ministered to the Jews, but was there no calling to the Gentiles? Of course not…both the OT and NT spoke of salvation coming to the Gentiles. BUT, Jesus knew that the message of salvation was first to the Jews.

And, Jesus did go to the Jews first…only with a few exceptions...

In John 4, we think about the Samaritan Woman by the well, and the people of Samaria…who were essentially 1/2 Jews. Jesus stayed with them for 2 days and many in Samaria believed He was “the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

In Matt 8, Jesus healed the Centurion’s servant. The Centurion was a Roman Gentile, and what was amazing about that account, is Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”

Also, in Matt 8, Jesus travels to Gadara or “the country of the Gergesenes” in the Decapolis region (another large Gentile region)…where Jesus healed 2 demoniacs and at least one begged to stay with Jesus, but was told to share what Jesus did for him. And, the man shared with many in Decapolis and they marveled.

But, predominately, Jesus ministered, by the thousands, to Jews.

The Jews were initially His priority...when Jesus sent out the Twelve, He instructed them, Matt 10:5-6 “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” The same statement we just read in V24.

In Romans 1:16 Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

So, why this order? Why the Jews first? Why did Jesus tell this Syro-Phoenician woman He was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel?

We know the gospel is for all people…before Jesus ascended, He gave the Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...” Matt 28:19

In Acts 1:8 we see that the Gospel will go to all, but look at the order...Jesus said, “...you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem (Jews), and in all Judea (Jews) and Samaria (1/2 Jews), and to the end of the earth (Gentiles).”

Chronologically, the gospel message was first revealed to the Jewish people…God’s covenant people... before it was revealed to Gentiles (non-Jews), and that’s what is being reflected in Jesus’ statement here.

And, here’s why “Jews first”: In Rom 9:4-5, Paul said this about his brethren, the Jews: “They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all [Jesus is God], blessed forever. Amen.”

From Abraham and Israel came the Christ…the Messiah…the Savior. God told Abraham, “In you seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed...” Gen 22:18 It was natural to first preach Christ to the Jews being that Messiah came from the Jews, and because the Jews…not the Gentiles were awaiting Messiahs coming...

Jews like Anna awaited Him. In Lk 2...when she saw Jesus we read, “...she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” There were Jews looking for redemption…awaiting Messiah.

In Mark 15, we read of Joseph of Arimathea that he was “waiting for the kingdom of God.” The Jews were living in expectation that their Messiah was coming [The Doctrine of Immanency].

In Lk 24:47 Jesus said, “...repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” The gospel would be preached to all nations starting in Jerusalem…starting with the Jews and then to all.

In the Gospels, we observe the Gospel message focused predominately on the Jews. Starting in Acts Chapter 10 though... the Lord appears to Peter in a vision to break down his biases and prejudices towards the Gentiles, so that Peter would take the Gospel to the Gentiles.

You may recall...Peter was praying on a housetop in Joppa and had a vision of many unclean animals Acts 10:13-15 reads, “And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

Shortly after... a knock on the door…a delegation from the Gentile centurion Cornelius…Peter goes with them to Cornelius’ house as the Spirit instructed him. Upon arrival, in Acts 10:28 Peter said, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.”

Peter hears Cornelius’ testimony and then in Acts 10:34-35 Peter states, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”

Then Peter thoroughly shares the Gospel and Acts 10:44-45 reads, “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision [Jews] who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.”

And, from that moment the door to ministering to the Gentiles swings wide open.

The Book of Acts is very much the Acts of the Holy Spirit, but the first half focuses much on Peter’s ministry, and the second half on Paul’s ministry.

With Paul, we know that he tried to go to the Jews, but he came to a place where he went to the Gentiles. We read in Acts 18:6 “But when they [the Jews] opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

And, that’s exactly what he did through his three (some see four) missionary journeys.

I quickly want to mention that even as the Jews nationally rejected Jesus…there is always a remnant of believers… and God never stopped loving Israel.

God is not done with Israel. They will once again be the light of the world, and any Jew who comes to God through faith in Jesus Christ will be saved.

Well back to Matthew... let’s look at the Syro-Phoenician woman’s response to Jesus...

Matt 15:25-28 “Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” 27 And she said, “Yes, Lord [KJV states “Truth, Lord] , yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” [Mark records Jesus said, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”]

Notice, in V25 that this woman is not phased by Jesus’ response…She persists with her pleas…this time dropping the “Son of David” title. Since she was not a Jew, she could not appeal to Him as the Jewish Messiah, so she appeals to Him as Lord…He is the Master and she is His servant. He is the Creator, and her life…and her daughter’s life…is in His hands.

Jesus responds again, not in the negative,…He doesn’t tell her to depart, but responds further pressing at her faith, and He does this by again emphasizing the call to the Jews.

Jesus uses the picture of a family meal. It would not be fitting to take the child’s food to feed the dogs.

The “children’s bread” represents the Jews and their meal…their meal being the spiritual nourishment, blessings, Messianic revelation, and coming Kingdom He came to give the Jews.

The “little dogs” represented Gentiles. Jesus uses a word meaning “puppies.” Some teachers suggest this is a house dog, but it is perhaps better interpreted staying true to the definition…a puppy. It’s inconsequential if this dog was a house pet or a street dog…the point is this dog is a puppy…it is dependent on an outside source for nourishment…it is not yet able to fend for itself…and that is what this woman was…she was dependent upon the Lord…she needed Him and His blessing for survival…for her daughter’s survival.

But, the implication is of being a Gentile dog still holds true. Jesus softly refers to her as a dog and this would not have gone unnoticed by her or the disciples, because Jews called Gentiles dogs. Gentiles were scorned as wild, scavenging street dogs by the Jews.

It’s difficult to relate to feral dogs or street dogs in the USA, because we have Animal Control. Dogs are mostly domesticated in the States, but in other countries it is not so. I remember in the Philippines seeing many mangy street dogs. The Filipinos called them “Askal.” (Street dogs). And, they were despised.

One Filipino told me to hit them with my car because they run into the street and people get into motorcycle accidents. One time Amanda saw a young man intentionally hit an Askal with his motorcycle. A hard thing to witness.

I remember one rainy day, Amanda saw a liter of Askal pups under a truck, so she stopped the driver. And then she was chasing down this one pup in the middle of the street, trying to save it…quite the show for the locals across the street at a little local restaurant…a foreigner chasing down an Askal in the pouring rain at an intersection.

So, she gets him, and she brings him home. And, then she makes me plead with our landlord to keep him. Of course he said, “No.” And, I told him, “My wife is not going to accept that answer.” Truly, I was in a bad position...I had to choose between making my landlord upset or my wife upset.

But, we were moving anyhow, so we managed to keep him mostly outside. When we moved, we discovered there was still a lot of street left in the dog. He was a nippy little thing…especially to the kids, so we adopted him out to a local lady as an “office dog.” Sammy Chicken was his name…hopefully they didn’t eat him.

Anyhow, back to Matthew, so Jesus was saying is that it would not be appropriate to take food from the children to feed to the dogs. If you are feeding your dog before your kids, there’s something wrong. In V26, note Jesus said, “It is not good...” or “It is not right...”

Jesus doesn’t say it’s impossible, but it’s not fitting. And, no doubt, these were hard words from Jesus.

Yet, still undeterred, this mother knows Jesus is the only hope for her daughter and in V27 she handles this verbal exchange masterfully and with grace. She accepts her position…she does not want to take from the Jews, but she sees herself in the picture of this family having a meal…knowing that even a dog is fed at meal time by the crumbs. Bread did not need to be taken from the children.

She is willing to humble herself and accept any overflow of blessing for her daughter. She is not proud, as contrasted by the Pharisees in the previous account.

You see her humility in V27 by her simple reply, “Yes, Lord” or the King James rendering “Truth, Lord.”

Spurgeon said, “If the Lord reminds you of your unworthiness and your unfitness, he only tells you what is true, and it will be your wisdom to say, “Truth, Lord.” Scripture describes you as having a depraved nature. Say, “Truth, Lord.” It describes you as going astray like a lost sheep, and the charge is true. It describes you as having a deceitful heart, and just such a heart you have. Therefore, say, “Truth, Lord.” It represents you as “without strength” (Rom. 5:6) and “without hope” (Eph. 2:12). Let your answer be, “Truth, Lord.”

And, in V28, we see Jesus rewards her persistent faith and humility. “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”

Note the emotion exhibited by Jesus here. It’s as if He was holding back all emotion and desire to heal, but He can’t hold it back anymore…in love and mercy He bursts with emotion and grace.

The “young daughter” of this woman was “severely demon possessed,” and this very hard experience drove this mother to Jesus. Let me remind you that not all the hard experiences in our lives are necessarily bad. Hard, but if they drive you to Jesus…it is good.

For ex., Joseph was betrayed and sold into slavery by his brothers, and years later he addressed them, in Gen 50:20, saying, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

It is very difficult for us to see the big picture of what God is doing in our lives when we are caught in the midst of a trial. How could this woman or Joseph see good in their circumstances. Bad things were happening, but God was with them…building them up…working out a bigger plan.

And, the persistent faith of this woman not only yielded a blessing of healing for her daughter, but I am confident, her persistence had an impact on the disciples as well. These Jewish disciples witnessed how this Canaanite…a Gentile dog humbled herself, displayed unyielding love for her daughter, and persistent faith in Jesus.

They would need all of these character traits to become the leaders Jesus was calling them to become…to take the Gospel to the world…Jew and Gentile alike.

They would need to break down their biases towards non-Jews and learn to love all people.

And, these are character traits we must also learn…humility…unyielding love for our neighbors…persistent faith in Jesus…and stripping away our biases towards people who are not like us.

Jesus applauded this woman of low pedigree… “O woman, great is your faith!” He answered her prayer... healing her daughter with just a word… “Let it be to you as you desire.”

And, once again we see our theme, “The Grace of the King” unfold before our eyes.

Well, let’s wrap up in Vss 29-31...

Matt 15:29-31 “Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them. 31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.”

Leaving the region of Tyre and Sidon, Jesus traveled alongside the Sea of Galilee and Mark 7:31 tells us, “He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee.” So, Jesus is now on the Southeast shore of the Sea of Galilee in the Decapolis Region. I have a map to help you picture this. This is another Gentile region…two Gentile regions back-to-back…Phoenicia and now Decapolis.

Jesus was well known in Decapolis because this is the region where He healed two demoniacs…Legion…who went into the herd of swine. The people there asked Jesus to depart, but before he did, at least one of the demoniacs begged Jesus to be with Him.

Jesus denies his request and Mark 5:19-20 records Jesus giving this man a different commission: “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.”

This testimony of Jesus’ compassion was likely shared throughout Decapolis for several months. The demoniac healing occurred sometime in Jesus’ 2nd year of ministry, and we are now in Jesus’ 3rd year of ministry, so this former demoniac had some time to proclaim his testimony to the people of Decapolis.

And when Jesus arrives, in V30 we observe a great multitude…a huge crowd…gathered to Jesus. The former demoniac was faithful and fulfilled his commission from Jesus.

Jesus is sitting down on a mountain looking out at the fields ripe for harvest. I imagine Him praising God…talking to His disciples, “Peter, John…Look! Look at all of these Gentiles coming…seeking hope…seeking Me!”

Interesting, no notation of Jesus having a verbal exchange like He did with the Syro-Phoenician woman…He just welcomes all of these Gentiles.

In Decapolis…hundreds…maybe thousands of people afflicted with all kinds of physical infirmities are healed, and look at the response from this Gentile crowd… V31 the “marveled…and they glorified the God of Israel.”

A response too often omitted when Jesus went to the Jews, but here in Gentile territory God is being glorified by thousands of Gentiles.

If you were a Jew reading Matthew’s gospel, this detail would not be overlooked. You would take note of the contrast between the Pharisees in the previous segment who were so caught up in traditions that they failed to glorify God, and then the Syro-Phoenician woman and this great multitude of Gentiles who honestly glorify God.

This scene is an echo…a preview of what we can expect when Jesus returns to establish His literal Kingdom on Earth…His millennial reign…this will be the scene.

Let’s close with a picture of that time, Isa 29:18-19…the future...our future...“In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. 19 The humble also shall increase their joy in the LORD, And the poor among men shall rejoice In the Holy One of Israel.”

The future is bright…the day is coming when Jesus will right all of the injustices and sin in this world. But now, we live in a crazy time where people “call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness...” Woe to them Isaiah proclaimed.

But, here’s the thing…there is still hope for them. We have the hope…we know the Holy One of Israel…the God of Israel…and God has called you to be a light in the world for such a time as this.

Just as Jesus went to the Gentiles, go with grace…soft to how the Holy Spirit will lead you this week to do just the same.

Let’s Pray!

Communion Reading: 1 Cor 11:23-29

“...the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

Please distribute the elements...

As the communion elements are being distributed, please take a moment to praise Jesus…remembering His broken body and shed blood for you on the cross. And, examine yourself…take communion in a worthy manner. Is there anything you need to confess privately to God and ask forgiveness for?

Once you have prayed, go ahead and take the communion elements, when you are ready. Our worship team will play one worship song, and then close us in prayer.

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If you are not saved, if you have never confessed Jesus is your Lord, you have a couple options, either let the cup pass and do not partake in communion -or- the better option... accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today. Pray to God and tell Him you believe in Jesus and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, and then take communion. If you pray that prayer today, if today is your day of salvation, tell us that great news afterwards.