Give Me Jesus: Jesus As The Feast: Mark 7:24-30; Matt. 15:21-28

I. The Undeserving Woman vs. 24-26

A. The woman in question was a Gentile Woman, from a city that was a known enemy of the Jews. It would be like a Vietnam vet meeting a Vietnamese lady from Hanoi, or a veteran meeting a person linked to Al Quedia.

B. The fact that she was a woman, and Jesus was a Rabbi was scandalous. Women, especially Samaritan or Gentile women didn’t address Rabbis in public.

C. According to Matthew’s gospel, she wouldn’t quit begging. She didn’t care what people thought, she wanted her daughter healed. Too many of us care far too much about how we will look like to others, than how we look to God.

II. The Wasteful Children vs. 27-28

A. Jesus came first for Israel, secondly for Gentiles. It’s not like we are second class citizens, but that they were chosen to be first. Jesus is in essence saying that it’s not right to take away from those that sit at the table, for someone just want a favor. The whole Jewish identity was wrapped up in the Messiah. Jesus is going to make the woman reveal what is really in her heart. Just like our trials will make us do.

B. He does this with a play on words, denoting a pet. The lady picks up on it and shows that she is a true follower who is looking for answers.

C. All too often we are like the wasteful children. God has given us so much, we just expect it, without any repentance, and we let the lost stay lost. Meaning we are more religious and self-centered, and dont care about God or anybody else.

Luke 14:12–20 NASB95

And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” When one of those who were reclining at the table with Him heard this, he said to Him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” But He said to him, “A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.’ “Another one said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.’ “Another one said, ‘I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.’

III. The Hungry Dogs vs. 27-29

A. We need to have persistent faith, trusting God for everything!

Psalm 51:17 NASB95

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Matthew 5:3 NASB95

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:6 NASB95

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

B. Our faith needs to be persistent.

Luke 18:4–5 NASB95

“For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’ ”

Luke 1:53 NASB95

“He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed.

C. We need to fully rely on Jesus be and go to the outcast or dogs.

Luke 14:21–24 NASB95

“And the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ “And the slave said, ‘Master, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ “And the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled. ‘For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner.’ ”