Even The Dogs! Matthew

Join Paul, Matt, Mike and Ben as they discuss preaching on this incredible exchange between our Lord and a Canaanite woman.
Check out more resources at The Craft of Preaching
craftofpreaching.org
Rev. Paul Koch is pastor at Grace Lutheran in Ventura Ca.
gracelutheranventura.com/
Editor for Craft of Preaching
craftofpreaching.org
And The Jagged Word
thejaggedword.com
Cohost of the podcast Ringside with the Preachermen
ringsidepreachers.com/
Rev. Matt Nolte is pastor of both St Paul in Agoura Hills Ca. and Redeemer in Thousand Oaks.
www.stpaulagoura.com/home.html
redeemer1000oaks.com/index.html
Rev. Mike Schultze is pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Camarillo Ca.
www.peacecamarillo.com/
Rev. Ben Mai is pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Newbury Park Ca.
ctknp.com/

[@sequincypratt9708]

Love it all! So grateful to God for His faithful service. Thinking about how Christ came full of grace and truth. For those seeking His grace and truth, He faithfully delivered and more.

[@davidgodwin851]

I find it interesting that oftentimes it is the non-Jewish people in Matthew that are often the first to recognize Jesus for who he is.

[@jonathonshattuck]

Just found you guys. Love the commentary! Just a thought...Did you realize that last week's Gospel text has Peter asking the question..."Lord, IF IT IS YOU..." But that isn't the case here. The Canaanite woman proclaims him the "Son of David" and "Lord"! There are also 3 gentile women in Jesus' genealogy listed at the beginning of Matthew. Is this her attempt to connect with Jesus in the faith that he may heal her daughter? This passage is an example of holy tenacity. She is unwilling to leave until Jesus interacts with her. This is a powerful example of intecessory prayer!
Blessings on your studies and proclamation!

[@LifeCenterLIVE]

This is how I handled the passage in a nutshell:
In Matthew 15:10-20 we see the Pharisees take offense when Jesus tells the crowd
“It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth - this defiles a person.””
‭‭
The Pharisees prided themselves on their external works and pedigree for their righteousness.
They were not in need of God's mercy or forgiveness and faith was alien to them.
They considered themselves "worthy".
This is why Jesus says “Leave them alone! They are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.” Matthew‬ ‭15‬:‭14‬
Contrast this with the Canaanite woman in verses 21-28.
She had no works to take pride in and her pedigree as a Canaanite gentile put her outside of God's covenant with Israel.
In essence she knew she deserved nothing from God or his Messiah.
All she could do was bank on his mercy for her and her daughter.
When Jesus called her a dog (no doubt as a way of drawing out her faith even further) she had no reason to argue or take offense.
She owned her unworthiness and banked on his faithfulness.
If she was a dog, then at least she could get the crumbs that fell from the Master's table.
In so doing she exhibited the faith the Pharisees didn't have.
She gets commended by Jesus and receives her miracle.

[@craftofpreaching7281]

Great stuff!

[@DylanMcardle-oj3eg]

Makes sense but just something about Jesus calling someone a dog makes him seem imperfect and dishonest

[@nicktorea4017]

@@DylanMcardle-oj3eg on the contrary the term Dog in this context is of a beloved family pet Jesus pointed out that he was sent first to the lost sheep she in contrast was a beloved pet waiting expectantly to be feed in the master's house at the masters table she wasn't outside being lost as some of the Jews who rejected Jesus were or as most wrongfully jump to the conclusion that she's an unwanted stray dog. In essence Jesus was saying you will be fed but after the children Jesus furnished her request for a crumb to suffice her in the meantime. anyone still offended at the beloved family pet term just remember the Psalmist rightfully calls him self a worm.

[@davidgodwin851]

HelpmeObeWanKenobiyourmyonlyhope!