Matthew 15:21-28

The Healing of the Greek Woman's Daughter (Mark 7:24 *). Lk. may have thought the story unacceptable to his Gentile readers. Mt. adds the saying, I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He makes the woman come out of the heathen territory, for Jesus could hardly go thither, much less work a miracle, after the prohibition to the disciples in Matthew 10:5; Matthew 15:23 f. suggests that He desired, out of compassion, to overstep His Divinely imposed limit, but that He must abide within it. There is a struggle in His mind. Perhaps Matthew 15:26 is more accurate than Mark 7:27, which implies that Gentiles shall be fed by-and-by. Jesus is not concerned about the future, and the word first would have little meaning for the woman, though much to one who knew the work of Paul. But does the diminutive (hurtarí a, the little household dogs) point clearly to Gentiles? At any rate there is no contempt. Note that the woman knows Jesus as Son of David (cf. Matthew 9:27 *, Matthew 12:23).