Hi Daniel,
My original post said, "Jesus is not racist; never defines one by the color of his skin nor where he lives."
And you replied, "Really Bill, Matthew 15:26 'But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.'"
I can see that you do not have an understanding of this Scripture passage -- or you want to pull one verse out and try to use that to condemn Jesus Christ.
Let's take a look at the full Scripture passage:
Matthew 15:22-28, "And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, 'Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.' But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, 'Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.' But He answered and said, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.' But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, 'Lord, help me!'
"And He answered and said, 'It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.' But she said, 'Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.' Then Jesus said to her, 'O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.' And her daughter was healed at once."
First of all, the Greek word used for "dogs" in this verse is not a derogatory term used to degrade someone; but instead is the word kynarion (kü-nä'-re-on), meaning a little dog or a puppy, a household pet.
As Pastor David Guzik of Calvary Chapel explains: "When Jesus called her one of the little dogs, He used little as a term of endearment. This softened the traditional Jewish slur towards Gentiles, which called them dogs in the most derogatory sense."
Pastor David goes on to explain: "The woman responds with great faith. She admits her low estate, and did not debate the issue when Jesus called her one of the little dogs. She asked Jesus to deal with her on her own low level - and so she received from Jesus. No wonder Jesus said, O woman, great is your faith!"
So, was Jesus being a racist and was He putting this woman down, belittling her? No. He was speaking to her gently, as one would to a beloved family pet -- drawing out fully her faith; her unwavering faith that Jesus Christ could and would heal her daughter.
Matthew 15:28, "Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once."
Oh, that your faith and my faith will be this strong.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill Gray
billdory@pacbell.net
Alabama bred,
California fed,
Blessed by God to be a Christian American!
