SCRIPTURE: Matthew 15
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
(Read my reflection from 2008)
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. [Matthew 14:24-28]
Yesterday I reflected on the compassion of Jesus.
Today I am wrestling with how Jesus speaks to His disciples [“are you still so dull?”, Matthew 15:16] and how He relates to this Canaanite woman.
He does not sound compassionate here (I can just imagine how people like Richard Dawkins would portray Jesus based on this).

I want to face this, though to be honest I really do not know what to say.
Part of the answer depends on where we place our emphasis.
Do the many examples of Jesus’ kindness and compassion help shape and temper this scene; or does this scene force us to rethink the ‘kind Jesus’ picture?
I do believe that we need to approach this with an attitude of trust, and not suspicion.
Not only for Jesus, but when we deal with anyone who says or does something that seems harsh, unfair or unkind.
It’s called giving people the benefit of the doubt.

The one thing that is missing of course is the tone of voice, or the look on His face.
How did the disciples or the Canaanite woman experience Jesus’ words?
For the disciples, there is context of time; Jesus has been working with them day after day, teaching and demonstrating these truths.
Knowing Jesus, there is likely a gentle rebuke contained in His words.
And what I notice is how the Canaanite woman engages Jesus in conversation; she feels safe enough to question and disagree with the ‘Lord, Son of David’.
But what about the reference to dogs, isn’t this demeaning?
Maybe, but not necessarily.
Assuming the best, we need to surmise that there was something in Jesus’ response that this woman needed to hear (as a Canaanite, was He addressing her own disdain for the Jews, which were common attitudes among people at those times?).
Knowing Jesus, there is probably a gentle rebuke in these words, one that is quickly followed by an affirmation of her great faith.

How we view these ‘harsh’ statements depends on how we view Jesus.
Based on all the evidence, I cannot help but give Jesus the benefit of the doubt, and say that He must have good reason for speaking and acting as He did.
The same is true for how He works in my life; it may not be what or how I want it to be, but because it is Jesus, I trust that it is good and necessary.
In fact, I am sure that I need a number of gentle rebukes in my life, and He is the One I want them from, because I know He loves me.

PRAYER:
Lord, make I hear and feel Your gentle rebuke where I need it. And may my faith be like this woman’s, persistent enough when the way seems hard.