Mark 7:27-30

Passage

In response to the woman’s begging, Jesus tells her that it is not fair to feed the dogs out of the food that is intended to feed children.  The woman responds by reminding Jesus that dogs willingly feed off of the food that falls from the children’s plate.  Jesus is pleased with her rebuttal, and Jesus confirms that the daughter has been freed from her demon.  The woman went home and found that Jesus kept His word.  The demon was gone.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I don’t believe for a moment that Jesus was insulting this woman.  Yes, He calls her a dog.  Yes, the Jews used the word dog as a very pejorative word for “Gentile.”  Yes, out of any other Jew this would have been an insult.  But I don’t believe for a second that it is an insult here.  First, this is Jesus speaking.  He already knows her heart.  Second, Jesus just finished telling the disciples that it is not what is outside of a person that defiles them.  Therefore, Jesus does not believe that this Gentile woman can defile Him or any of His disciples.  In fact, in this line of thinking I think we find out what Jesus is really up to in this passage.  I believe Jesus is condemning the Jews and their application of the Law.  Through the Jews’ understanding of the Law they arrive at the conclusion that this woman is a “dog.”  But to Jesus, she is a potential contact for grace, love, and mercy.  To the Jews, this woman was a threat to their purity as is any dog.  To Jesus, this woman was a mission field.  In using the word “dog,” Jesus is not insulting the woman but rather condemning the Jewish application of God’s Law.

Why do we as human people tend to evaluate others based on their appearance, nationality, manner of dressing, and other outward signs?  How should we be evaluating people?  What does Jesus teach us in this passage about how He evaluates people?

Second Thought:

This passage also contains a huge point of theology.  Jesus tells the woman “Let the children be fed first.”  This is Jesus explaining why He is spending so much time among the Jews.  They are being fed first by Jesus.  However, in using the word “first” He is throwing the door wide open for this Gentile woman.  He could have said “only” instead of “first.”  But in using the word “first,” He’s tossing her the proverbial softball pitch and she turns around and hits it out of the park.  She essentially tells Jesus, “Fine, feed the children first.  But where there is a first there is also a second.  So I’m going to know that there are going to eventually be scraps from what trickles through the children to me.”  The theology in this passage absolutely plays out.  After Jesus dies, is resurrected, and the Jews persecute His followers in Jerusalem then the Samaritans begin to be fed.  Then, the Gentiles are fed through the story with Peter and Cornelius.  Then, through Paul and his disciples, virtually the whole Roman Empire is exposed to Christianity.  It starts with the children (the Jews), but the dogs (Gentiles) are eventually fed by what trickles through the hands of the children.  I love this theological presentation of Christ’s work here on earth.

How cool is it that Jesus gives us this moment as a foreshadowing of the coming Kingdom of God?  What do you think of God’s plan to work through the Jews first and then trickle through to the Gentiles?

Third Thought:

I love the humbleness of this woman.  She could have been insulted when Jesus called her a dog.  She could have gotten up in His face and told Him off.  But what would that have proven?  No, instead she embraces her position.  After all, she is a dog.  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Next to Jesus, she is – and we are all – a dog!  So she embraces her position and works through it.  She doesn’t deny the Jews their place.  She accepts the place Christ has for her and allows God to present grace into her life wherever God sees fit to do so.  What an incredible testimony of faith this woman displays.  She is wise, humble, patient, and accepting of whatever God has planned for her.

Are you as content as this woman is with being a “dog” fed at the table of Christ?  What does it say when we aren’t content being the role that Christ has given to us?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 7:31-33