chuckd
Puritan Board Junior
I'm making my way through Matthew and have come to the healing of the Canaanite woman's daughter where Jesus initially denies her request twice. One denial he tells her "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matt. 15:24) This struck me as odd since, from what I can tell, he interacted favorably with Gentiles before.
1. Magi travel to worship him at his birth.
2. He heals the Centurion's servant (second miracle recorded in Matthew)
3. He heals the Gadarene men possessed by demons (Matt. 8:28)
4. His healing of many was to fulfill prophecy regarding justice coming to the Gentiles (Matt. 12:18)
These examples run counter to his instruction to the apostles to not go among the Gentiles (Matt. 10:5-6). I understand this purpose is to first preach to Israel so that they may reject the messiah in order for salvation to come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous (Rom. 11:11).
The interaction with the Canaanite woman seems to coincide with this mission. Were the previous Gentile encounters exceptions?
I do find it interesting that after telling this woman that he has only come to the house of Israel, he does heal her daughter after he sees her faith. This comes directly after an interaction with the Pharisees' lack of faith. I wonder if this was the first explicit example of salvation coming to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.
1. Magi travel to worship him at his birth.
2. He heals the Centurion's servant (second miracle recorded in Matthew)
3. He heals the Gadarene men possessed by demons (Matt. 8:28)
4. His healing of many was to fulfill prophecy regarding justice coming to the Gentiles (Matt. 12:18)
These examples run counter to his instruction to the apostles to not go among the Gentiles (Matt. 10:5-6). I understand this purpose is to first preach to Israel so that they may reject the messiah in order for salvation to come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous (Rom. 11:11).
The interaction with the Canaanite woman seems to coincide with this mission. Were the previous Gentile encounters exceptions?
I do find it interesting that after telling this woman that he has only come to the house of Israel, he does heal her daughter after he sees her faith. This comes directly after an interaction with the Pharisees' lack of faith. I wonder if this was the first explicit example of salvation coming to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.