THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 15 - Verse 26

Verse 26. But he answered and said, It is not meet, etc. That is, it is not fit or proper.

Children's bread. The Jews considered themselves as the peculiar children of God. To all other nations they were accustomed to apply terms of contempt, of which dogs was the most common. The Mohammedans still apply the term dogs to Christians, and Christians and Jews to each other. It is designed as an expression of the highest contempt. The Saviour means to say that he was sent to the Jews. The woman was a Gentile. He meant, that it did not comport with the design of his personal ministry to apply benefits intended for the Jews to others.

Our Saviour did not intend to justify or sanction the use of such terms, or calling names. He meant to try her faith. As if he had said,

"You are a Gentile. I am a Jew. The Jews call themselves

children of God. You they vilify, and abuse, calling you

a dog. Are you willing to receive of a Jew, then, a

favour? Are you willing to submit to these appellations,

to receive a favour of one of that nation, and to

acknowledge your dependence on a people that so despise

you?"

It was a trial of her faith, and not lending his sanction to the propriety of the abusive term. He regarded her with a different feeling.

{r} "to dogs" Mt 7:6; Re 22:15