The Life of Christ

• It was like she struck oil, as she came back at Jesus with one of the all-time classic one-liners in the Bible: “Yes, Lord, but even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

Her response didn’ t just match Jesus ’ words; it trumped them!

• In utter amazement, Jesus changed His position and instantly granted her request.

All that was left for Jesus to say was, “Your faith is great; be it unto you as you wish!”

• Mt. 15:28 says the “daughter was healed at once.”

• As soon as Jesus consented, the demon immediately left the girl — no exorcism, no traveling to her home to lay on hands, no prayer; never before has such an exorcism been performed with such power and swiftness.

• All typical exorcism protocols were strangely cancelled!

Even though only a house dog, rather than a true daughter of Israel, she was still the Master’s possession and had a legitimate place under His table.

• When He breaks the bread for His children, crumbs must undoubtedly fall from the table; these were her crumbs!

Jesus could not refute such logic.

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This incident marked the first time Jesus ever healed a Gentile.

• It was the Father’s original plan never to do so during Jesus’ earthly ministry.

• However, her response struck heaven so soundly that a new precedent had to be set.

• This opened the door to further healings among the Gentiles in the region of Decapolis, the very next stop on His itinerary (Mk. 7:31).

And, again, He went out from the region of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis (Mk. 7:31).

We read of a similar exception in the life of Rahab the harlot who hid the spies during the days of Joshua.

• Even though this Gentile harlot’s life was spared, she was originally not allowed to live within the camp of Israel (Josh. 6:23; Deut. 23:3).

Josh. 6:23: And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So, they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel.

Deut. 23:3: "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the LORD; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the LORD forever."

• However, her act of bravery overruled that restriction, and she was soon allowed entrance into the camp, even being allowed to marry an Israelite man (Salmon) and contribute to the very genealogy of Jesus the Messiah (Josh. 6:25; Mt. 1:5). Josh. 6:25: And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father's household, and all that she had. So, she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

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