There is a story about Jesus going to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A gentile woman comes and asks him to cast a demon out of her daughter. His response seems to reflect the common Jewish prejudice that God is more concerned for the Jews than other people. But we know from many places in the gospels that Jesus’ heart flowed far beyond the borders of Israel.
• He caused a riot in the temple, because the Jews had turned the part of the temple where the gentiles were allowed to seek God into a flea market.
• He told his disciples he needed to seek out others from different sheepfolds to make them one flock with one shepherd.
• He commanded the apostles to go to all the world and make disciples from all peoples.
Jesus touched lepers and ate with tax collectors and prostitutes. Jesus was all about removing walls, and making bridges. And yet he seems to build a wall in front of this woman.
Because he continually opens his heart to everyone, I do not think he is closing his heart to her. Perhaps he is trying to reveal to her what resides in her heart.
I am not familiar with the particular ethnic group the woman was from, but there are numerous examples of strong ethnocentricity throughout the Mediterranean. The entire region was in Roman hands. To not bow and worship Caesar, who was considered a god, was regarded as treason. The Greeks had a highly developed culture – philosophy, drama, science, literature and politics . Everyone else was second class.
Did the woman regard Jesus as just another magician? Did she regard the Jews as a simple ignorant people, an so Jesus was one of the same? Yet she opened her heart to him, and demonstrated in her words and countenance, that she realized her need and Jesus was her only answer. So, she understands her heart and responds in faith and humility.
• He caused a riot in the temple, because the Jews had turned the part of the temple where the gentiles were allowed to seek God into a flea market.
• He told his disciples he needed to seek out others from different sheepfolds to make them one flock with one shepherd.
• He commanded the apostles to go to all the world and make disciples from all peoples.
Jesus touched lepers and ate with tax collectors and prostitutes. Jesus was all about removing walls, and making bridges. And yet he seems to build a wall in front of this woman.
Because he continually opens his heart to everyone, I do not think he is closing his heart to her. Perhaps he is trying to reveal to her what resides in her heart.
I am not familiar with the particular ethnic group the woman was from, but there are numerous examples of strong ethnocentricity throughout the Mediterranean. The entire region was in Roman hands. To not bow and worship Caesar, who was considered a god, was regarded as treason. The Greeks had a highly developed culture – philosophy, drama, science, literature and politics . Everyone else was second class.
Did the woman regard Jesus as just another magician? Did she regard the Jews as a simple ignorant people, an so Jesus was one of the same? Yet she opened her heart to him, and demonstrated in her words and countenance, that she realized her need and Jesus was her only answer. So, she understands her heart and responds in faith and humility.
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