“First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”

She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Mark 7:27-30

            Jesus visited a Gentile location (non-Jewish) called Tyre.  A woman from the area who was Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia, came to him needing healing for her demon-possessed daughter.

            Jesus spoke to her in a metaphor which she seemed to understand.  He referenced children and bread going to the dogs.  This meant the children (Jews) were receiving bread (Jesus the bread of life) and it should not be thrown to the dogs (the Gentiles).  Her response acknowledged their status as lowly dogs, but they fed off any crumbs (blessings) that fall from the table.

            Jesus celebrated her humility, her awareness of her place in society, and blessed her with more than a crumb, but a full healing for her daughter.

            Jesus used this moment to teach his disciples their ultimate mission—not just to spread the Gospel to the Jews, but to the Gentiles too.  They deserved Jesus also.