Why was Jesus so rude?

[Snape]

22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."

23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."
24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
25The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.
26He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."
27"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

It appears to me that Jesus was acting quite rudely to the Canaanite for an all-loving and benevolent ruler's Son. Could somebody explain this to me?

 

[sc4s2cg]

Could you please point out which part you think is rude? Jesus healed the Canaanite's daughter "from that very hour".

G-d bless,
sc

 

[Snape]

Could you please point out which part you think is rude? Jesus healed the Canaanite's daughter "from that very hour".

G-d bless,
sc

Very true, but consider how much convincing was required in order for it to happen. Jesus even compared the Canaanite to a dog! Why would an all-loving God need convincing in order to heal somebody, anybody?

 

[Tavita]

It appears to me that Jesus was acting quite rudely to the Canaanite for an all-loving and benevolent ruler's Son. Could somebody explain this to me?

Jesus knew she had the faith to believe He could heal her daughter but gave her a test to see how much faith she had. A Canaanite was a Gentile, and all Gentiles were called 'dogs'... a Hebrew idiom. He said He came only to Israel.. she knew she was a Gentile and not an Israelite. This is why she answered that even the dogs under the table got crumbs. When we read the bible we have to take into consideration that what we see as rudeness or a wierd way of speech is normal to those times and to that culture. In fact Jesus gave this woman great respect.

 

[Snape]

Jesus knew she had the faith to believe He could heal her daughter but gave her a test to see how much faith she had.

Why would a test be required? God should know how much faith she had, and thus Jesus would know as well.

A Canaanite was a Gentile, and all Gentiles were called 'dogs'... a Hebrew idiom.

Why would God create or allow such an offensive idiom? Doesn't seem like something an all-loving God would allow to me.

He said He came only to Israel.. she knew she was a Gentile and not an Israelite.

Shouldn't Jesus heal and redeem the sins of everybody? Isn't that what the cross was about? Redeeming the sins of the entire world?

This is why she answered that even the dogs under the table got crumbs. When we read the bible we have to take into consideration that what we see as rudeness or a wierd way of speech is normal to those times and to that culture.

Why would God put something like that in a Bible, that would be read over 1000 years later, without an explaination for the "odd" speech? Just seems like a mistake to me.

In fact Jesus gave this woman great respect.

Ok, you are going to have to explain that one to me.

 

[Tavita]

Why would a test be required? God should know how much faith she had, and thus Jesus would know as well.

A test is never required for God to know if we have faith... after all, it's He who gives us faith in the first place. A test of faith is something that brings the faith we've been given to the surface.. so we can see it.

Why would God create or allow such an offensive idiom? Doesn't seem like something an all-loving God would allow to me.

I don't think God created an offensive idiom. And anyway, what makes you think such an idiom was offensive to the people of that time? As I already told you, different cultures have different ways of putting things which may 'seem' offensive to us but not to them. Jesus said many words that seem harsh and hard to us, in fact, God doesn't muck around, He calls a spade a spade. Isn't that part of real love? Jesus was never 'soft' on people. Compassionate and loving, but not soft.

Shouldn't Jesus heal and redeem the sins of everybody? Isn't that what the cross was about? Redeeming the sins of the entire world?

Sure. But He hadn't died on the cross yet to forgive the sins of the whole world. At that stage it was only given to Israel to make the sacrifices forshadowing His sacrifice on the cross. It was Israel's belief in what God was 'going' to do on the cross that saved them. This woman was not an Israelite and didn't partake in Israel's sacrificial system. But she had faith in Him anyway.. sort of like a forshadowing of how the rest of the world as Gentiles would believe on Him.

Why would God put something like that in a Bible, that would be read over 1000 years later, without an explaination for the "odd" speech? Just seems like a mistake to me.

That's why it's so important to study the bible, not only read it. If you study parts of Leviticus and Deuteronomy you will pick up what is meant by 'dog', etc. And that it means the Gentiles were 'unclean' because their sins were not forgiven by the offerings of sacrifice to God (the shed blood). Someone 'unclean' was considered as unclean as a dog or a pig and if you read Acts chapter 11, Peter is given a vision of a great sheet coming down out of heaven full of all sorts of animals (the Gentiles). God tells him that they were not to consider these things 'unclean' anymore.. that in fact, when a Gentile (unclean person) comes to faith in Christ he is considered clean (and part of the commonwealth of Israel).

If God were to write the Bible in our day, who's culture would He pick to write it in? Would the language/idioms of the Arabic world be the same as ours? Even the language or idioms of England are different to the idioms of America and Australia. Some of them can also be 'offensive' to us if we don't take the time to learn.

 

[Adstar]

It appears to me that Jesus was acting quite rudely to the Canaanite for an all-loving and benevolent ruler's Son. Could somebody explain this to me?

Jesus was using the womans faith and humility as a lession to the Jews around Him. Jesus allowed the woman to show her deep faith even in the face of a put down. I am posting the NKJV translation of those scriptures below so you can see the bolded section. Jesus loved the Woman His referance to the dogs was to add power to Her demonstration of faith.

Matthew 15
21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”
23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” 27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

"O woman" When i read that the first time i cried. And it still brings a tear to my eyes.



All Praise The Ancient Of Days

</SPAN>

 

[Jaison]

My jesus is never rude, I dont find anything rude in Him in the reffered contest. Why we judge Him?

 

[Key]

It appears to me that Jesus was acting quite rudely to the Canaanite for an all-loving and benevolent ruler's Son. Could somebody explain this to me?

This was not being rude, this was testing and teaching the woman, as well as those he was with.

Here Jesus is, and this Gentile comes to him, and although Jesus came to the Jews, and this woman did not have faith in the Jewish Torah, this woman did have faith in Jesus.

Now, we might think this was being rude, but, that is because we live in a PC infested world, were we can not say a bad thing about anyone at anytime, in any manner, but that was not case in the time of Christ. People were "Challenging" to each other no to be just mean, but to stir thought and provoke each other to use their minds. This relationship was never more evident then between a teacher and a student.

So in todays world of "Watch your Mouth" this may be taken as rude, but in that culture this was not only accepted, but also, this was a mark of respect that Jesus would do this for the woman to give her a place as a "Student" to him in such a manner.

I hope I have answered your question.

God Bless

Key

 

[anatolian]

24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.??

 

[eoj]

A test is never required for God to know if we have faith... after all, it's He who gives us faith in the first place. A test of faith is something that brings the faith we've been given to the surface.. so we can see it.


I don't think God created an offensive idiom. And anyway, what makes you think such an idiom was offensive to the people of that time? As I already told you, different cultures have different ways of putting things which may 'seem' offensive to us but not to them. Jesus said many words that seem harsh and hard to us, in fact, God doesn't muck around, He calls a spade a spade. Isn't that part of real love? Jesus was never 'soft' on people. Compassionate and loving, but not soft.


Sure. But He hadn't died on the cross yet to forgive the sins of the whole world. At that stage it was only given to Israel to make the sacrifices forshadowing His sacrifice on the cross. It was Israel's belief in what God was 'going' to do on the cross that saved them. This woman was not an Israelite and didn't partake in Israel's sacrificial system. But she had faith in Him anyway.. sort of like a forshadowing of how the rest of the world as Gentiles would believe on Him.


That's why it's so important to study the bible, not only read it. If you study parts of Leviticus and Deuteronomy you will pick up what is meant by 'dog', etc. And that it means the Gentiles were 'unclean' because their sins were not forgiven by the offerings of sacrifice to God (the shed blood). Someone 'unclean' was considered as unclean as a dog or a pig and if you read Acts chapter 11, Peter is given a vision of a great sheet coming down out of heaven full of all sorts of animals (the Gentiles). God tells him that they were not to consider these things 'unclean' anymore.. that in fact, when a Gentile (unclean person) comes to faith in Christ he is considered clean (and part of the commonwealth of Israel).

If God were to write the Bible in our day, who's culture would He pick to write it in? Would the language/idioms of the Arabic world be the same as ours? Even the language or idioms of England are different to the idioms of America and Australia. Some of them can also be 'offensive' to us if we don't take the time to learn,

Jesus knew she had the faith to believe He could heal her daughter but gave her a test to see how much faith she had. A Canaanite was a Gentile, and all Gentiles were called 'dogs'... a Hebrew idiom. He said He came only to Israel.. she knew she was a Gentile and not an Israelite. This is why she answered that even the dogs under the table got crumbs. When we read the bible we have to take into consideration that what we see as rudeness or a wierd way of speech is normal to those times and to that culture. In fact Jesus gave this woman great respect.

wisdom.

 

[Snape]

My jesus is never rude, I dont find anything rude in Him in the reffered contest. Why we judge Him?

So, you don't consider comparing somebody to being a "dog" rude at all? I would love to hear what you consider to be rude then.

 

[Rafael]

So, you don't consider comparing somebody to being a "dog" rude at all? I would love to hear what you consider to be rude then.

It was not offensive to speak that way at the time, as Tavita already explained. It is over 2000 years later and times and idioms of language change. It was not meant as an offense and was not taken as one, as the women understood and responded intelligently, receiving exactly what she asked for. Putting our language and cultural rules over those accepted at the time Jesus walked on earth is to refuse to understand the differences between those times. Even the languages were is flux at the time, as Hebrew is a "picture language", much like hieroglyphics, and Greek used was the mechantile language of trade for the Mediterranian area. Greek brought more the expression of abstract thought to language. Animals were used to express ideas and even the shapes of some of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, so it was hard to get away from using them in the Hebrew language. Actually, the word "dog", had many positive attributes associated with it, and it was only how the word was used in context to the rest of the thoughts being conveyed could any "rudeness" or other things be tied to it.
I wonder what they would think of the things people call each other today that we think of as "friendly". Terms of endearment change radically over time, as do nearly all idioms. We may say something is "neat" or "cool" in the fifties or sixties, and then see it as "off the hook" in the present time.....How would they interpret?
My wife calls me a "dag". She assures me it is a term of endearment, but if you knew what it was you might wonder . It's an Australian term....

 

[Adstar]

24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.??

During His time on earth Jesus was focused on preaching and working amongst the Jews. Although He did interact with non-Jews, (A sarmaritan woman at a well is of note) it was the rare exception.

It was only after He was executed and raised from the dead that His disciples turned to preach the Message of Jesus to the gentiles (Non-Jews)

The term "The Lost sheep of Israel" is referring to the Jewish people who where misguided (lost, sheep) in their faith towards God.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[heron]

I think you had a good point. In Greece then, to call someone a dog was derogatory, similar to calling someone a pig now... sort of a scavenger.

I think it was a tongue-in-cheek challenge... not that he was calling her a dog directly, but that he knew that she knew that people called Canaanites dogs, and was asking her to step beyond the social norms.

I also think that his first response, ""I was sent only to the [SIZE=-1][/SIZE]lost sheep of the house of Israel" could easily have been a challenge, and a public statement.

It reminds me of how public officials often speak with their constituents in mind... they answer one person, but are really setting up a stance for everyone to see. Analysts are saying that now about North Korean and Cuban and South American leaders... that what we're hearing them say to the US contains a self-consciousness of how it will sound to their people.

I think that certain Jews had already decided that Jesus was their long-awaited Messiah, and He was allowing them to think through how his ministry would apply to the rest of the community. He let the woman do the teaching.

 

[Lilly of the Valley]

It appears to me that Jesus was acting quite rudely to the Canaanite for an all-loving and benevolent ruler's Son. Could somebody explain this to me?

Basically, the jews had a stigma w/ gentiles...thinking they were below them, so they also saw them as unfit/worthy of healing and etc. That culture refered to various cultures w/ various names, such as "dog" or whatnot. Now as mentioned, either in that time it wasn't considered as offensived as now...or Jesus was using their terms to prove a point to the other jewish people...not to be rude or hateful to the woman.

 

[FrAnthony]

This is pretty random and minor...

Hahaha...Admitting it is the first step.

 

[heron]

This is pretty random and minor, but it kinda bugs me that you didn't capitalize "Jew" and "Jewish." Why is that?

(Gentiles had equal treatment above.)