Jesus Sent to the Lost Sheep of Israel - Matthew 15:24

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus, “departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, you Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she cries after us”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-four of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” where we read:

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

The verse reads, “But he answered and said, ...”. Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “nevertheless, moreover and” “he answered” or “Jesus responded and began to speak to the woman” “and said” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed”. Matthew shared how Jesus began to answer the woman whose daughter was “grievously vexed with a devil”.

The verse continues, “... I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew continued with the words, “I am not sent” which means “Jesus Himself was not ordered to go to a place appointed, dismissed and driven away” “but unto” or “except toward” “the lost sheep” which means “to the rendered useless, ruined and destroyed four footed, tame animals that are accustomed to graze” “of Israel” or “belonging to Israel which means he shall be prince of God and is the family or descendants of Israel”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the woman that He was “sent” to the people of Israel.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see Jesus telling the woman whose daughter was “grievously vexed with a devil” that He was “sent” to the “people in Israel”, and the implication is that He was not sent to the “Gentiles”. This response from Jesus might discourage this “woman” if it were not for her desperation. Her daughter was in trouble, and Jesus was the answer. God loves this persistence from people, and regardless of whether they were the ones to whom He was sent, those who plead with Him for “salvation” through His Son Jesus shall be saved. Let the perseverance of this woman inspire every person reading these words, and may everyone reach out to Jesus after the manner of this woman.

Next time Matthew shares how the woman, “came and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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