Jesus’ initial response to the Syrophoenician woman’s request reveals the general animosity from Jewish people towards Gentiles: “Let the children (the children of Israel) be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But wait. Did Jesus just call this woman a dog?
Jesus’ words in response to
the woman’s request seem to be incredibly harsh. Scholars have long debated what exactly was going on here. There are two generally accepted interpretations of Jesus’ words to the woman. I will deal with the first interpretation today and the second in my reflection tomorrow.
The first interpretation of this interaction suggests that Jesus articulates the predominant animosity towards Gentiles not to endorse it but rather to dramatise
it, to bring it centre stage precisely so it can be conspicuously overturned. According to this line of thought, Jesus predicts that the woman will push beyond the
conventional view - so he sets her up to do just that by expressing prejudice in this stark manner. You can imagine him cheekily asking: “But isn’t it true that we shouldn’t give the children’s food to the dogs? Isn’t that what everyone says? What do you say?”
And sure enough, the woman turns the metaphor on its head: “Even the dogs gather the crumbs under the table.” She understands that God’s grace is so abundant that there is enough for the children and the supposed dogs. Jesus got the hoped-for response, thus setting the woman up as a model of faith, an outsider who understands better than most insiders.
Who are we sometimes guilty of keeping out of God’s Kingdom?
Who are the “outsiders” who may surprisingly have something to teach us about God’s abundant grace?
Reflections by Rev Joe Taylor
