Canaanite Woman

[jdrbts]

How could Jesus, presumably a divine, omniscient, all-loving, and all-forgiving Being, have indirectly called a Canaanite woman a "dog," even if, being omniscient, he had known much more about her than any other bystander, and so had known, perhaps, of some evil of hers of which he apparently strongly disapproved?

The verses I refer to are Mark 7:27; and, Matthew 15:21-28.

Thank you.

P.S. I am aware that Jesus, in other verses (e.g., the one in which he calls persons who greedily take advantage of widows, "sons of hell"), shows what one might call a salty or earthy side, meaning a down-to-earth or practical side. I guess this is maybe one reason why I kind of like him: he, presumably as our Creative Being, really does have a practical side. Yet, I have never felt comfortable with these verses concerning this woman.

[Tfbandie]

How could Jesus, presumably a divine, omniscient, all-loving, and all-forgiving Being, have indirectly called a Canaanite woman a "dog," even if, being omniscient, he had known much more about her than any other bystander, and so had known, perhaps, of some evil of hers of which he apparently strongly disapproved?

The verses I refer to are Mark 7:27; and, Matthew 15:21-28.

Thank you.

P.S. I am aware that Jesus, in other verses (e.g., the one in which he calls persons who greedily take advantage of widows, "sons of hell"), shows what one might call a salty or earthy side, meaning a down-to-earth or practical side. I guess this is maybe one reason why I kind of like him: he, presumably as our Creative Being, really does have a practical side. Yet, I have never felt comfortable with these verses concerning this woman.


The way I had studied the Mark verses centered on the word 'dog' being a common racial term used against the greeks. But she responds in humility and still believes that Jesus's blessings are abundant. He sees her faith and removes the demon from her child.

[furay]

Jesus was testing her. She gave the right response too. Aren't we all squalid dogs before a great and merciful God? Having humbled herself before her Lord she showed great faith and will forever be known for it. What a truly blessed woman.

[NeilUnreal]

I've always read it as Jesus quoting some aphorism or epithet that was in common use at the time. His response, and the entire point of the passage, seems to be a polemic against that epithet and a reminder of the fact that though God's message might sometime come through a specific people or tradition, it is for everyone.

-Neil

[Tfbandie]

I've always read it as Jesus quoting some aphorism or epithet that was in common use at the time. His response, and the entire point of the passage, seems to be a polemic against that epithet and a reminder of the fact that though God's message might sometime come through a specific people or tradition, it is for everyone.

-Neil


That was my interpretation as well, by using the common racial slang, he was then able to turn it upon itself and go against its use