Pressing through Unanswered Prayers and Confusing Answers

Pressing through Unanswered Prayers and Confusing Answers 

Matthew 15: 21-28

And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden.  But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet.

Mark 7:24-25 

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him.

Mark 3:7-8

Why was Jesus silent? (vs. 23) 

Why does Jesus present His mission as exclusionary? (vs. 24)  

And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

Matthew 7:23b-24

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 10:5-6

Why does Jesus appear to affirm the prejudice of His disciples towards Gentiles?  (vs. 26) 

The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.  He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

Matthew 15:25-27 

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Matthew 15:28 

Faith gets Jesus and his saving power — faith alone, by Jew or Gentile, male or female.  

--Dale Bruner