Bible lesson: Saturday October 17, 2009

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Published: October 17, 2009

"Jesus said to her, ‘Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’”

— Mark 7:27

Feelings of racial superiority were common in Jesus’ day. The Greeks believed they were superior to all non-Greeks, whom they called "barbarians.” As God’s chosen people, many Jews believed they were superior to the Gentiles, whom they often called "Gentile dogs.” Jesus intended to eliminate all racial prejudice through His ministry and death.

In my opinion, Jesus spoke to the woman in the verse with irony and gave her an encouraging wink, for Jesus appeared to distinguish people based on the prejudice that the Jews were God’s children and Gentiles were dogs. Perhaps His use of "children” also included the judgment that prejudice is juvenile. After Jesus spoke of caring for children, the woman expressed her humble faith in Jesus, saying, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs”; therefore, Jesus healed her child (Mark 7:28-30).

Breaking down racial barriers did not come easily among Christians. Peter needed a special vision to learn it was OK for Jews and Gentiles to eat together, and when he told the early church his experience, the people exclaimed, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life” (see Acts 11:1-18).

Furthermore, Paul needed to remind everyone in various ways that Jesus had broken down the barrier that separated Jews and Gentiles, writing, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace; in His flesh He has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us” (Ephesians 2:13-14).

— L.G. Parkhurst Jr.

Send e-mail to lgp@prayersteps.org.