How many exceptions were there to Christ's earthly ministry being confined to Israel?
There were only two exceptions. Christ's earthly ministry was confined to His earthly people, Israel. One exception appears in Matthew 15:21, where Jesus departed into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, on the Mediterranean sea coast, the area now known as Lebanon.
Les explains that Christ came to the nation of Israel in the earthly promises of the Abrahamic covenant and its later covenants, including the Davidic, Mosaic, and Palestinian covenants. In Matthew 10:5-6, Jesus commanded the twelve not to go to the Gentiles or Samaritans but rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Les says Christ's earthly ministry was therefore confined to Israel, with only two exceptions, and points to Matthew 15:21 as one, where Jesus went to Tyre and Sidon.