How long had the Canaanite woman been following Jesus and the disciples?
The Canaanite woman had been following Jesus and the disciples for several days, crying after them wherever they went. The disciples begged Jesus to send her away because she had been making a nuisance of herself, and Jesus initially ignored her, explaining His ministry was only to Israel.
Les explains that this had no doubt been going on for several days, every place they went, with this Canaanite woman probably making a nuisance of herself. The disciples were getting out of sorts and said, 'Lord, she's a Gentile, we don't have anything to do with her. Get rid of her, send her away.' Jesus answered her not a word because she was a Gentile, and He had a ministry only to the nation of Israel. He later told the twelve, 'I am not sent, but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Why did the disciples think they had nothing to do with the Canaanite woman?
The disciples thought they had nothing to do with the Canaanite woman because they recognized she was a Gentile. The covenants were Jew only, with no Gentiles included, so they considered her outside Israel's covenant promises and wanted Jesus to send her away as a nuisance.
How did Jesus respond when the Canaanite woman first cried out to Him?
At first, Jesus answered the Canaanite woman not a word at all. He ignored her and paid her no mind because she was a Gentile and His ministry at that time was only to the nation of Israel, not to Gentiles.
More Questions
Why were the disciples so annoyed by the Canaanite woman?
The disciples' irritation makes sense because the woman's crying after them had likely gone on for several days everywhere they went, and they reasoned that she was a Gentile they had nothing to do with.
Why did the disciples ask Jesus to send the Canaanite woman away?
The disciples asked Jesus to send the Canaanite woman away because they saw her as a pest and a nuisance who had been crying after them.
What did the disciples mean when they asked Jesus to send the Canaanite woman away?
The disciples' request to 'Send her away' meant 'Lord, get rid of her,' because they regarded the woman as a pest and a nuisance who had been tagging along after them.
How did Jesus first respond to the Canaanite woman's plea?
Jesus initially answered the Canaanite woman not a word, meaning He ignored her and paid her no mind.