Were there any exceptions to Jesus limiting His ministry to Israel?
Yes, there were two exceptions to Jesus limiting His earthly ministry to Israel. One is in Matthew 15, when Jesus departed into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, on the Mediterranean sea coast, the area now known as Lebanon. That is one exception shown.
Les explains that Christ's earthly ministry was confined to His earthly people, Israel, because He came to the nation of Israel in the earthly promises of the covenant made with Abraham, and the later covenants under that Abrahamic covenant were the Davidic, Mosaic, and Palestinian covenants, referring to the land of Palestine. In Matthew 10, after calling the twelve disciples or apostles, Jesus commanded them not to go into the way of the Gentiles or into any city of the Samaritans, but rather to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Les says there were only two exceptions. One is 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 notes that many know the account but may not understand its ramification.