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.
Les explains that when the Canaanite woman first cried out, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David, my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil," the Lord Jesus answered her not a word. Les says this implies He ignored her and didn't pay her any mind, because she was a Gentile and He had a ministry only to the nation of Israel. His disciples then begged Him to send her away, saying she cried after them; this had likely gone on for several days, and they were out of sorts, saying they had nothing to do with her. Jesus then told the twelve, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel," meaning He had no ministry except to the Jew, as He had said in Matthew 10.
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
More Questions
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.
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.