What did Jesus mean when He said He was only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel?
Jesus meant His ministry was confined to the nation of Israel, not the Gentiles. He had no ministry except to the Jew, so He ignored the Canaanite woman and said He was sent only to Israel's lost sheep, repeating what He had said in Matthew 10.
Les explains that when the Canaanite woman cried after Jesus, He answered her not a word. The reason is she was a Gentile, and Jesus had a ministry only to the nation of Israel. The disciples wanted Him to send her away, but He told the twelve, "I am not sent, but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." In plain English, Les says, Jesus was saying He did not have a ministry except to the Jew. This was the same restriction He stated in Matthew 10 and now says again.
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
More Questions
Why did Jesus send His disciples only to Israel and not to the Gentiles?
The reason Jesus limited the mission to Israel is that all the way back from Abraham's covenant, God has been dealing only with His covenant people, Israel.
What do people say when they hear that Jesus only came to the nation of Israel?
People objected to Les's teaching that Jesus came only to Israel, insisting that Jesus came to the whole world, and he answers the objection by pointing to how plainly Matthew 10:5-6 says otherwise.
Who did Jesus say He was sent to?
Jesus said plainly that He was not sent to anyone except the lost sheep of the house of Israel.