Yes — Jesus used 'dogs' to describe Gentiles, but the statement was about His mission to Israel, not an insult from a bigoted heart.
In Matthew 15, a Canaanite woman asks Jesus for help. Jesus first ignores her, then says He is sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and then explains that it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to dogs. Les Feldick emphasizes that Jesus knew exactly what He was doing: His ministry at that time belonged to Israel, the children, and the Gentile woman was not yet included in those covenant blessings.
Matthew 15:26 — Jesus directly uses the 'children' and 'dogs' contrast, which is the passage in question.
Matthew 10:5-6 — Jesus commanded the twelve not to go to the Gentiles, establishing that His earthly ministry was for Israel.
Matthew 15:27 — The woman's answer shows she understood that even a Gentile could receive 'crumbs' from Israel's table.
In Matthew 15:21-22, a Canaanite woman came out of the same coasts and cried to Jesus, 'Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David.' Jesus answered her not a word (Matthew 15:23). His disciples asked Him to send her away because she kept crying after them. When He did speak, Jesus first said, 'I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel' (Matthew 15:24). Then He said, 'It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs' (Matthew 15:26). The woman agreed, saying, 'Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table' (Matthew 15:27). Earlier, Jesus had sent out the twelve with the instruction, 'Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel' (Matthew 10:5-6). Paul later reminded the Ephesians that during that former time they were 'aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise' (Ephesians 2:12).
Les Feldick repeatedly stresses that Jesus was not being bigoted when He used the word 'dogs.' In Clip 0, Les says Jesus knew what He was doing far more than most theologians today. In Clip 2, Les says Jesus fully understood, had a heart for the Gentiles, but it was not time — He had come to fulfill the promises made to Abraham. Les also gives the cultural background: Jews referred to Gentiles as uncircumcised and, in plain vernacular, called them dogs (Clip 3). During the Old Testament period, God dealt primarily with His covenant people Israel, with only exceptions like Jonah, Rahab, and Naaman (Clip 3). Ephesians 2:12 describes that position: Gentiles were aliens and strangers to the covenants of promise. The woman's plea showed her response to this arrangement. In Clip 1, Les points out that she said, 'Don't the dogs eat the crumbs from the master's table?' The 'dogs' language is not God's permanent verdict on Gentiles. In Clip 1, Les notes that God's intent was for Israel, as a kingdom of priests, to evangelize the Gentiles. In Clip 5, he says believing Gentiles today are feasting off what God promised Abraham. In Clip 6, he cites Romans 10:12: there is no difference between Jew and Greek; the same Lord over all is rich to all who call on Him. Les also ties the 'lost sheep' language to Israel as the sheep of God's pasture, noting that Psalm 23 in its original setting concerned the Lord's dealing with His covenant nation (Clip 7).
In the Jewish culture of Jesus' day, Gentiles were dismissed as uncircumcised and, as Les puts it, 'in plain vernacular they also called them dogs' (Clip 3). In the Matthew 15 account, Jesus uses the same household picture: Israel is the family of children at the table, and the Gentiles are like dogs waiting for what falls. Les stresses that Jesus was not being bigoted; He was acting in line with His mission to the lost sheep of Israel and the promises to Abraham (Clip 2).
The woman accepted the illustration instead of rejecting it. In Clip 1, Les says she implied, 'The Jews were in the place of privilege. They had the Word of God, but couldn't she have a couple of crumbs?' Her reply — that even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table (Matthew 15:27) — acknowledges that Israel's place was not being taken away; she was only asking for what a Gentile could receive. Clip 4 notes that she approached Jesus as 'Lord, thou Son of David' and that the disciples were aware of Jesus' earlier command not to have dealings with Gentiles.
No. Les teaches from Isaiah that God's intent was for Israel to act as a kingdom of priests toward the Gentiles (Clip 1). The Jews took their privilege to an extreme — in Acts, when Paul spoke of Gentiles, a riot broke out (Clip 1). But after the Gospel went to the Gentiles, as Romans 10:12 says, there is no difference between Jew and Greek — the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him (Clip 6). Les also says modern Gentile believers are not Jews; they are merely feasting off of what God promised Abraham (Clip 5).
In Clip 4, Les points out that the disciples had heard Jesus' command in Matthew 10: 'Go not into the way of the Gentiles.' They were under God's control, not bigoted Jews, when they asked Jesus to send her away. In Clip 7, Les says the 'lost sheep of the house of Israel' language goes back to the Old Testament picture of Israel as the sheep of God's pasture.
Jesus Was Not Bigoted
Les shows that Jesus deliberately ignored the Canaanite woman at first, not out of bigotry, but because He knew exactly what His ministry was supposed to be at that time.
The Woman's 'Crumbs' Reply
Les focuses on the woman's reply that even dogs eat crumbs from the master's table, showing she understood Israel's place of privilege while asking for a Gentile's crumb of mercy. Les also connects this to God's purpose that Israel would evangelize the Gentiles.
The Same Reason as Matthew 10
Les says Jesus fully understood, had a heart for the Gentiles, but it was not time. He had come to fulfill the promises to Abraham, and that is why He commanded the twelve to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Jews Called Gentiles 'Dogs'
Les gives the cultural background that Jews referred to Gentiles as uncircumcised and also called them dogs, and he places this in the period when God was dealing only with His covenant people, with exceptions.
The Woman's Approach to Jesus
Les notes that the woman came to Jesus as 'Lord, thou Son of David' and that the disciples were aware of Jesus' earlier command not to have dealings with Gentiles.
Gentiles Feasting on Abraham's Promises
Les applies the picture to today: believing Gentiles are not Jews but are feasting on the blessings promised to Abraham, with the same opportunity for salvation Israel had.
No Difference Between Jew and Greek
Les, with Romans 10:12, shows that after the Gospel went to the Gentiles, the same Lord over all is rich to all who call on Him — there is no longer a Jewish/Gentile distinction in salvation.
Israel as the Sheep
Les ties Jesus' words about the 'lost sheep of Israel' to the Old Testament picture of Israel as the sheep of God's pasture, including the original setting of Psalm 23.
Matthew 10:5-6: These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
This command sets the context for why Jesus' earthly ministry avoided Gentiles and focused on Israel.
Matthew 15:22: And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
This introduces the Canaanite woman and shows that she approached Jesus using a Jewish royal title.
Matthew 15:23: But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Jesus' silence and the disciples' request show that the woman's plea was not immediately granted.
Matthew 15:24: But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Jesus states plainly that His earthly mission was directed to Israel.
Matthew 15:26: But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
This is the key verse where Jesus calls Gentiles 'dogs' while referring to Israel as the children.
Matthew 15:27: And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
The woman accepts the children/dogs illustration and asks for a crumb of mercy.
Ephesians 2:12: That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
This verse explains the position of Gentiles during the time when God was dealing primarily with Israel.
Romans 10:12: For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
This shows that after the Gospel went to the Gentiles, the Jewish/Gentile distinction in salvation was removed.
No. Les says Jesus fully understood what He was doing and had a heart for the Gentiles, but it was not yet time to go to them. Jesus was fulfilling the promises made to Abraham and honoring the terms of His first coming.
Jesus was using a Jewish cultural expression to show the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles at that moment. Les explains that Jews referred to Gentiles as 'dogs,' and Jesus used that same picture: Israel was the children at the table, and the Gentiles were outside.
No. Les teaches that God had always intended Israel to be a kingdom of priests to bring the Gentiles to God. After the Gospel began going to Gentiles, Paul could say there is no difference between Jew and Greek — the same Lord over all is rich to all who call on Him.
Watch the Teaching: Why Jesus Told His Disciples: Don't Go to Gentiles