Yes — Jesus initially ignored the Gentile woman because His earthly ministry was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
In Matthew 15, when the Canaanite woman cried out to Jesus, He answered her not a word. His silence was not ignorance or prejudice; it was consistent with His commission to Israel under the covenant promises. Les Feldick explains that the Gentiles were not included in those covenants, so at that time she was asking for something outside her position.
Matthew 15:22-23 — Records Jesus' initial silence to the Canaanite woman and the disciples' request to send her away.
Matthew 10:5-6 — Shows Jesus' explicit command to the Twelve to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
In Matthew 15:22-23, a woman of Canaan cried out to Jesus, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." But Jesus answered her not a word. His disciples came and besought Him, saying, "Send her away; for she crieth after us." Earlier, in Matthew 10:5-6, Jesus had commanded the Twelve: "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 reveals that during His earthly ministry, Jesus was sent to Israel, not to the Gentiles.
Les Feldick teaches that Jesus' initial silence to the Canaanite woman was not bigotry or ignorance. Jesus fully understood His mission: He came to fulfill the covenant promises made to Abraham, and His earthly ministry was confined to the nation of Israel. That is why He commanded the Twelve to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Les also points out that the disciples themselves understood this commission. They were not being bigoted Jews; they were under God's control. When the Canaanite woman approached, they said, "Send her away, for she crieth after us," because she was a Gentile outside the covenant promises. Jesus eventually granted the woman's request, but the initial silence demonstrated that what belonged to the children (Israel) was not yet for Gentiles. The time for Gentiles would come later, after Israel was set aside, when Paul was sent to the Gentile world.
Yes. Les Feldick explains that the Twelve were aware of what Jesus told them in Matthew chapter 10: they were to have nothing to do with Gentiles and go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. When the Canaanite woman came crying after them, the disciples urged Jesus to send her away. Les emphasizes that they were not being bigoted Jews; they were under God's control and acting consistently with their commission.
No. Les Feldick states that Jesus fully understood and was not being bigoted. He had a heart for the Gentiles, but it was not time. Jesus had come to fulfill the promises made to Abraham, and those promises concerned Israel. His initial silence to the Canaanite woman was consistent with that purpose. Les also notes that Jesus' earthly ministry was confined to Israel with two exceptions: the Roman centurion and the Canaanite woman — and in her case, He even ignored her at first.
The woman addressed Jesus as "thou Son of David" (Matthew 15:22). While the existing summary notes this title was Jewish in character, Les Feldick does not specifically discuss this point in the provided transcripts. The clips show that Les emphasizes her identity as a Gentile and the fact that the covenant promises belonged to Israel, not the title she used.
Christ's Earthly Ministry Under the Covenant Promises
Les teaches that Matthew is not Christianity or church ground; it is law and Jewish, and Christ came to His own. Until His own received Him not, the ministry operated under covenant promises to Israel.
The Canaanite Woman's Request and the Disciples' Response
Les walks through Matthew 15:22-23 and explains that Jesus did not answer the Canaanite woman, and the disciples asked Him to send her away because she was a Gentile. The Twelve knew Jesus had told them to go only to the lost sheep of Israel.
Why Jesus Ignored Her: It Wasn't Time
Les explains that Jesus was not bigoted and had a heart for Gentiles, but it wasn't time. He had come to fulfill promises made to Abraham, so He commanded the Twelve not to go to Gentiles.
Jesus Confined His Ministry to Israel With Two Exceptions
Les explains that Jesus confined His ministry to Israel during His three years, with only the Roman centurion and the Canaanite woman as exceptions. The Canaanite woman was even initially ignored because she was a Gentile.
The Disciples Called Her a Pest
Les recalls the incident, noting the disciples said 'Send her away, she's a pest' and that Jesus made no comment at first. He finally granted her wish but only after she persisted.
Why Did Israel Reject God? Romans 10:18-21 Explained
And then Paul says in verse 21, But Jesus responded unto me, Depart, get out of Jerusalem, for I will send thee far hence to the Gentiles. Now look at the next verse. They listened to him with rapt silence and attention, until he said the word, Gentile. And then what happened? Oh, at that word, Gentile, they lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth.
Jesus' Command to the Twelve
Les reads Matthew 10:5-6 as clear-cut marching orders: go not into the way of the Gentiles or Samaritans, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. This sets the context for why Jesus ignored the Canaanite woman.
Why the Resurrection Happens in Order — 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
Well He didn't, except the Roman Centurion and the woman of Canaan, and other than that He confined His ministry in that little neck of land between the Jordan and the Mediterranean. Only to the Jews. And He made it so plain to the twelve, Go not into the way of a Gentile, or into the way of a Samaritan, and enter you not. And that was clear cut language.
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.
Introduces the Gentile woman and her plea to Jesus.
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.
Shows Jesus' initial silence and the disciples' reaction.
Matthew 10:5: 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:
Records Jesus' direct command to the Twelve not to go to Gentiles.
Matthew 10:6: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Specifies that Jesus' earthly mission was to Israel.
Jesus ignored her because His earthly ministry was directed to Israel, not the Gentiles. He had been sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and the covenant promises belonged to Israel. Les Feldick explains that Jesus was not being bigoted; the time for the Gentiles had not yet come.
Yes, the disciples were aware of Jesus' commission in Matthew 10:5-6, where He commanded them not to go to Gentiles but to the lost sheep of Israel. Les Feldick says the Twelve were under God's control, not being bigoted, when they asked Jesus to send her away.
Yes, after much begging, Jesus finally condescended to her and granted her request. Les points out that she was one of two exceptions to Jesus' rule of confining His ministry to Israel — the other being the Roman centurion.
Watch the Teaching: Why Jesus Told His Disciples: Don't Go to Gentiles