What I’m about to say will probably offend some, but it’s truth. If you lived during the time of Jesus Christ ministry and you were to try to speak with Him, and you were not a Jew, He would probably not even answered you. WHAT??? You might be thinking. “Jesus would never do that, He loves us,” might be your reasoning. Jesus does love. But during His time on earth His ministry was to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (the Jews).

Go to Matthew 15:22-28 and read about the woman of Canaan that shouted at Jesus Christ to have mercy on her and to cure her daughter who was vexed with a devil. At this point and reading that passage you might think Jesus responded to her needs immediately. But, Jesus did not even say a word to her. In fact, Jesus only answered and addressed His disciples not her by reiterating that He was “not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Meaning, He was only there to seek and to save the lost Jews.

However, continuing on with the passage in Matthew 15:25, the woman saw that Jesus was not responding and she still sought after Him and worshipped Him, and said “help me.” Talk about persistent, this woman was that indeed. This time Jesus indirectly answers her, mostly addressing the disciples, by saying, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.” Did you get that? Jesus referenced her to a dog. What? Yes. I know this really messes with people’s perception they create in their mind but Jesus Christ was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, Jews, first. But as we read and learn later on the Jews did not receive Him and Gentiles would then be the people to be reached for salvation (“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” John 1:11).

Back to the woman of Canaan that spoke at Jesus. In verse 27 of the text, if you read after “and to cast it to dogs”, which many today would be offended by, she answered the Lord and said, “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

Something changed after she said that, this time Jesus answered her directly. But why did He answer her directly? Because of her faith. “Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” (Matthew 15:28)

If you flip over in Hebrews 11:6, you read that it is impossible to please God without faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Even though Jesus Christ’s ministry was to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, the Jews, He responded because of faith. However, if you notice in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Jesus responds to those outside of the “house of Israel” only around other Jews. But Jesus Christ responds to people’s faith. That will get a response from Jesus Christ. However, the context of Jesus’ ministry was to the Jews and that’s why it’s important to place His teaching in it’s proper context to get spiritual guidance and not our, Gentile if you’re lost, doctrine to be saved today.

Why is this important to take note of in the book of Matthew? Because it showcases the importance of rightly dividing the word of truth. Once you see who Jesus Christ was talking with and it’s context during the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, you can understand why Paul was presented the mystery of Christ, which was not known by ANYONE before but only Paul. And the other books following the Gospels make so much more sense and it points to the dispensation of the grace of God. That’s why you can’t just pick and choose scriptures, especially in the Gospels, and make them apply for YOU today, at least not doctrinally, spiritually yes, but not doctrinally.

Because the Jews did not receive Jesus Christ as their Messiah, this mystery of Christ was made known by revelation to Paul that the Gentiles, those that are not Jews, can be included and saved and be fellowheirs. (Ephesians 3:3)

Don’t you see it? It is only because the Jews rejected Jesus Christ is why we have hope today. But this hope is offered freely through the grace of God. We have been engrafted in to be included with the Jews. Now both Jews and Gentiles can be saved. (Romans 11)

If you can get your mind around the ministry of Jesus Christ while He was on earth, you can see what the Apostle Paul was talking about in his writings in the bible. It will allow you to put in place what the scriptures are saying in their proper context. One of the main reasons so many are messed up doctrinally is because they keep jumping from Paul’s writings and over to the Gospels and try make it “fit.” It does not fit and once you understand this the bible becomes much more easy to understand because it not only makes sense, but it is being rightly divided.

If the woman of Canaan had allowed what Jesus Christ referenced her as, which was a dog, as a means to be offended and walked away, she would not have received the blessing of having her daughter healed. How often do we get truth spoken our way and we get mad and justify our situation because we were offended?

Sometimes, the truth can and will offend you. We shouldn’t be offended in anything though (“Great peace have they which love thy law: And nothing shall offend them.” – Psalm 119:165). I hope you stay with it to receive the truth even if you have been offended in life.

Here is truth, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16

See how a distinction is made in Romans 1:16 between the Jews and the Greek (Gentiles)? Notice how it says “to the Jew first” and then also includes “the Greek” (Gentile)? It’s because NOW the gospel of Christ, which is that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and arose the third day, is presented to ALL and can be obtained FREELY to every one that believeth.

What was initially for the Jews during the ministry of Jesus Christ is now made available to ALL freely because the Jews rejected Him.

If anyone had the “right” to be offended it was Jesus Christ Himself because His people did not even receive Him. But for the glory of God, He proceeded on so that we could have the blessing of salvation to ALL.

I wander how many times in our lives that there has been blessings waiting for us but we got mad at truth and got our feelings hurt. I found this passage of the woman of Canaan profound because there is a lesson to us all about how to deal with being offended. May we all respond like this woman did with so great of faith and her persistent measures to make sure she was heard by Jesus Christ.

Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for including us in salvation. Thank you for grace and truth.

Take care,
-Brent

Matthew 15:22-28

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.

23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

The circumcision (or Jews) were once justified by faith (read Hebrews 11..by faith, by faith…etc.). The uncircumcision (Gentiles, you when you were unsaved) are justified through faith. It’s how we are justified now, in this age/era.

Ok, why is that important, you ask?

It’s because we are justified by placing our trust (or our faith) in the faith of Jesus Christ. By grace are ye save through faith (Ep 2:8). Whose faith, through our faith in Jesus Christ faith. We believe what He did for us and that He is our sin payment. We trust in Jesus Christ because He was/is faithful in all things and finished the work on the cross.

We believe the gospel of Jesus Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection for our sin payment.

He ALONE. Don’t you see it? It is through Jesus Christ faith that we can be saved. That is why Romans 3:30 makes a clear distinction between “by faith” and “through faith” for the justification.

This simple concept is why many will miss heaven because of their pride thinking they should do works to get to heaven.

You didn’t deserve heaven and you will never deserve heaven apart from the “imputed” righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Why am I so adamant about salvation is in no other name/thing/work than Jesus Christ? It’s because, it’s true. You are saved by GRACE. YOU DID NOT DESERVE IT.

If you are going to heaven, it’s not your faith plus works. You will go to the lake of fire thinking that. Or if you got saved and now teach that, you are going to send many people there with your heresy teaching.

The grace of God is for this age. We don’t have to do works to make it to heaven. If you rightly divide the word of Truth, you can easily see this. But that is what happens when you become your own authority.

Read Romans 3:24-30, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:….”

Many people use James 2 as their scripture to say faith is not enough. First off, the book of James is to the twelve tribes (Jews) and it has multiple meanings, one teaching during the tribulation and the 2nd is chapter 2 is addressing from a man’s prospective….”yea, a man may say…..” How a man would view. And just having faith is not enough unless you place your faith in Jesus Christ faith of His finished work on the cross. Many people, especially celebrities, like to say I kept my faith and leave it at that. My question is faith in what? The object of your faith is the main point. And we should place our trust in Jesus Christ finished work on the cross. Don’t you see how people twisted the scriptures and use faith and works together to justify themselves because they say, “I trust in Jesus Christ, but I must SHOW works to prove I’m saved.” It’s subtle but it is rampant today.

It is ONLY what Jesus Christ did and done. Eternal life is a gift. Don’t make it something you have to earn. You will miss heaven thinking this. Simply place your trust in the gospel of Jesus Christ in that He died for your sin payment, was buried, and arose the third day.

Anyone can take a scripture and make it sound like something it’s not saying. That’s why you have to see who is being addressed, what the context is, and what does it apply to. It’s called rightly dividing the word of truth, which many don’t do. This is why pastors and others try to use Jesus Christ teachings in Matthew, Mark, and Luke as how to preach the gospel when the gospel for us (Gentiles before being saved) was presented to the Apostle Paul. This gospel, which Paul states is “my gospel” meaning it’s what’s for us today. And that gospel can be found in 1 Cor. 15:1-4, which says that Jesus Christ died for our sin payment, was buried, and arose the third day. That is the gospel. That’s IT. People get so messed up when they try to mix what Jesus Christ was teaching/preaching about the gospel of the kingdom, which was to the JEWS. Not the Gentiles. Most of Jesus Christ teaching/preaching is for spiritual growth for us today. Because He was speaking to the JEWS. Jesus Christ was “preaching the gospel of the kingdom” which is DIFFERENT than what Paul preached. His teaching/preaching is not doctrinal basis of how to be saved today. Until you understand this, you will be confused and twist the scriptures, especially in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Here Jesus is addressing the Jews about the gospel of the kingdom.

“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom….” (Matt 4:23) – Notice the context who Jesus is teaching and preaching to….the Jews.

But thanks be the Lord that this changed and the Gentiles became the object of receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ. You can even see hints of it in Matthew 12:21, with the verse, “And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.” The Pharisees tried to destroy Jesus Christ, but Jesus still tried to warn them (the Jews) to, “…Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 3:2) and “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom….” (Matt 4:23). But there was one problem. The Jews were not receiving Jesus Christ.

Here is Paul stating the gospel of Jesus Christ (which is NOT the same gospel that Jesus was preaching).

How can that be, not the same gospel, you ask? Well, in 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Paul says, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

How can the “gospel of the kingdom” that Jesus preached be the same as what Paul preached? Paul preached that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and arose the third day. How or why would Jesus Christ preach this gospel if He had not already died.

It’s because it’s not the same gospel. Once you understand this, you can rightly divide the word of truth throughout the NT and it becomes much clearer and you can use spiritual discernment better.

This is a major reason I focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ, because LOTS don’t even know the gospel.

This is why it is VITAL to understand there was a switch from going after the Jews to go after both Jews and the Gentiles. And that is precisely what the Apostle Paul was shown in the mystery that was presented him (Ep 3:3). That ALL can be saved, including Gentiles, through the grace of God.

If this distinction is made, you can understand that the Jews required a sign (healing, miracles, etc.). I’m not saying these don’t happen today. I’m just saying that the Jews required a sign and the Greeks (uncircumcised, Gentiles, etc.) seek after wisdom.

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Cor. 1:22-24

Can’t you see it? Salvation is freely given to ALL today but the Jews see preaching Christ crucified as a stumbling block because they are still expecting the Messiah, who they rejected already, ironically. And the rest think the preaching Christ crucified is foolishness. I guess it does look foolish to the world to see someone on a street corner preaching (aka yelling at cars) the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the main reason churches mis-apply scriptures because they don’t rightly divide which is what 2 Timothy 2:15 instructs us to do. First to study and then to “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Lastly, if faith plus works is required to make it to heaven, then the next verse would be false.

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” – Galatians 2:21

Man thinking they need to “help” out God is nothing new really, it’s been happening since Cain and Abel. If you recall God ask for bloodshed and Abel provided what God asked, but Cain thought he would present something beautiful, his works. Which one did God accept? Not Cain’s. The same with salvation today. God will only accept Jesus Christ payment. Not our works.

Let me leave you with one question to answer.

Was Jesus Christ death, burial, and resurrection for your sin payment enough or do you need to help Him out with your works to make it to heaven?

Not answering this question correctly is the difference in understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ verses mixing Jesus Christ with your works.

One is correct. One is incorrect and you will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14) because you will have been judged according to your works. And your works never measured up.

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev 20:13-15)

Take care,
-Brent