Did Jesus call the Gentiles "dogs"?

[Thorns]

Because it is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs

The person is possessed and is in need of help by Jesus and He is hesitant because she is not Jewish. How do this make sense with His desire to help and love all?

 

[Achilles6129]

The person is possessed and is in need of help by Jesus and He is hesitant because she is not Jewish. How do this make sense with His desire to help and love all?

Perhaps the Christ you’re thinking of and the Christ of Scripture are two different beings?

 

[TimothyH]

Keep in mind that even though he refers to non-Jews as dogs he goes on to grant the Gentile woman’s request because of her faith.

Also keep in mind that Jesus feeds four thousand Gentiles with miraculous bread a few verses later.

-Tim-

 

[fhansen]

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
(Matthew 15:21-28 RSV-CE)

Was Jesus here calling the Canaanite woman or Gentiles in general dogs? Was He insulting them? I never have understood this passage. It almost seems like He was insulting Gentiles by calling them dogs but I don’t think Jesus would have done such a thing. Please help.

Yes, but as it turns out, it appears He was a dog-lover.

 

[Jerurussia]

Well…The Canaanites in Moses’ time were, by his order, to be avoided. So Moses says, “Avoid the Canaanites.” This is good advice, because per my physical anthropology class, the next dictum from Moses is what to do with venereal disease symptoms. The Canaanites were “dogs” in the respect of openly having sexual relations of any and all kids so much so that the sacred prostitute Rahab the Harlot, (in Jesus’ lineage) was grossed out by her Canaanite people. Oy vey! So they were slated for extermination by God and this is because their sexual indulgence was a very good recruiting technique, with the Chosen People losing fidelity because of this temptation. So Christ wasn’t impressed in fostering another Canaanite tart, but certainly honored the uprightness of this lady who, like Rahab, let love rule her life in her humility towards Messiah.