Tongue-In-Cheek Subversiveness.
| Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet He could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about Him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at His feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. "First let the children eat all they want," He told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Then He told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. (Mark7:24-30) |
Jews considered themselves "the chosen people of God". Samaritans and Jews hated each other, the Romans persecuted everyone and surrounding nations cheered when Jerusalem was destroyed.
Some people interpret this passage as a moment where Jesus' mind was changed. They suggest that Jesus was a product of the racism and classism of the time, and that the woman's persistence and clever answer changed His mind.
But there are problems with this interpretation:
- Did Jesus truly view her as less important?
However, this contradicts His other actions:
- He healed Centurion's servant and a Samaritan leper
- He opened heaven to the thief on the cross who technically speaking was cursed by God. - Did Jesus actually classify her as a dog?
- But He told the story of the Good Samaritan
- and happily let Andrew introduce Him to Greek seekers. (Joh12:21)
- This is also not consistent with the mandate given to the Jews to be a light to the nations - Was His heart really that cold in the face of a child's need when we see Him going all the way to Jairus' house to raise a child from the dead and made pronouncements like "let the little children come to me?"
It's likely that the Jews had a similar saying, akin to our own "Charity starts at home."
It's possible that the Jews said: "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs."
But Jesus' answer to her is enigmatic and mischievous because He uses a diminutive form for the word "dog". The word can be translated as "housedogs", "lapdogs" or "doggies."
By using the dimuntive term, Jesus might very well be emphasizing that even dogs, often seen as inferior or unclean, are brought into homes and become "doggies" and "lapdogs" valued and cared for by their masters. This could be a subtle way of highlighting the inherent worth and dignity of all creatures, including the Gentiles. In this way, Jesus' statement breaks down the hierarchical, class and race barriers people create.
And the woman seems to get it... because her answer is clever and subversive, giving Jesus a way to help her "legitimately".
There is a distinct playfulness about this encounter that subverts the classism and racism of the day.
Jesus gives her much more than crumbs and He commends her subversive faith because she sees God more clearly than Judaism does.
