Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 15:26

"And he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children`s bread and cast it to the dogs." — Matthew 15:26 (ASV)

But he answered and said, It is not meet, that is, it is not fitting or proper.

Children's bread. The Jews considered themselves the special children of God. To all other nations they were accustomed to apply terms of contempt, of which dogs was the most common.

Muslims likewise apply the term dogs to Christians, and Christians and Jews to each other. This term is intended as an expression of the highest contempt.

The Savior meant to say that He was sent to the Jews. The woman was a Gentile. He meant that it did not align with the purpose of His personal ministry to apply benefits intended for the Jews to others.

Our Savior did not intend to justify or sanction the use of such terms, or calling names. He meant to test her faith, as if He had said, "You are a Gentile. I am a Jew. The Jews call themselves children of God. They vilify and abuse you, calling you a dog. Are you willing, then, to receive a favor from a Jew? Are you willing to submit to these labels, to receive a favor from one of that nation, and to acknowledge your dependence on a people that so despises you?"

It was a test of her faith, and not His approval of the appropriateness of the abusive term. He regarded her with a different feeling.