Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 15:21

"And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon." — Matthew 15:21 (ASV)

Into the region of Tyre and Sidon —Mark 7:31 says (according to the best manuscripts) that our Lord passed “through Sidon” after the miracle. This marks the one recorded exception to the self-imposed rule of His ministry, which kept Him within the borders of the land of Israel. To the disciples, it might have seemed that He was simply withdrawing from conflict with the intense hostility of His Pharisee opponents.

We may see a connection between these two acts, not unlike the one that later connected Peter's vision at Joppa with his entry into the house of Cornelius at Caesarea. He was showing by His actions, as He had before with His words (Matthew 11:21), that He regarded Tyre and Sidon as standing on the same level as Chorazin and Bethsaida. The dust of the heathen cities was no more defiling than that of Capernaum.

The journey from Capernaum to Tyre was one that could be made in a single long day of active walking.