Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 15:24

"But he answered and said, I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." — Matthew 15:24 (ASV)

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

Christ's personal ministry was confined to the Jews. He came as a Savior to redeem all mankind, but as a preacher he was a minister to the circumcision, and he came to speak only to Israel.

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

Christ did what he was sent to do; he was the Messiah, the sent One. He would not go beyond his mission, so he says, I am sent.

He was sent as a Preacher and a Teacher, not to the Gentiles, but to Israel. He had a larger commission in reserve, and was yet to be a Saviour to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews; but for the present he was to be a Shepherd to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

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

"My ministerial commission is only to the Jews." As a Saviour, he comes to save sinners, out of all nations; but as the Messiah, his special mission was to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

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

My mission as a prophet is to Israel, not to the Gentiles just now.

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

"Therefore, I cannot attend to her."

When Jesus did speak, it was not to her, but to His disciples. She heard the word and felt it to be a side blow which struck heavily at her hopes. She was not of “the house of Israel.” She acknowledged that she could not number herself among the sheep. He was not sent to her. How could He go beyond His mission? It would have been small wonder if she had withdrawn in despair. On the contrary, she redoubled her pleading.

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

As a Preacher and a Teacher, Christ came to administer to the circumcision, the Jews, the seed of Israel. He did not go about among the nations; it was his work to be a witness to the Jews. As a Preacher, he must begin somewhere, and he chose to begin with them. I am not sent, said he; therefore, how could he go if he was not sent? Our Saviour had a greater regard to the sending of the Father than some preachers have, for they run before they are sent; sometimes they run when they are never sent at all; but, as Paul asked, How shall they preach, except they be sent?