Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 15:23

"But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us." — Matthew 15:23 (ASV)

Matthew’s Jewish readers would be intensely interested in Jesus’ doing a miracle to aid a Gentile, on Gentile territory. Jesus’ silence does not quiet the woman; so his disciples beg him to stop her persistent cries, probably by meeting her request. Indeed only this interpretation makes sense, because v.24 gives a reason for Jesus’ not helping her rather than for not sending her away.

Jesus’ answer echoes 10:6, where the same language is used . The phrase “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” means “the lost sheep who are the house of Israel”—i.e., all Israel, regarded as lost sheep. It appears, then, that Jesus wanted his disciples and the Canaanite woman to recognize that he was limiting his activities during his life on earth. The kingdom must first be offered to Jews.