Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 15:25

"But she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me." — Matthew 15:25 (ASV)

The woman knelt before Jesus and cried, as only the mother of an afflicted child could, “Lord, help me!” Jesus made certain that she grasped the historic distinction between Jew and Gentile. Jesus’ short aphorism supposes that the “children” are the people of Israel and the “dogs” are Gentiles. His concern is one of precedence: the children get fed first.