John Calvin 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)

It is not fitting. Christ’s reply is harsher than ever, and one would think that he intended by it to cut off all hope. For not only does he declare that all the grace which he has received from the Father belongs to the Jews, and must be bestowed on them, otherwise they will be defrauded of their just rights; but he disdainfully compares the woman herself to a dog, thus implying that she is unworthy of being a participant of his grace.

To make the meaning plain to us, it must be understood that the name the children’s bread is here given, not to the gifts of God of whatever description, but only to those which were bestowed in a special manner on Abraham and his posterity. For since the beginning of the world, the goodness of God was everywhere diffused—indeed, filled heaven and earth—so that all people felt that God was their Father. But as the children of Abraham had been more highly honored than the rest of mankind, the children’s bread is a name given to everything that relates uniquely to the adoption by which the Jews alone were elected to be children.

The light of the sun, the breath of life, and the productions of the soil, were enjoyed by the Gentiles equally with the Jews; but the blessing which was to be expected in Christ resided exclusively in the family of Abraham. To disclose without distinction that which God had conferred as a unique privilege on a single nation was nothing short of setting aside the covenant of God; for in this way the Jews, who ought to have the preference, were placed on a level with the Gentiles.

And to throw it to the dogs. By using the word throw, Christ suggests that what is taken from the Church of God and given to Gentiles is not properly given. But this must be restricted to that time when it was in Judea only that people called on God. For, since the Gentiles were admitted to share in the same salvation—which took place when Christ spread everywhere the light of his Gospel—the distinction was removed, and those who were formerly dogs are now counted among the children.

The pride of the flesh must be humbled when we learn that by nature we are dogs. At first, no doubt, human nature, in which the image of God brightly shone, occupied so high a station that this insulting term did not apply to all nations, and even to kings, on whom God confers the honor of bearing his name.⁴¹⁸

But the treachery and revolt of Adam made it fitting that the Lord should send to the stable, along with dogs, those who through the guilt of our first parent became bastards; especially when a comparison is made between the Jews, who were exempted from the common lot, and the Gentiles, who were banished from the kingdom of God.

Christ’s meaning is more fully revealed by Mark, who gives these words, Allow the children first to be satisfied. He tells the woman of Canaan that she acts presumptuously in proceeding—as it were, in the midst of the supper—to seize on what was on the table.⁴¹⁹ His chief design was to test the woman’s faith; but he also pointed out the dreadful vengeance that would overtake the Jews, who rejected an inestimable benefit which was freely offered to them, and which they refused to those who sought it with warmth and earnestness.

⁴¹⁸ This is probably an allusion to Psalm 82:6, , I have said,, Ye are gods; and all of you are CHILDREN OF THE MOST CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH. — . — Ed.

⁴¹⁹ “De vouloir ainsi mettre la main sur la table des enfans, au milieu de souper;” — “in wishing thus to put her hand to the ;” — “in wishing thus to put her hand to the children’s table in the midst of the supper.”table in the midst of the supper.”