Difference between revisions of "Category:Canaanite Woman (subject)"
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
The gift of eschatological forgiveness was intended by Jesus and his first followers as a special gift reserved exclusively or primarily for the sinners among the children of Israel: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt 10:5–6). The inclusion of a few gentiles was seen as a possible exception to the rule without denying that the gift was offered to the “children,” as in the story of the meeting of Jesus with the Syrophoenician woman: “[Jesus] said to her, ‘Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ But she answered him, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs’” (Mark 7:27–28; Matt 15:21–28). Matthew in particular finds the faith of the woman truly admirable (“Woman, great is your faith!,” Matt 15:28), but not before repeating that this remained only an exception (“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” Matt 15:24). Such an explicit exclusion of the gentiles from the special gift of forgiveness did not preclude the presence of “righteous among the nations” in the world to come, since the last judgment will take place “according to each one’s deeds”; but certainly it sounded odd in an environment, like that of Luke, where a large number (if not the majority) of the baptized were now gentiles, and in fact Luke would entirely omit the narrative. | |||
By the time the Didache was written, the text was reinterpreted in a completely different way. The words of Jesus were now applied not to gentiles but to those who are not (yet) baptized. | |||
==The Canaanite Woman in ancient sources== | ==The Canaanite Woman in ancient sources== | ||
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"Let no one eat or drink of the Eucharist except those who have been baptized into the name of the Lord, for the Lord has also spoken concerning this: “Do not give what is holy to dogs.”'' | "Let no one eat or drink of the Eucharist except those who have been baptized into the name of the Lord, for the Lord has also spoken concerning this: “Do not give what is holy to dogs.”'' | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 12:18, 8 October 2020
The Canaanite Woman was one of the Miracles of Jesus, according to the Gospels of Mark (7:24–30), and Matthew (15:21-28).
Overview
The gift of eschatological forgiveness was intended by Jesus and his first followers as a special gift reserved exclusively or primarily for the sinners among the children of Israel: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt 10:5–6). The inclusion of a few gentiles was seen as a possible exception to the rule without denying that the gift was offered to the “children,” as in the story of the meeting of Jesus with the Syrophoenician woman: “[Jesus] said to her, ‘Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ But she answered him, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs’” (Mark 7:27–28; Matt 15:21–28). Matthew in particular finds the faith of the woman truly admirable (“Woman, great is your faith!,” Matt 15:28), but not before repeating that this remained only an exception (“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” Matt 15:24). Such an explicit exclusion of the gentiles from the special gift of forgiveness did not preclude the presence of “righteous among the nations” in the world to come, since the last judgment will take place “according to each one’s deeds”; but certainly it sounded odd in an environment, like that of Luke, where a large number (if not the majority) of the baptized were now gentiles, and in fact Luke would entirely omit the narrative.
By the time the Didache was written, the text was reinterpreted in a completely different way. The words of Jesus were now applied not to gentiles but to those who are not (yet) baptized.
The Canaanite Woman in ancient sources
Gospel of Mark
Mark 7:24–30 (NRSV) -- 24 From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, 25 but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 He said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 28 But she answered him, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 Then he said to her, "For saying that, you may go--the demon has left your daughter." 30 So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
Gospel of Matthew
Matthew 15:21-28 (NRSV) -- 21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." 23 But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 27 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.
Cf. Didache
"Let no one eat or drink of the Eucharist except those who have been baptized into the name of the Lord, for the Lord has also spoken concerning this: “Do not give what is holy to dogs.”
External links
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