Mark 7.25-29
“…a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. ‘First let the children eat all they want,’ he told her, ‘for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the little dogs.’ ‘Lord,’ she replied, ‘even the little dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he told her, ‘For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.’”
In the 1st century, many Jews often referred to Gentiles as “dogs” in a very derogatory way. To the Greeks, the word dog meant a “shameless and audacious woman.” The term was used exactly the same way that the worldly use a word meaning “female dog” in the modern era. To the Jews it was equally a term of contempt.
Jesus did not use the normal word for “dogs” that the Jews used. Instead He softened it into little dogs (v.27) essentially reminding the woman of her place as a Gentile, yet not wanting to push her away.
“In Greek, diminutives are characteristically affectionate. A diminutive is a suffix which is added to a word to show affection or to indicate that something is small. For example, ‘-ie’ and ‘-ette’ are diminutives,” – (Clarke)
Today it would be like changing the word “dog” to “doggie.”
He softened a derogatory term so that she would understand what He was trying to say and not push her away.
Jesus took the sting out of His words.
Notice how she responds with acceptance. She refers to herself by using the same word “little dog.”
If the woman had responded, “Who are you calling a dog?” she would not have received from Jesus what her daughter needed.
- Her humble,
- faith-filled submission to Jesus brought the victory.
Nothing appealed to our Lord more than faith combined with humility.
Heb. 12:14
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
If Jesus could avoid conflict— He did.
Ex: I Peter 2.23
“who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously”
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