The disciples don’t learn easily… After yesterday’s adventure with the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus takes them on a 2-day walk north.

Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. (Matthew 15.21, NLT)

There they encounter a woman who begs Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus doesn’t respond right away, but the disciples do!

And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”

The disciples could have begged Jesus to take care of her, but they didn’t. Then follows the curious exchange with the woman about taking the children’s bread and giving it to dogs. She answers wisely, and the Lord grants her request. (See Matthew 15.21 – 28.) Then they return to Galilee.

Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. (Matthew 15.29, ESV)

What’s going on here? The story doesn’t make sense UNLESS you remember that Jesus is always training the disciples. Remember, a 2-day walk north to help one woman, a Gentile, and a 2-day walk back. What do you think they discussed on the way back?

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9.36, ESV)

[Peter said to Cornelius the Centurion, ] “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. (Acts 10.28, ESV)