“Jesus answered and said, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and cast it to dogs'” (Matthew 15:26).
Bread (Def): (Gr.): Artos from Airo: Raised Loaf, from the root (Airo): To lift up, take up or away, sail away, to expiate sin
Saint Matthew records the story of the woman of Canaan who
“came out of the coasts, and cried unto Jesus, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David, for my daughter is grievously tormented with a devil’. Jesus answered her not a word. His disciples came and sought Jesus to send her away for she was crying after them. Jesus answered and said, ‘I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the House of Israel’. The woman came and worshipped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me’. Jesus answered, ‘It is not right to take The Children’s Bread and cast it to dogs’. The woman said, ‘Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their master’s table’. Jesus answered her, ‘O woman great is your faith, be it unto you even as you will’. Her daughter was made whole from that very hour” (Matthew 15:22-28).
There is a beauty in the stories in the Scriptures that speak to us of deep workings of the grace of God to all who come to Him by faith. The woman of Canaan was such a woman. Notice how she honors Christ by calling Him, “Lord, Son of David”. This title is very significant, especially from a Gentile woman. “Son of David” is a Messianic title. From where did this woman learn of the Messiah? There was an abundant measure of grace upon her from God for the sake of her demon-possessed daughter. Oh, the mercies of our God.
The Children’s Bread. In His answer to the woman Jesus said, “It is not right to take The Children’s Bread and cast it to dogs”. Within the phrase, The Children’s Bread is an abundance of miraculous benefits springing out of the One who is the very “Bread of Life” (cf. John 6:33, 35, 48, 51), Christ Jesus, our Lord. Out from Christ springs forth miraculous cures, such as deliverance from the demonic. Out from Christ springs forth healings and other miracles, such as Jesus testified to the disciples of John the Baptist when they came to inquire of Him for John:
“Go your way and tell John what things you have seen and heard, how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the Gospel is preached” (Luke 7:22).
Out of the Bread of Life springs forth The Children’s Bread: the forgiveness and expiation of sins, the lifting up and carrying away of burdens of guilt, shame, condemnation, self-loathing, depression, anxiety, fears and torments.
The Psalmist, David, declared:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits. Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:1-5).
There is a dynamic action that takes place in The Children’s Bread. In the casting forth of the Bread there is a casting out of sin, uncleanness, demonic oppressions, disease, sickness and death. There is forgiveness, healing, redemption which brings us out from corruption and into Eternal Life, the “Living Bread from Heaven” (John 6:51). The Children’s Bread is alive because it springs forth from the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35).
Brethren, let us receive this Bread by faith, as the woman of Canaan did and received praise from the Master, when He said, “O woman great is your faith, be it unto you even as you will“. The Children’s Bread was given to the demon possessed Gentile daughter, and it is given to us who need healing, deliverance, redemption and the free gift of salvation that comes through Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, the Bread of Life.
“I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven. If any man eat of this Bread, he shall live forever, and the Bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).
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