In their effort to blaspheme the Word of God, some Muslims have actually resorted to calling Jesus a racist, bigot, etc. based on this verse:
Mat 15:26
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs.This section of scripture begins with Jesus traveling with His disciples when they are approached by a Canaanite woman with an appeal:
Mat 15:22
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. Jesus didn't answer her and His disciples then said:
Mat 15:23
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. Jesus' answer to her in setting up this lesson:
Mat 15:24
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.So we see two groups. Israelites and non, as in the case of the Canaanite woman. Those at the table and those not at the table, as far as the disciples could see.
Her reply:
Mat 15:25
Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. Then Jesus further sets up the point He wants to make to His disciples:
Mat 15:26
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs. (passage continued after this word study for "dogs")
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The reason some Muslims wheels spin off at the word "dogs" is that the hadith records that there were few things that Mohammed hated more than non-working, or pet, dogs. In "modern" day Saudi Arabia for example, they
killed and banned all the dogs. Since Muslims are driven by superstition to a considerable extent, when some Muslims see the word dog, they naturally have a "
Niagra Falls" type of reaction.
But let's consider the Greek term translated as "dogs" in this particular verse:
[it] to
dogsNew Testament Greek Definition:
2952
kunarion {koo-nar'-ee-on}
from a presumed derivative of 2965; TDNT - 3:1104,494; n n
AV - dog 4; 4
1)
a little dog The Greek word "kunarion" is a specific reference to "little" dogs - the kind of pet, or house, dogs that might be hanging around a dining table.
Compare that term "kunarion" for dog with the term for dog "kuon" used in the following verse:
2 Peter 2:22
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.The dog
New Testament Greek Definition:
2965
kuon {koo'-ohn}
a root word; TDNT - 3:1101,; n m
AV - dog 5; 5
1)
a dog2)
metaph. a man of impure mind, an impudent man That is just how some blaspheming Muslims describe Jesus' intent in our subject verse. If the Greek word kuon were used it would have created a different sense in the verse.
Yet their Greek sophist styled liars like Ahmed Deedat, and Naik continue, perfectly within the spirit of antichrist, to deceive their poor, deluded, bible-ignorant followers. (However Greek sophists didn't resort to lies when they entertained their adoring minions.)
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So returning to our passage, regarding the two groups in this section of scripture - those at the table, and those not at the table - the woman replied as Jesus knew she would:
Mat 15:27
And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Mat 15:28
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Jesus brought her daughter back from the dead. Once again we learn that it isn't about whether we are Jew, or Gentile, Canaanite or Israelite, but about faith. This is the lesson Jesus was teaching His disciples, over which so many Muslims create such extreme, yet for them so naturally casual, blasphemy.
