BibleGateway.com Passage?Lookup: Matthew 15:21-28

i can't believe how inept i was not to discover what is more or less, the meaning of the parable in matthew 15:21-28 for 21 years, until just a few minutes ago...

i'll admit i was always thrown off by the part about jesus talking about not being right to throw bread to the dogs, where the canaanite woman responded that the dogs would eat the crumbs that fell anyways, and jesus responding that she had great faith.

now i understand; that's why jesus had said in verse 24 to the disciples that he was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel; the bread was meant for the children. he had responded to her in a symbolic picture of himself, and the canaanite woman, unlike the jewish crowds who would constantly go "huh?" about his parables, caught on and answered in the same way back.

that brings up a question though; why would jesus commend the woman's answer for being of great faith? does this mean that the dogs eat the crumbs, miniscule as they are, because they believe even the smallest of bread crumbs will fully nourish them? and does THIS show great faith? does it mean that the dogs eat the crumbs, in the hopes that they'll soon receive the FULL piece of bread for eating the crumbs? and THAT's their great act of faith? does it mean that the dogs sit under the table, in the hope that anything reminiscent of a bread, even crumbs, which are considered to be TINY, will come down? and is THAT the great act of faith?

apparently, in the book of matthew, jesus might've mentioned him being the bread that came from heaven, but maybe matthew was not around to hear it; however, he might've alluded to it in this passage. why else would he mention it not being right to take bread and toss it to the dogs?

man, this passage is STILL deep... there's layers of meaning behind verses 26-28... it's gonna be on my mind for a while...

(if i'm not fretting about my future, that is)