Q: In Matthew 15:24, Jesus tells a foreign woman, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. So, should the gospel be preached only to Israelites, as this verse says, or to all nations as other passages say?
A: During Jesus ministry before His death, His work was mainly to the Jews, and not only was the message limited in its target-audience but several things which the Gospel-writers tell about, Jesus forbade to be spoken of at that time -- the Transfiguration, for instance. Afterwards, the situation was different, and Gentiles were allowed access into Christs community directly, without joining the Jewish nation first (though it took a while for the early Christians to catch on to this). A simple consideration of the context involved in these verses should be sufficient to clear up this question completely. (Cf. the comments on Matthew 10:5-6.)
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
A: During Jesus ministry before His death, His work was mainly to the Jews, and not only was the message limited in its target-audience but several things which the Gospel-writers tell about, Jesus forbade to be spoken of at that time -- the Transfiguration, for instance. Afterwards, the situation was different, and Gentiles were allowed access into Christs community directly, without joining the Jewish nation first (though it took a while for the early Christians to catch on to this). A simple consideration of the context involved in these verses should be sufficient to clear up this question completely. (Cf. the comments on Matthew 10:5-6.)
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
