Christ teaching and not teaching

[askandanswer]

Why did Christ teach in Matthew 15: 22 – 24 that He was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel but in John 4: 7 – 30 He taught a woman of Samaria? 

[Laniston]

This is an excerpt from Jesus the Christ by Elder Talmage on the subject. From Chapter 22 : https://www.lds.org/manual/jesus-the-christ/chapter-22?lang=eng

 

 

 

A woman, hearing of His presence within her own land, came asking a boon. Mark tells us she was a Greek, or more literally a Gentile^m who spoke Greek, and by nationality a Syro-Phenician; Matthew says she was “a woman of Canaan”; these statements are in harmony, since the Phenicians were of Canaanite descent. The Gospel-historians make clear the fact that this woman was of pagan or heathen birth; and we know that among the peoples so classed the Canaanites were held in particular disrepute by the Jews. The woman cried aloud to Jesus, saying: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.” Her words expressed at once faith in the Lord’s power, and a fulness of mother-love, for she implored as though she were the afflicted sufferer. The fact that she addressed Jesus as Son of David demonstrates her belief that He was the Messiah of Israel. At first Jesus refrained from answering her. Undeterred, she pleaded the more, until the disciples besought the Lord saying: “Send her away; for she crieth after us.” Their intervention was probably an intercession in her behalf; she could be quieted by the granting of her request; as it was, she was making an undesirable scene, probably on the street, and the Twelve knew well that their Master sought quietude. To them Jesus said: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” and the remark must have reminded them of the restriction under which they had been sent out.ⁿ

The woman, with importunate desire came near, possibly entering the house; she fell at the Lord’s feet and worshiped Him, pleading pitifully, “Lord, help me.” To her Jesus said, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.” The words, harsh as they may sound to us, were understood by her in the spirit of the Lord’s intent. The original term here translated “dogs” connoted, as the narrative shows, not the vagrant and despised curse elsewhere spoken of in the Bible as typical of a degraded state, or of positive badness,^o but literally the “little dogs” or domestic pets, such as were allowed in the house and under the table. Certainly the woman took no offense at the comparison, and found therein no objectionable epithet. Instantly she adopted the analogy, and applied it in combined argument and supplication.^p “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table”; or, in the words of Mark’s version: “Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.” Her prayer was immediately granted; for Jesus 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.” Mark emphasizes the special recognition of her final plea, and adds: “And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.” The woman’s commendable persistency was based on the faith that overcomes apparent obstacles and endures even under discouragement. Her case reminds one of the lesson taught by the Lord on another occasion through the story of the importunate widow.^q

Many have queried as to why Jesus delayed the blessing. We may not be able to fathom His purposes; but we see that, by the course He adopted, the woman’s faith was demonstrated and the disciples were instructed. Jesus impressed upon her that she was not of the chosen people, to whom He had been sent; but His words prefigured the giving of the gospel to all, both Jew and Gentile: “Let the children first be filled” He had said. The resurrected Christ was to be made known to every nation;^r but His personal ministry as a mortal, as also that of the apostles while He was with them in the flesh, was directed to the house of Israel.^s

 

 

https://www.lds.org/manual/jesus-the-christ/chapter-13?lang=eng

This chapter goes into detail about Christ's teaching the Samaritan woman. (Samaritans are actually descendants of Israel)

Edited February 1, 2015 by Laniston

[askandanswer]

Thank you Laniston, the material you have provided here is helpful in providing a background and description to the events referred to in Matthew 15 and John 4 but I think that's all it does - it doesn't seem to provide any good answers as to why. It is still unclear to me why Jesus did something (taught a woman not of the House of Israel in John 4) when He said in Matthew 15 that He is sent only unto the lost sheep of Israel. It seems unlikely that He went outside His mission statement but this is what seems to be suggested by His actions. I note the comment that the Samaritans are descendents of the Jews but they were also descendents of non-Jewish races as well, and certainly the Samaritans were not considered by the Jews to be Jewish. 

[Guest LiterateParakeet]

To me it seems the difference is that He was not sent at that time to teach the world in general but to focus on the lost sheep of Israel.  That direction did not preclude him from reaching out to individuals. like the Samaritan woman, when the opportunity presented itself.  

 

In the Second Coming He will direct His attention/teaching to the entire world.  

 

That's how I interpret it.  :)

[estradling75]

Do note that we also have an event in 3rd Nephi 17.

 

Jesus is telling them to go to their homes and pray and prep themselves for tomorrow because it is time for him to return to his Father (Verse 4).   He then turns around and heals their sick and wounded and blesses their children, which clearly would take awhile.

 

It seems to me that between the two we are seeing that God the Father and Jesus Christ both consider people a higher priority then a schedule or a plan.  (Because we accept that Christ did not sin or error in either case)

 

I would give it as my opinion that the reason why is to fulfill the promises that we have been given.  That if we seek the Lord diligently and faithfully he will respond.  And that which we ask in faith with be granted.

 

Both cases can easily fit into the fulfilling of that promise for those people.

[Pa Pa]

Why did Christ teach in Matthew 15: 22 – 24 that He was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel but in John 4: 7 – 30 He taught a woman of Samaria?

Samaria's were Israelites as well. They were wayward and intermarried, but still of Israel.