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to make war with the remnant of her seed； which keep the commandments of God； and have the testimony of Jesus Christ。〃 Rev。 12：17。
But 〃every plant； which My heavenly Father hath not planted； shall be rooted up。〃 In place of the authority of the so…called fathers of the church； God bids us accept the word of the eternal Father； the Lord of heaven and earth。 Here alone is truth unmixed with error。 David said； 〃I have more understanding than all my teachers： for Thy testimonies are my meditation。 I understand more than the ancients； because I keep Thy precepts。〃 Ps。 119：99； 100。 Let all who accept human authority； the customs of the church； or the traditions of the fathers； take heed to the warning conveyed in the words of Christ； 〃In vain they do worship Me； teaching for doctrines the commandments of men。〃
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Chapter 43
Barriers Broken Down
After the encounter with the Pharisees； Jesus withdrew from Capernaum； and crossing Galilee； repaired to the hill country on the borders of Phoenicia。 Looking westward； He could see； spread out upon the plain below； the ancient cities of Tyre and Sidon； with their heathen temples； their magnificent palaces and marts of trade； and the harbors filled with shipping。 Beyond was the blue expanse of the Mediterranean； over which the messengers of the gospel were to bear its glad tidings to the centers of the world's great empire。 But the time was not yet。 The work before Him now was to prepare His disciples for their mission。 In coming to this region He hoped to find the retirement He had failed to secure at Bethsaida。 Yet this was not His only purpose in taking this journey。
〃Behold； a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders； and cried； saying； Have mercy on me； O Lord； Thou Son of David； my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil。〃 Matt。 15：22； R。 V。 The people of this district were of the old Canaanite race。 They were idolaters； and were despised and hated by the Jews。 To this class belonged the woman who now came to Jesus。 She was a heathen； and was therefore excluded from the advantages which the Jews daily enjoyed。 There
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were many Jews living among the Phoenicians； and the tidings of Christ's work had penetrated to this region。 Some of the people had listened to His words and had witnessed His wonderful works。 This woman had heard of the prophet； who； it was reported； healed all manner of diseases。 As she heard of His power； hope sprang up in her heart。 Inspired by a mother's love； she determined to present her daughter's case to Him。 It was her resolute purpose to bring her affliction to Jesus。 He must heal her child。 She had sought help from the heathen gods； but had obtained no relief。 And at times she was tempted to think； What can this Jewish teacher do for me？ But the word had come； He heals all manner of diseases； whether those who come to Him for help are rich or poor。 She determined not to lose her only hope。
Christ knew this woman's situation。 He knew that she was longing to see Him； and He placed Himself in her path。 By ministering to her sorrow； He could give a living representation of the lesson He designed to teach。 For this He had brought His disciples into this region。 He desired them to see the ignorance existing in cities and villages close to the land of Israel。 The people who had been given every opportunity to understand the truth were without a knowledge of the needs of those around them。 No effort was made to help souls in darkness。 The partition wall which Jewish pride had erected； shut even the disciples from sympathy with the heathen world。 But these barriers were to be broken down。
Christ did not immediately reply to the woman's request。 He received this representative of a despised race as the Jews would have done。 In this He designed that His disciples should be impressed with the cold and heartless manner in which the Jews would treat such a case； as evinced by His reception of the woman； and the compassionate manner in which He would have them deal with such distress； as manifested by His subsequent granting of her petition。
But although Jesus did not reply； the woman did not lose faith。 As He passed on； as if not hearing her； she followed Him； continuing her supplications。 Annoyed by her importunities； the disciples asked Jesus to send her away。 They saw that their Master treated her with indifference； and they therefore supposed that the prejudice of the Jews against the Canaanites was pleasing to Him。 But it was a pitying Saviour to whom the woman made her plea； and in answer to the request of the disciples； Jesus said； 〃I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house
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of Israel。〃 Although this answer appeared to be in accordance with the prejudice of the Jews； it was an implied rebuke to the disciples； which they afterward understood as reminding them of what He had often told them；that He came to the world to save all who would accept Him。
The woman urged her case with increased earnestness； bowing at Christ's feet； and crying； 〃Lord； help me。〃 Jesus； still apparently rejecting her entreaties； according to the unfeeling prejudice of the Jews； answered； 〃It is not meet to take the children's bread； and to cast it to dogs。〃 This was virtually asserting that it was not just to lavish the blessings brought to the favored people of God upon strangers and aliens from Israel。 This answer would have utterly discouraged a less earnest seeker。 But the woman saw that her opportunity had come。 Beneath the apparent refusal of Jesus； she saw a compassion that He could not hide。 〃Truth； Lord；〃 she answered； 〃yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table。〃 While the children of the household eat at the father's table； even the dogs are not left unfed。 They have a right to the crumbs that fall from the table abundantly supplied。 So while there were many blessings given to Israel； was there not also a blessing for her？ She was looked upon as a dog； and had she not then a dog's claim to a crumb from His bounty？
Jesus had just departed from His field of labor because the scribes and Pharisees were seeking to take His life。 They murmured and complained。 They manifested unbelief and bitterness； and refused the salvation so freely offered them。 Here Christ meets one of an unfortunate and despised race； that has not been favored with the light of God's word； yet she yields at once to the divine influence of Christ； and has implicit faith in His ability to grant the favor she asks。 She begs for the crumbs that fall from the Master's table。 If she may have the privilege of a dog； she is willing to be regarded as a dog。 She has no national or religious prejudice or pride to influence her course； and she immediately acknowledges Jesus as the Redeemer； and as being able to do all that she asks of Him。
The Saviour is satisfied。 He has tested her faith in Him。 By His dealings with her； He has shown that she who has been regarded as an outcast from Israel is no longer an alien； but a child in God's