²⁷ Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews.^[a] It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

²³ But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.”

²⁴ Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.”

²⁵ But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!”

²⁶ Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

²⁷ She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.”

²⁸ “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

²¹ “But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’”

⁵ Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans,

⁶ “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy.^[a] Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

¹² In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.

⁸ Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews^[a] to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors.