2. The faith of a gentile woman (7:24-30)

The weight of this story falls on the description of the mother as a Gentile and on her recognition that the benefits of the kingdom go to the children (i.e., Israel) first, but that there is enough for the dogs (a well-known term for Gentiles) as well. The universality of the Gospel is proclaimed and the later mission of the church anticipated, while a woman is presented again as a model of faith.