Didn't Jesus say that God didn't send Him for Gentiles?

Answer Request:
Didn't Jesus say that God didn't send Him for Gentiles (Matt 15:24)? 

Yes! That is 100% correct. It might come as a surprise to many denominational Christians, but it is true! Jesus clearly tells us that He did not come for the Gentiles. Let's look at the verses and explain this fact,

Matt.15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

In the above passage a Canaanite woman begs Jesus to heal her child. Jesus ignores her to the point that His disciples are annoyed at her constant cries to get Jesus' attention. When Jesus finally responds by saying, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." What did He mean by this? Another statement that bewilders many is when Jesus says, "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs."  What is the bread? Who are the children? Who are the 'dogs'?

This is not the only time Jesus said something like this. Earlier in the book of Matthew, Jesus sent out his disciples to preach the Kingdom gospel and clearly stated that they do NOT go to anyone, EXCEPT to the Jews.

Matt.10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

So, it is clear that the question at the start of this post is correct. God sent Jesus to the Jews! How do we explain this? Where do the Gentiles fit into the ministry of Jesus? How do the Gentiles get saved then?

Let's answer all these questions.

It is important to first understand that God established the Jewish nation to be His people; a holy (set apart) nation, a royal priesthood who would be the representatives of God in a godless world, (Ex.19:5-6). The nation of Israel had a divine purpose, to show forth the presence and glory of God among the Gentile nations. They were also to bring forth the promised Redeemer and Saviour of the world, (Gen.3:15). Israel did not reach this goal during Christ's first advent due to unbelief, but in the Millennial Kingdom, Jews would carry the law of God in their heart (Jer.31:33-34) and would finally fulfil their great commission (Matt.28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16), to bring salvation to the world through their Messiah and the Kingdom gospel.

With this understanding, it is now clear to see why Jesus came for the Jews. The earthly ministry of Jesus was to establish the Jewish nation to receive the new covenant, that law written on the heart. The new covenant would inaugurate that royal priesthood and the Jews, being the pre-eminent nation, the head of all others, would take up that function to bring God's word, God's law, and God's blessing, to the nations. Israel had to be saved FIRST, then they would go out and save the nations. Jesus' mission was not to the Gentiles at this point, but to get Israel ready for this purpose.

If we come back to Jesus' statements to the Canaanite woman, we can also understand the references to not casting Israel's bread to the dogs. The bread was God's word, God's new covenant that was His word to Israel. The covenant had NOTHING to do with the Gentiles. It was Israels bread, the childrens bread. Casting it to the dogs, the Gentiles, would be fruitless and a waste as it was not meant for the Gentiles. Gentiles were known as 'dogs' during this time. Jews saw Gentiles as pagans, serving other gods and wandering around without the perfect law. It was a slang term that was commonly used, so this explains why Jesus used this phrase.

Our final point to answer is, "what about the Gentiles then? How do the Gentiles get saved?" Well, in short, this is where Paul's ministry comes into view. Israel failed to receive their Messiah, so the Kingdom program, and the Millennial Kingdom, were put on hold. The Jews were blinded, and the entire nation was placed in hiatus,

Rom.11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest [Israel] were blinded. ... 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Through Paul's unique ministry to the Gentiles, God gave us the grace gospel, salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul was used by God to establish the body of Christ and the program of grace. This program was a mystery, it was never prophesied, never spoken of, until Jesus Christ's ministry was complete. Why?

1 Cor.2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

It had to remain a secret to ensure that Jesus Christ would go to the cross. Our salvation is ENTIRELY wrapped up in the cross of Christ. Did you ever notice how Paul NEVER mentions anything about Jesus' earthly ministry. Paul recites no parables, no teachings of Jesus, no activities .... NOTHING, EXCEPT the cross. Paul glories in the cross (Gal.6:14) because the only thing that could come out of Jesus earthly ministry, for the salvation of the Gentiles, is his death and resurrection. Everything else about the life of Christ incarnate is for the Jews. We can learn of the earthly life of Christ, and we can study prophecy, but these are not addressed to us as Gentiles under grace. What we take as instruction is the doctrine of Paul. 

1 Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Our lives are based on the writings that Paul provides in Romans to Philemon. It is interesting to note that Jesus told the Jews to follow Him, but did you know that Paul did not tell others to follow Jesus earthly example, but to rather follow after his own example, because he was proclaiming a new lifestyle, a new doctrine, and he was setting that example through his life,

1 Cor.4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

1 Cor.11:1 Be followers of me even as I am of Christ.

1 Cor.3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

2 Cor.5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

So, didn't Jesus say that God didn't send Him for Gentiles? Yes. You are absolutely correct. That is precisely what Jesus said. But to understand it in the correct context, we need to look at it rightly divided (2 Tim.2:15). We need to understand it in the context of God's greater plan of salvation, which is to use Israel to fill the earth with the glory of Christ and to use the body of Christ to fill the heavens with the glory of Christ, and in so doing, restore the entire creation to its full glory and splendour.

God bless.