Matthew 15:24 Rewrite?

[Van]

Matthew 15:24 traditional translation:
CSB
He replied, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

ESV
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

LEB
But he answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

NET
So he answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Thus the overwhelming consensus of Greek scholars says the intended meaning is: "I was not sent but only TO the lost sheep of the house of Israel. However this view is the opposite of the context where Jesus cares for someone not of the house of Israel. He healed the woman's daughter.

So the contextual idea seems to be "I was not sent only among the lost sheep" as she was not one of the lost sheep but was in His presence.

 

[KenH]

"I am not sent, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel; as a priest, or as a Saviour and Redeemer, he was sent to make satisfaction and atonement for the sins of all God's elect, and to obtain eternal redemption and salvation for all of them, whether Jews or Gentiles; but as a prophet, in the discharge of his own personal ministry, he was sent by his Father only to the Jews; he was the "minister of the circumcision", ( Romans 15:8 ) that is, a minister to the circumcised Jews; he was sent only to preach the Gospel to them, and work miracles among them, in proof of his Messiahship; and upon their rejection of him, then his apostles were to be sent among the Gentiles; but he himself was sent only to the Jews, here styled "the lost sheep of the house of Israel": by "the house of Israel", is meant the whole body of the Jewish nation, so called from Israel, the name of Jacob their father, from whom they sprung; and by the "lost sheep" of that house, are more especially designed the elect of God among them: for though all the individuals of that house were "lost" persons, considered in Adam, and in themselves, as the rest of mankind, and Christ, in the external ministry of the word, was sent to preach to them all; yet the elect of God are only "sheep": they are the sheep of Christ, of his pasture, and of his hand, whom he has the particular care and charge of; and who, in their natural state, are lost and straying, and could never find their way, or recover themselves from their lost state in Adam, and by their own transgressions; but he came to seek, and to save them, and to these his ministry was powerful and efficacious.

- excerpt from John Gill's Bible commentary on Matthew 15:24

 

[37818]

John 10:16, . . . And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. . . .

Ephesians 2:11-22.

 

[Van]

"I was not sent only among the lost sheep"

This answer explains why Jesus healed the woman's daughter, whereas the unstudied views that misrepresent the verse are not contextual.

 

[KenH]

MKJV Matthew 15:24 But He answered and said, I am not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

YLT(1898) Matthew 15:24 and he answering said, 'I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'

 

[Van]

Since the woman whose daughter was dying was not one of the lost sheep of the House of Israel, Jesus was not among only the lost sheep of Israel. Thus the contexual answer is Jesus was not sent only among the lost sheep of Israel.

 

[canadyjd]

Another example of why those with very little understanding of biblical Greek, and even less comprehension of the context of scripture, should not be so bold as to rewrite God’s word when they cannot understand.

Verse 26, Jesus tells the woman it is not proper to throw the children’s food to dogs. He refers to her as a dog. That doesn’t sound like He is saying He came not just to Israel.

The woman persists, saying even dogs get the master’s crumbs. Jesus is amazed at her faith and grants her petition.

Your rewrite completely misses the point of the passages, the woman’s faith, even after being insulted, moved Jesus to grant her request to heal her daughter.

peace to you

 

[Van]

Another example of why those with very little understanding of biblical Greek, and even less comprehension of the context of scripture, should not be so bold as to rewrite God’s word when they cannot understand.

Verse 26, Jesus tells the woman it is not proper to throw the children’s food to dogs. He refers to her as a dog. That doesn’t sound like He is saying He came not just to Israel.

The woman persists, saying even dogs get the master’s crumbs. Jesus is amazed at her faith and grants her petition.

Your rewrite completely misses the point of the passages, the woman’s faith, even after being insulted, moved Jesus to grant her request to heal her daughter.

peace to you

1) The correct translation of Matthew 15:25 is consistent with the context. The errant traditional translation is inconsistent with the context.

2) Every translation renders God's word differently, the NASB differs from the NKJV. To claim one translation choice "rewrites God's word" is the height of stupidity. The difference reflects a different choice in translation. "Eis" can mean "to" or "among" To go with either is not rewriting God's word, but it is interpreting God's word.

3) If Jesus was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, then He sinned by saving her daughter. But if He was sent not only among the lost sheep of the house of Israel, then His action reflects the will of God.

4) I think perhaps you completely miss the point of the passage because of your agenda driven interpretation. Jesus was not sent only among the lost sheep of the house of Israel!! As the Lamb of God, He became the means of reconciliation for all the lost sheep, Jews and Gentiles.

 

[Van]

Here is an effort to provide a word or phrase meaning for word or phrase meaning translation of Matthew 15:24:

Yet - the - answer- He said - I was not sent - only - into - the - lost - sheep - of the house - of Israel.

Now I know we have others believing their translation is more accurate, but I am curious as to which part?

 

[Van]

What was the woman's response?

Then she came,

Then she knelt down,

Then she said,

Lord help me.

 

[Van]

Oops, my bad!
I see I missed the mark in my post #6, I said the daughter was dying, which was wrong, she was being demonized. See Matthew 15:22

 

[Van]

Who is Jesus answering in Matthew 15:24, the woman or His disciples who had requested that she be sent away?

The disciples!! He was indicating not to send her away, and so the woman responded in verse 25.

 

[canadyjd]

I am still amazed at how casually you can start a thread entitled “let’s rewrite Scripture!”

I will accept how experts throughout church history have translated the passage over a novice biblical Greek student that has proven time and again they don’t understand biblical Greek and they don’t understand scripture in context, and yet, feel compelled for some reason to go through scripture looking for passages to “rewrite”.

Add to the enormous amount of time starting thread after thread, the claim that more people are going to hell because of slacking soul winners and it’s just baffling.

I will leave you to yourself.

peace to you

 

[percho]

Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: Ez 37:19
And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: Ex 37:22
And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. Ez 37:24

How many fold made up Israel?

John 10:10:16 NKJV “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Flock ποίμνη A T Robertson Christ's use of "flock" (ποιμνη) here is just another metaphor for kingdom (βασιλεια)

When was the house of Israel considered lost? When did the house of Israel become, "You are not my people and I am not your God"? Among whom were the house of Israel, lost?

Ez 34:12,13 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, [from the Gentiles?] and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Leaving aside the mangling of the text in the O.P., I think it may be helpful to ask ourselves, who comprise the 'lost house of Israel.'?
John 1:47. "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit."
John 10:26. "But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you."
Romans 2:28-29. 'For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.'
Romans 9:6-8. 'For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but "In Isaac shall your seed be called." That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.'
Galatians 3:7. 'Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.'
Galatians 3:28-29. 'There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.'

The Canaanite woman believed - she was 'of faith.' Therefore she was a true Israelite and one to who our Lord was sent. Indeed, He went out of Israel into Phoenicia to find her. There does not appear to be any other reason for His trip to 'the region of Tyre and Sidon' than to meet the woman (Matthew 15:21-26).

 

[Van]

Leaving aside the mangling of the text in the O.P., I think it may be helpful to ask ourselves, who comprise the 'lost house of Israel.'? SNIP
.

Thanks for attempt to justify the "mangling of the text" of Matthew 15:24 by claiming the "dog" was actually of the "house of Israel." No sale.

Post #9 presents a literal word or phrase translation. No one has found any fault in that straightforward translation. Thus the text reads that Jesus was not sent only into or among the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

As far as claiming the lost sheep of the house of Israel equates with "all Israel"

Matthew 15:26
Yet He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”​

Who are the children? The offspring of the house of Israel.

Who are the "dogs" Actually "puppies" the offspring of those not blood line descendants of the house of Israel.

All this to say simply, Christ's ministry was introduced first to the Jews (the house of Israel) and then to the Gentiles.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Thanks for attempt to justify the "mangling of the text" of Matthew 15:24 by claiming the "dog" was actually of the "house of Israel." No sale.

The woman proved by her faith that she was no dog but a child of Abraham (Galatians 3:7 again).

Post #9 presents a literal word or phrase translation. No one has found any fault in that straightforward translation. Thus the text reads that Jesus was not sent only into or among the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Your error is so glaring that no one has troubled to correct you. In Matthew 15:24, the Greek words ei me mean literally 'if not,' and the KJV translation is accurate though somewhat archaic. "I am not sent but to the lost sheep of Israel," and the NKJV correctly modernizes it to "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of Israel. Ei me is translated as 'but' 51 times, and 'save' 20 times in the KJV. The meaning in just about every case is 'except.' Do you want me to list all these examples out for you?
Here are just one of each:
Matthew 13:57. "A prophet is not without honour save in his own country....."
Matthew 16:4. "....There shall be no sign given ... but the sign of the prophet Jonah."

As far as claiming the lost sheep of the house of Israel equates with "all Israel"

I don't think I used the words "all Israel" in my post. You have objected strongly to others allegedly mis-quoting you. I'll thank you not to do it to me.

Matthew 15:26
Yet He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” ​

Who are the children? The offspring of the house of Israel.

Who are the "dogs" Actually "puppies" the offspring of those not blood line descendants of the house of Israel.

What continues to escape you is that this woman. like the centurion in Matthew 8, was an Israelite by faith (Galatians 3:26-29 again!) as she proved by calling the Lord Jesus "Lord" and Son of David." and by persisting in her plea to Him. It really will be helpful if you take the trouble to read my posts before you reply to them.
"Assuredly I say to you, I have not found such faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 8:10-12; cf. also Matthew 3:9).

 

[Van]

Your error is so glaring that no one has troubled to correct you. In Matthew 15:24, the Greek words ei me mean literally 'if not,' and the KJV translation is accurate though somewhat archaic. "I am not sent but to the lost sheep of Israel," and the NKJV correctly modernizes it to "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of Israel. Ei me is translated as 'but' 51 times, and 'save' 20 times in the KJV. The meaning in just about every case is 'except.' Do you want me to list all these examples out for you?
Here are just one of each:
Matthew 13:57. "A prophet is not without honour save in his own country....."
Matthew 16:4. "....There shall be no sign given ... but the sign of the prophet Jonah."

I don't think I used the words "all Israel" in my post. You have objected strongly to others allegedly mis-quoting you. I'll thank you not to do it to me.
What continues to escape you is that this woman. like the centurion in Matthew 8, was an Israelite by faith (Galatians 3:26-29 again!) as she proved by calling the Lord Jesus "Lord" and Son of David." and by persisting in her plea to Him. It really will be helpful if you take the trouble to read my posts before you reply to them.
"Assuredly I say to you, I have not found such faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 8:10-12; cf. also Matthew 3:9).

Nice to see that you are not always right.

See Matthew 12:24 (ESV, NASB, NIV and CSB)

See John 10:10 (ESV, NASB, NIV and CSB )

See John 13:10 (NASB, NIV, NET and WEB)

See 1 Corinthians 7:17 (ESV, NASB, MOUNCE, and WEB)

Plus dozens of English translations of Matthew 15:24 have "only" as their translation of the phrase meaning.

As for as you erroneously equating All Israel, born anew believers whether Jew or Gentile, with the house of Israel, you said Jesus was sent for her, thus a member of "All Israel."

 

[Van]

I am still amazed at how casually you can start a thread entitled “let’s rewrite Scripture!”

I will accept how experts throughout church history have translated the passage over a novice biblical Greek student that has proven time and again they don’t understand biblical Greek and they don’t understand scripture in context, and yet, feel compelled for some reason to go through scripture looking for passages to “rewrite”.

Add to the enormous amount of time starting thread after thread, the claim that more people are going to hell because of slacking soul winners and it’s just baffling.

I will leave you to yourself.

peace to you

Yet another personal attack, filling the thread page with off topic nonsense to suppress the truth.

The OP clearly is addressing rewriting the translation of God's word to better convey the contextual message.

Christ's ministry was introduced first to the Jews (the house of Israel) and then to the Gentiles. He was not sent only among the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

 

[percho]

I believe the woman was, of the faith, of Abraham. Genitive

V 22 and lo, a woman, a Canaanitess, from those borders having come forth, did call to him, saying, 'Deal kindly with me, Sir -- Son of David; my daughter is miserably demonized.'

I think God called her, of belief, Jesus was Christ the son of David the seed of Abraham for purpose through the house of Israel.

See the post above from Ezekiel 36 see also Ezekiel 34. It is through the gathering of the scattered house of Israel among the Gentiles God shows the Gentiles, heathen, that he is Jehovah.

Ez 39:7 And My holy name I make known in the midst of My people Israel, And I pollute not My holy name any more, And known have the nations that I, Jehovah, the Holy One, am in Israel.

What is the feast of tabernacles, about? Why is the last day called that great of the feast? What does the Holy Spirit have to do with being preached on that day? Could it be relative to the nations? John 7 What about the first-fruit of the Spirit and sonship/adoption?

and thou hast said unto Pharaoh, Thus said Jehovah, My son, My first-born is Israel,