Matthew 15:21-39
It has become evident that the rulers of Israel were not going to repent or receive Jesus as their King and Messiah in spite of the evidence. Thus, He begins to show and teach His Disciples the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven ministry in His absence.
The woman who comes to Him is Syrophoenician, and thus a Gentile. He daughter evidently was possessed by a devil, and this woman sought the mercy of Jesus for her daughter. She had already besought the Disciples for healing, but they rejected her upon Scriptural grounds. Even the Lord Jesus ignored her pleadings for a time. Verse 23 says, He answered her not a word. When He does answer her, He tells her that He is not sent, but to the lost sheep of the house, or nation, of Israel. Paul makes it clear that Christ’s first advent was to the Jews only. “ Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:” Romans 15:8. Jesus told the woman at the well that salvation was of the Jews. That is, the Kingdom of Heaven salvation would go to the Gentiles through a converted Israel.
Thus, He said to the Gentile woman that is was not fitting to take the Kingdom ministry and blessings and give them to Gentile dogs first. Her response showed that she recognized Him as Israel’s King, and that the Gentiles would be blessed through them. Therefore, she acknowledged that she was a Gentile dog, but was willing to eat the crumbs form His table. Jesus could not, and did not reject her great faith. Jesus said it would be according to her faith, and her daughter was made whole that very hour.
One only needs to read the following accounts of healing miracles to see that the healers of this dispensation are all charlatans and frauds. Their theatrical acts and claims are embracing to anyone who reads and knows his Bible. They could not heal a hangnail. We challenge anyone to produce healing miracles matching these in the Bible.
One can only imagine what the kingdom would have been, and will be like at our Lord’s return when He establishes it. He is demonstrating to His Disciples what they will have the power to do as they go into all the world with the Kingdom of Heaven gospel. Sickness, war, and hunger will never be a problem again once the Kingdom of Heaven is established.
The Seventy are also granted, not only healing power, but also power over all things that would harm them. “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19. As we have said, the nation rejected the offers of the Kingdom and their Messiah, and these miracles were never fully demonstrated. However, when the Kingdom is offered again to Israel and then to all the world, these promises will be in full force.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.