Was Jesus racist?

Question

Jesus made a statement about a woman of a different race (non-jewish) and compared here to a dog....Saying she could not eat at his table or take from him his salvation and he was not sent for her. Does it not bother anyone else that all the reaching out to non-jews was performed by Paul and the other apostles. Are we to believe that Jesus only intended to save "God's" people, and How do YOU cope with that (I am a reformed Christian but still have respect for anything that improves some of its members) Don't give me the answer of faith.... I don't need that. This is for me, My points of view make it impossible for me to believe in anything that is not untouched by human hands or totally provable (other than god which to me is totally provable by logic)

Answer 1

It's in Matthew 15:21-28, for those who are asking.

Jesus did heal her daughter. I agree his comparing her to a dog was surprising, but notice he gave her her request. He never refused anyone. I believe he was trying to build up her faith, or something similar.

He was sent to be the Messiah of the Jews. Although he didn't turn anyone away, the Jews were his focus. Remember he was also man, and as such had limitations.

Also remember that He purposely went through Samaria and there met the woman at the well, and saved the whole town! The Jews of the day considered Samaritans lower even than Gentiles, because they were part Jew. They would go way out of their way to avoid walking through Samaria.

Remember his parable about the good Samaritan? The religious leader he was talking to couldn't even bring himself to say "The Samaritan." He answered "The one who showed him mercy." Yet it was Jesus who told this story!

He died for everyone, Jew and Gentile. He wasn't racist; He was just focused on his mission.

Answer 2

well then you truly do need to read your bible thoroughly and read the part where Jesus died for EVERYONE on the cross. When you look at the work and miracles which he performed he did it to people from all walks of life and all different races- even the story of the good Samaritan illustrates this. Sometimes illustrations are used in the bible to make a point it isn't meant to be taken literally. Can you find in the bible at all where it talks about Jesus only loving a certain race and coming to save them- sure he was a jew and the jewish nation rejected him but Jesus loves all humans and came to save YOU as a person he created in his own image- forget about race and all the other junk it only bogs you down in your relationship with God

Answer 3

Any person not a Jew is called a Gentile and Gentiles were considered dogs. Salvation was for the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. The Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah and so it was then givin to the Gentiles. If the Jews would have accepted Jesus then they would be the ones spreading the Gospel but due to their rejection we are grafted in and now we preach the salvation of Jesus thru his shed blood. Also Jesus never turned anyone away Jew nor Gentile, he gave the woman what she wanted.

Answer 4

Where in the bible or what passage are you referring to? You need to provide the resource on this. I believe that some passages are taken way out of context and twisted to what others want to believe. I can not believe that Jesus was racist. After all, He was the son of God, and God has created us all the same in His image. Yes, we each have different physical features and skin colors. I don't know where in the bible it says that Jesus only loves a certain race of humans anywhere. I just know that Jesus loved everyone, no matter from what background, etc. I only believe that racism is a man created thing. Not something of God's creation or Jesus.

Answer 5

I don't have all the answers, but if you go to www.sacred-text.com you can find the books of Enoch who was Noah's Great Grandfather and the first to be carried up by God and never died. He said that God was going to make a way for all men to come to God. Check them out for yourself and see what you think. You can also find the apocryphal writing there. Including the two books of Adam and Eve. I always thought it was funny that the two first people that God created was nothing more that an honorable mention in Genesis. But I found out the reason that we have the bible in the for that we have is because King James demanded a bible ready for print and the monks gave them what they had at the time. There are other books out there. Have you ever read the bible and they referred to the book of Jasher or any other book that is not in the bible. Maybe you can find them at the web site.

Answer 6

I want to know where you read that, and as soon as possible. I believe that you are totally mistaken. There have never been anytime in the bible, that I know of where Jesus denied salvation to someone who was of a different race. In the old testament, how someone got into heaven was through sacrifices and worship in temples, then Jesus came along and God sent him to save the world, not to condemn anyone in it. No one is to be without the teachings and salvation of Jesus Christ. I have never heard such a thing and I do not believe that such exists. Jesus never denied it, and then gave the right to do so to his diciples. That would be hipocritical of him to do so, and that I do not believe. If Jesus was a sinner, he couldn't offer himself to be the ultimate sacrifice for us all. I believe that you read something wrong, and I pray that you get understanding from God in this matter....God Bless you!

Answer 7

Jesus pretty much followed his scriptural purpose, which was to provide salvation for the JEWS. That's all goo, but when Peter had his vision that allowed him to minister to the Gentiles the barrier between race and religion was finally breached.
You believe that bible crap?
Go ahead. It doesn't matter what you look like. It's the content of your character.

Answer 8

All I will tell you is that if you are looking for a good answer that will keep you happy and satisfy. All you have to do is ask GOD thru prayer ask the Holy Ghost to in light you with the answer that he is able to give you. Just get on your knees and talk to your father that is their with you waiting for you to ask him. Don't ask any of us humans cause we all could mislead you in to what we believe and we can be wrong. Jesus is the only one that has all the answers to life and for you. God Bless you.

Answer 9

You've forgotten the Samaritan woman at the well, and her countryman, the Good Samaritan, also the Roman's servant that was healed, the leper who was also Samaritan (the only one out of ten who came back to thank Him), and many others....
Jesus used this terminology to test His disciples, the woman's daughter was healed, thanks to her own great faith. You should have read all the way to the end of the story, where Jesus says, (as He did so often), "I have not found such great faith as this in Israel..."

Answer 10

Not at all. Let's look at the passage in question.

But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And He was saying to her, "Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children's crumbs." And He said to her, "Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter."

Jews of that time, by and large, did not speak to Gentiles (non-Jews). They especially did not speak to women. In fact, it's said that they went so far out of their way to avoid contact with women and Gentiles that they would cross the street to avoid passing next to them.

Prior to this passage, Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 Jews in Jewish territory in chapter 6. Next, the beginning of chapter 7 shows Jesus giving the longest discourse in the NT on the interpretation of Jewish dietary laws. Jesus taught that all foods are clean...that what's in your heart is more important than what's in your stomach. Jesus proceeded to travel into Gentile territory and ate at a presumably Gentile home. On His way out, He had a conversation with a Gentile woman...evidence that He was NOT acting in concert with the racist and sexist views of many of His people.

The woman asked Him to heal her daughter. At first Jesus did not reply...we know this from the parallel passage in Matthew. She persisted, and Jesus spoke to her in a way that seems rude: He said that it's not good to give the children's food to dogs. Looking carefully tells us more, though: while the Jews used the word KUON for "dog", Jesus didn't use that word...He said KUNARION which means "small dog", or more literally "puppy". The woman surely saw the difference between Jesus' response and the traditional Jewish response, and acted in concert, saying "even dogs get the children's crumbs". Jesus' actions were consistent with the context: He demonstrated that the Jewish traditions regarding unclean foods and unclean people should be put aside. He spoke with a Gentile woman, healed her daughter, and proceeded (in the next chapter) to feed 4,000 Gentiles in Gentile territory.

The context of this story shows that Jesus' words were not racist, but were instead a clear denouncement of racism, and of sexism as well.