Was Jesus racist?

Question

Prejudice based on race or nationality: Matthew 15:22-28 describes an incident between Jesus and a Canaanite woman. Mark 7:25-30 describes the same incident, identifying her as Greek/Syrophenician. One commentary on the Bible explains that "The inhabitants of this area were racially and linguistically connected with the ancient Canaanites." 8 She begged Jesus to cure her daughter who was possessed by a demon. He first ignored her, but then explained that he was sent only to bring the Gospel to the Jews, not to the Gentiles such as she. Jesus cruelly replied to the desperate mother that it was not right for him "to take the children's bread and to cast it to dogs." i.e. it is not appropriate to take the Gospel, which was intended only for the Jews, and offer it to Gentiles as well -- here described as sub-humans, as dogs. Here, Jesus was following the behavior of other observant Jews in the 1st century CE who would frequently refer to Gentiles contemptuously as "dogs.") She quipped back to Jesus that even the "dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Jesus relented and, from a distance, cured the daughter of demonic possession because of the mother's faith.

The sin in this case was to treat a person of another race and/or nationality as sub-human, by referring to them as a dog.

Answer 1

No. JESUS WAS PERFECT! UNTIL THE LAST SECOND OF HIS DEAT(WHEN HE ACCEPTED OUR SIN) HE WAS SINLESS. Why dont u people realize this?!

Answer 2

I see where you are trying to go with this...
but, no, Jesus was not racist.

Christ told the truth when He said that He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He proclaimed the good news of the coming kingdom of God and He fulfilled His mission, which was to be slain at Golgotha to pay for the sins of the world.

It was the disciples of Christ, who were comissioned to take this good news - not only to the Jews, but the Gentiles as well.

You do not take a precious Truth and give it to a person who will not appreciate it. It is pictured in the Bible as pearls that are trodden by pigs. A total waste.

Christ was testing the woman's faith. If she didn't believe in Christ and what He was doing, the healing would not have taught her anything.

But at the onset of her faith, then Jesus performed the healing. Christ did not call her a dog. He was making a reference that He knew SHE would immediately understand, which is why she finally had faith. She did not get offended, but instead pleaded even more, but this time with heartfelt faith. He did not commit a sin.

Are you by any chance a skeptic?

Answer 3

I think it is more impressive, that this woman was in awe of Jesus so much that would except the "scraps" as a miracle from God, and called Him master.

In Gods eyes, the Jews were made His people by the faith of Abraham. Abraham was so faithful, that God blessed His people for the rest of existence. This is why the Jews flourish in an unforgiving land with enemies on almost every border, and appear (in the news atleast) to be the focus of most of the international attention, pretty impressive considering the small population. They also turned from God many times in their history, which is why the Egyptians, Nazis, Babylonians, Inquisition Catholics tried to destroy them. Because satan wants to destroy Gods people, but satan will never succeed.

No one on the forum is God, and if Jesus is, He can decide who He wants to give salvation too. This is why He is called King and not democratically elected leader. If you are a Christian you must except that He knows more about the situation than we do, and know that His judgement is righteous.

Besides the purpose was as listed above to show the disciples that faith is what matters not heritage and so they would see it clearly he made a big deal about her not being Jewish.

Answer 4

FIREBALL this is a STERIOTYPE. Blacks could nicely be Jews yet they only get made relaxing of alot. Jesus did no longer have any black disciples so a techniques as i be attentive to because of the fact to no longer many black people lived in Greece at that factor, and in the event that they did they have been killed via protection tension. (protection tension weren't Jews via ways Mel Gibson fans/Anti Semitists)

Answer 5

No.

What you sight was a perfect example of Jesus love. You left out the part where his disciples begged him to send her away, and he did not. He taught them a lesson, showing them the faith of the ones that they believed to be less than themselves, were just as deserving of his love and even they could recieve a miracle. It was a lesson, and a good one at that.

Answer 6

KJV translators inserted the word Dog...not Jesus.

Answer 7

When the angels said, 'O Mary, Godgives thee glad tidings of a son through a Word from Him; his name shall be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, honoured in this world and in the next, and of those who are granted nearness to God;

Answer 8

What a ridiculous post? God/Jesus is no respector of persons - the Bible tells us that. Also you are taking things out of context first of all. Jesus tests our faith - as in what you quoted above. You need the Holy Spirit to discern spiritual things - without the Spirit of God - it is impossible. I pray you find Jesus.

Answer 9

I think that you mis-characterized this piece of scripture.

Here's Matthew from the King James:

22. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
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.
28. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

and here is Mark:

25. For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
26. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
27. But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
28. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
29. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
30. And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

It is true that when Christ was preaching, it was to the Jews first and then the Gentiles. And it was Paul who was sent to the Gentiles, not Jesus.

He didn't look upon her with hate and racism. To the contrary, he looked upon the woman who had great faith with love and mercy and he healed her daughter before the time of the gentiles.

And while he didn't call her a dog, he did use that language in his metaphor. What's interesting to me is that she understand the metaphor. She seemed to understand that Jesus was preaching to the Jews first...

Also, don't forget Jesus's meeting with the Samaritan woman. Jews walked AROUND Samaria to avoid contact with them, but Jesus sat and talked to a woman at well, much to the consternation of his disciples.

Jesus wasn't a racist.

Answer 10

Wow that's interesting... I just looked it up, and yep, it's there. But people will always pick and choose which parts of the Bible to believe, because parts of it are awful.