The BIG Picture (Shorts)

Start with PART 1 here. Part 4 of 4 - It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. The Mystery program had to remain a secret to ensure that 'the powers of darkness in the heavenlies' would work to get Jesus Christ onto 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...

Start with PART 1 here. Part 3 of 4 - It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 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 children's 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 ...

  Start with PART 1 here. Part 2 - It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 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...

  It might come as a surprise to many Christians, but Jesus clearly tells us that He did not come for the Gentiles, Matt.15:23-27. In the above passage a Canaanite woman begs Jesus to heal her child. Jesus ignores her and His disciples get annoyed at her cries to get Jesus' attention. Then 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 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.10:5-8. How do we explain this? Where do the Gentiles fit into the ministry of Jesus? How do the Gentiles get saved then? See PART 2 here... See P...