οὐκ ἀπεστάλην : Jesus is compelled to explain Himself, and His explanation is bonâ fide, and to be taken in earnest as meaning that He considered it His duty to restrict His ministry to Israel, to be a shepherd exclusively to the lost sheep of Israel (τὰ πρόβατα τ. ἀ., cf. Matthew 9:36), as He was wont to call them with affectionate pity. There was probably a mixture of feelings in Christ's mind at this time; an aversion to recommence just then a healing ministry at all a craving for rest and retirement; a disinclination to be drawn into a ministry among a heathen people, which would mar the unity of His career as a prophet of God to Israel (the drama of His life to serve its purpose must respect the limits of time and place); a secret inclination to do this woman a kindness if it could in any way be made exceptional; and last but not least, a feeling that her request was really not isolated but representative = the Gentile world in her inviting Him, a fugitive from His own land, to come over and help them, an omen of the transference of the kingdom from Jewish to Pagan soil.

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Old Testament