In-person Lord's Day services will be practicing the appropriate COVID guidelines for churches in Mariposa County.
August 17, 2020 - Today I would like to talk about Matthew 15:21-28. We see in the text Jesus entering Tyre and Sidon. When we think about the ancient context of the area, we would see that these areas were primarily gentile regions. In other words, they 
were districts mainly of outsiders to the Israelite people at this time. Jesus is approached by a Canaanite woman who wanted his help with her daughter. The disciples of Christ blunder as they are prone to do. They want Christ to send her away because, essentially, she was annoying them.
This sets up Christ to teach a lesson to his disciples and in turn us. He first says that he was only sent for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. That was quite possibly exactly what some of the religious leaders of the day thought the Messiah was to do. They were thinking about the physical house of Israel instead of the spiritual (the Church). The lady did not stop but in fact showed Christ honor and knelt before him and saying, “Lord, help me.”
The Lord then says, “And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” What does this mean? Well contrary to current feelings, dogs in the region this was taking place in were viewed as filthy animals instead of man’s best friend. So the reference of dogs was not a compliment but accurately portrayed what the ancient Israelite community felt about these gentile outsiders. The woman does not walk away but says that even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.
How does Christ respond. He praises the gentile woman! Jesus says, “O woman, great is your faith!” Notice that the disciples were normally called little of faith but here is an outsider having her faith being called great.
This is all about the Gospel being for all, both Jew and Gentile. The Lord saves his people and we find out exactly what that means as we read on in the Gospel of Matthew. Christ will be spending some time in the Gentile community. Showing that he is the Son of God and that through him we are forgiven.
Wynter is an Elder at Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church. Find out more at MariposaChurch.org or email him at wynter@mariposachurch.org. Visit Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church on Facebook.
Pastor’s Corner is a column from Pastor Wynter Sturtevant III of the Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church.
The Church has moved locations, services are now held at the Bootjack Stompers Hall (located at 4662 Morman Bar Crossing) across from the Mariposa County Fairgrounds.
Time of service is at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday.
I am happy to announce that MRBC has its own sermon podcast. Please check it out by clicking on the link below or searching MRBC Sermons on iTunes. New sermons will be posted every Wednesday.
https://mariposachurch.transistor.fm/episodes
Note: Area churches interested in submitting Articles of Faith are welcome to contact us.
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