Prayers for Family

Gospel of Mark  |  Jesus  |  Life Lessons

Living on Scraps — A Lesson from the Gospel of Mark

By: Nathan Ahearne August 20th, 2023

I’ve often struggled to make sense of Mark’s account of Jesus and the Canaanite woman who falls at his feet asking for Him to cure her daughter (Mark 7: 24-30). And Jesus’s response? “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” The quick-witted and perhaps desperate Greek mother flips it back on Jesus “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” What a comeback! Jesus applauds her faith and wisdom, telling her that her daughter is healed.