40 Days of Prayer
Abundant Bread Crumbs for the Dogs 

Jesus said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." This woman who came begging had no rights to be heard: she was a woman, gentile woman, and on top of that she had a demon possessed daughter. Even as she pleaded, Jesus did not answer her. His disciples urged him to send her away. She had no rights and was not getting any hearing. Then, in vs 26 we have Jesus' most shocking response, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." Jesus basically told her, "You don't deserve mercy because you are a dog." 

We struggle to relate to this person in this scene because we always stand on "our rights." We would say, "I deserve to be heard and I demand action now!" But this woman comes before Jesus "without any right" - and begs for Jesus' immediate mercy. She is not saying, "Lord give me what I deserve on the basis of my goodness." But rather she pleads, "Give me what I do not deserve on the basis of your goodness." (Tim Keller, Kings Cross, pg 88)

James Edwards in his commentary on Mark said, "This woman appears to understand the purpose of Israel's Messiah better than Israel does. Her pluck and persistence are a testimony to her trust in the sufficiency and surplus of Jesus: His provision for the disciples and Israel will be abundant enough to provide for one such as herself."

Thomas Cranmer wrote this prayer concerning our approach to Jesus: "We do not presume to come to this your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table, but you are the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy." (Book of Common Prayer on the occasion of communion)