Matthew 15:23

Modern

But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

Traditional

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

Literal

But He did not answer her a word. And having come, His disciples were imploring Him, saying, “Dismiss her, because she cries out after us.”

Latin

Qui non respondit ei verbum. Et accedentes discipuli ejus rogabant eum dicentes: Dimitte eam: quia clamat post nos.

Greek

English

But Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

Did not answer a word: Jesus stayed silent to test the woman's faith (Matthew 5:28; compare 8:24; 14:16).

This encounter brings up another debated issue. It is about whether Gentiles (non-Jews) can share in the kingdom of the Messiah (see Matthew 8:11).

Theme notes and profiles

Matthew 14:15
When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
Mark 10:47–48
When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Lamentations 3:8
Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer.
Genesis 42:7
And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.”
Psalm 28:1
Of David. To You, O LORD, I call; be not deaf to me, O my Rock. For if You remain silent, I will be like those descending to the Pit.
Deuteronomy 8:2
Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.