2026 Reading Plan Reflections - Day 23

Today's passage can feel jarring if we read them through modern assumptions rather than first-century context. Jesus’ interaction with the Canaanite woman sounds harsh—maybe even offensive—unless we remember the larger story God is telling.

Jesus’ primary mission at this point in the Gospel is clear: to announce the arrival of the kingdom of God to Israel, God’s chosen people. That focus matters. It explains the tension. It grounds the moment.

And yet… Jesus is in Tyre and Sidon—deep in Gentile territory. He didn’t wander there by accident.

What unfolds feels like a glimpse ahead of what’s coming. The woman knows she stands outside the covenant circle, and she doesn’t dispute it. Instead, she demonstrates remarkable faith—not entitlement, not resentment, but trust in God’s character. She believes that even the “crumbs” of the kingdom are enough to heal her daughter and restore hope.

Jesus responds—not reluctantly, but decisively. Her faith is real. And the kingdom breaks through.

Immediately after, Matthew tells us of another crowd healed, taught, and fed. Whether this group is Jewish or Gentile is debated, but Matthew’s placement is intentional. The same compassion. The same abundance. The same Messiah. And Matthew anchors it all in Isaiah—this is what God promised long ago.

What we’re seeing are resurrection realities leaking backward into Jesus’ earthly ministry. The gospel is already stretching beyond borders. The Great Commission hasn’t been spoken yet, but it’s already taking shape.

The kingdom of God is first announced to Israel—but it is never meant to end there.

Examine your assumptions. Where might you be limiting who God can work through—or how God can show up?
Practice humble faith. Pray with the honesty of the Canaanite woman: not demanding outcomes, but trusting God’s goodness.
Watch for “crumbs.” Pay attention to small evidences of grace today. God often meets us not with spectacle, but with sufficiency.
Cross a boundary. Engage someone outside your normal circle—with curiosity, compassion, and openness to what God might reveal.