TPC Sermon - 8/22/99

The sermon covered Mark 7:24-30 - the story of a Gentile woman who approaches Jesus to eliminate evil spirits from her daughter.  He tells her, in effect, "First I should help my own family, the Jews.  It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs".   My Bible (New Living Translation) waters the story down a bit - it has her reply "That's true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are given some crumbs from the children's plates." and has him reply "Good answer! And because you have answered so well, I have healed your daughter".  The Bible used for the sermon has her say something more like "Even dogs will accept crumbs from their master" and has him reply something like "You have so much faith!" and healing her daughter.  I like the latter version much better (and wonder again at the literal translation issue).

The sermon also looked at Romans 11:17-24 which is addressed to Gentiles and uses an olive tree as an analogy.  Gentiles are like branches of a wild tree grafted on to his special olive tree - with Jews who do not accept Jesus are like branches that have fallen off.  The passage goes on to caution Christians not to brag or feel prideful and that God will be eager to graft "the Jews back into the tree where they belong".

The minister used these passages to discuss the relations between Jews and Gentiles, to condemn a leader of the Southern Baptists for having disparaged Jews and to call on the congregation to resist bigotry and to respect their fellow man.  I may not have communicated it well - but the sermon was interesting, challenging and relevant.