Commentary on the Gospel of
Jesus understood and defined his mission as "being sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel". Yet, early in his ministry he was powerfully struck by the sincerity and humility of individual pagans whom he encountered and he came to understand that they, too, were deserving of the mercy and love of God. He was undoubtedly, amazed by the sheer naked faith and utter humility of the Syrophoecian woman, and his tender loving heart simply could ot refuse such an abject appeal, even though she was a pagan. As a human being, Jesus was discovering that his mission embraced all people and not just Jews.
