Matthew 15:24 Meaning and Explanation
“But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus states that His mission was sent first to the lost sheep of Israel.
What Does Matthew 15:24 Mean?
Jesus breaks His silence with words that seem to narrow His mission: He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. In the unfolding plan, the gospel came first to Israel, the people of the covenant and the promises. The statement is true to that order, yet it is spoken to a woman who will not be turned aside, and the story is not finished. Her response is still to come.
The image of lost sheep is tender even here, recalling the Shepherd who seeks the straying. The verse marks the priority of God's saving plan without closing its doors, for the wider reach of grace is already pressing in at the margins. What looks like a boundary becomes the threshold over which a humble faith will step. God's purposes have an order, but His mercy is not finally confined.
Matthew 15:24 in the Original Language
probaton (πρόβατον), 'sheep' -- a figure for God's people in need of the Shepherd's seeking and care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 15:24
What does Matthew 15:24 mean?
Jesus states that His mission was sent first to the lost sheep of Israel.