New King James Version
Matthew 15:24
24But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Matthew 15:24 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
- New International Version (NIV)He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.”
Context of Matthew 15:24
22And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” 23But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
Read all of Matthew 15Matthew 15:24 word by word
Ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· οὐκ ἀπεστάλην εἰ μὴ εἰς τὰ πρόβατα τὰ ἀπολωλότα οἴκου Ἰσραήλ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- he answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
- and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- I amἀποστέλλωapostellō · to sendG649
- notοὐou · noG3756
- ·εἰei · if: notG1487
- butμήmē · notG3361
- untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the lostἀπολλύωapollumi · to destroyG622
- sheepπρόβατονprobaton · sheepG4263
- of the houseοἶκοςoikos · house: householdG3624
- of IsraelἸσραήλIsraēl · IsraelG2474
Cross-references for Matthew 15:24
- Matthew 9:36But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
- Matthew 10:5These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
- Isaiah 53:6All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
- Jeremiah 50:6“My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray; They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill; They have forgotten their resting place.
- Ezekiel 34:5So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.
- Luke 15:4“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
- Acts 3:25You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
- Acts 13:46Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
- Romans 15:8Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,
Commentaries on Matthew 15:24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24I am not sent but unto the lost sheep - By the Divine appointment, I am come to preach the Gospel to the Jews only. There are certain preachers who should learn a lesson of important instruction from this part of our Lord's conduct. As soon as they hear of a lost sheep being found by other ministers, they give all diligence to get that one into their fold: but display little earnestness in seeking in the wilderness for those that are lost. This conduct…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21-28Verses 21-28 This narrative is also found in Mark 7:24-30. The coasts of Tyre and Sidon - These cities were on the seacoast or shore of the Mediterranean. See the notes at Matthew 11:21. Jesus went there for the purpose of concealment Mark 7:24, perhaps still to avoid Herod. Matthew 15:22 A woman of Canaan - This woman is called, also, a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, Mark 7:26 In ancient times, the whole land, including Tyre and Sidon, was in the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-28Verses 21-28 The dark corners of the country, the most remote, shall share Christ's influences; afterwards the ends of the earth shall see his salvation. The distress and trouble of her family brought a woman to Christ; and though it is need that drives us to Christ, yet we shall not therefore be driven from him. She did not limit Christ to any particular instance of mercy, but mercy, mercy, is what she begged for: she pleads not merit, but depends upon…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-28This 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).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. But he answered and said, I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel--(Also see on Mr 7:26.)Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 15:24
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries