But although Jesus did not reply, the woman did not lose faith. As He passed on, as if not hearing her, she followed Him, continuing her supplications. Annoyed by her importunities, the disciples asked Jesus to send her away. They saw that their Master treated her with indifference, and they therefore supposed that the prejudice of the Jews against the Canaanites was pleasing to Him. But it was a pitying Saviour to whom the woman made her plea, and in answer to the request of the disciples, Jesus said, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house 401 of Israel." Although this answer appeared to be in accordance with the prejudice of the Jews, it was an implied rebuke to the disciples, which they afterward understood as reminding them of what He had often told them,--that He came to the world to save all who would accept Him.

Men skønt Jesus ikke svarede, mistede kvinden ikke troen. Da han gik videre, som om han ikke hørte hende, fulgte hun efter ham og vedblev at bønfalde ham. Disciplene blev ærgerlige over hendes påtrængenhed og bad Jesus om at sende hende bort. De så, at deres Mester behandlede hende med ligegyldighed, og derfor antog de, at han syntes godt om jødernes fordomme mod kananæerne. Men det var til en medlidende Frelser, at kvinden henvendte sin bøn, og som svar på disciplenes ord sagde Jesus: "Jeg er ikke udsendt til andre end til de fortabte får af Israels hus." Skønt dette svar syntes at stemme overens med jødernes fordom, rummede det en irettesættelse til disciplene, som de siden hen forstod, fordi den mindede dem om det, som han så ofte havde sagt til dem: at han var kommen til verden for at frelse alle dem, der ville tage imod ham.