Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 (Contemporary English Version)
God Has Not Rejected His People
1 Am I saying that God has turned his back on his people? Certainly not! I am one of the people of Israel, and I myself am a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not turn his back on his chosen people. Don't you remember reading in the Scriptures how Elijah complained to God about the people of Israel?
29 God doesn't take back the gifts he has given or forget about the people he has chosen.
30 At one time you Gentiles rejected God. But now Israel has rejected God, and you have been shown mercy. 31 And because of the mercy shown to you, they will also be shown mercy. 32 All people have disobeyed God, and that's why he treats them as prisoners. But he does this, so that he can have mercy on all of them.
Matthew 15:21-28 (Contemporary English Version)
A Woman's Faith
21 Jesus left and went to the territory near the cities of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Suddenly a Canaanite woman from there came out shouting, "Lord and Son of David, have pity on me! My daughter is full of demons." 23 Jesus did not say a word. But the woman kept following along and shouting, so his disciples came up and asked him to send her away. 24 Jesus said, "I was sent only to the people of Israel! They are like a flock of lost sheep." 25 The woman came closer. Then she knelt down and begged, "Please help me, Lord!" 26 Jesus replied, "It isn't right to take food away from children and feed it to dogs." 27"Lord, that's true," the woman said, "but even dogs get the crumbs that fall from their owner's table." 28 Jesus answered, "Dear woman, you really do have a lot of faith, and you will be given what you want." At that moment her daughter was healed.
