Matthew 15:26 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. The children's bread - The salvation provided for the Jews, who were termed the children of the kingdom. And cast it to the κυναριοις, little dogs - to the curs; such the Gentiles were reputed by the Jewish people, and our Lord uses that form of speech which was common among his countrymen. What terrible repulses! and yet she still perseveres!