What does Matthew 15:25 mean?

Jesus has made His position about performing miracles in Gentile territories very clear. He was sent only to the "lost sheep" of the house of Israel. The apostles will later take the gospel of Jesus to all people. Jesus' specific mission, during His ministry on earth, is to heal and teach Israelites as Israel's promised Messiah. At this moment, He is in the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon.

A non-Israelite woman has approached Jesus, suggesting she knows He is the Messiah, and begging Him to heal her daughter. She has heard His initial refusal, but she refuses to leave. In fact, she pesters to the point the disciples lose patience and ask Jesus to deal with her (Matthew 15:21–25).

All the same, the woman once again kneels and begs Christ for help. This woman has something in common with two women who asked for help from prophets in the Old Testament. The Sidonian woman and the Shunammite woman would not take a no answer from Elijah (1 Kings 17:18–19) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:28) respectively. God honored their perseverance and their faith. Jesus will do the same—His initial delay is for a purpose (Matthew 15:28).