I think the point is that Christ does fail here. That if God is becoming “like us” - trying to understand us, trying to maybe see why we fail and then ultimately deciding above all to redeem us - that he’s kinda a racist jerk at one point, is called out on it, and changes is maybe the point.
“Even the dogs deserve the crumbs.”
She acknowledges it. She calls it for what it is. She turns the other cheek. Like Judah and Tamar, the Son of Man has to admit he’s been outplayed. They’ve failed to be kind, they’ve not even followed their own rules (dogs and crumbs reminds me of widows and orphans protected right to the cast offs of the fields.)
(Similarly, cursing the fig tree? Have we all not been hangry?)
I think it is safe to say that Jesus was a jerk in this story. I think Matthew above all shows us a human Jesus, a Jesus who can save us because he knows us. He must ultimately concede defeat - he must say, look at how this woman has shown that she is not Less Than You, a reverse image of David and Goliath - redemption instead of death.
With all due respect, this reading is flawed and even heretical unless you don’t see racism as sinful. Jesus is perfect and without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) From this interpretation, either Jesus sinned and we’re not saved, or racism isn’t sinful.
Let’s take Matthew’s account of the story. Keep in mind, Jesus, being God, would know the full picture here.
Matthew 15:21-28 ESV
[21] And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. [22] And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” [23] But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” [24] He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” [25] But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” [26] And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” [27] She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” [28] Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Also, Mark records: Mark 7:24 ESV
[24] And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden.
They just fled from crowds, Jesus and His disciples are likely tired
So as we can see: Canaanite woman begs Jesus
Jesus is silent
This silence gives the disciples a chance to show their prejudice or misunderstanding/error of the Messiah, who asks Jesus (most likely in front of the woman) to make her leave.
Jesus then essentially poses their question to her (Also worth pointing out that He let a gentile woman rebuke His disciples)
The woman gives an absolutely perfect rebuttal to the disciples thoughts, which Jesus pitched to her
Jesus praises her for her faith shown by her answer (she wasn’t praised for her answer- but her faith that was shown through her answer) and He heals her daughter.
So basically, I just see it as Jesus asking the woman this question on behalf of His disciples as He knows she’ll prove them wrong easily, and allowing her to answer for herself. This must have happened in front of them, as we have record of it.
In a similar way to Job, God tests Job, and Job goes through stuff but gets out in the end due to his steadfastness in faith. This woman did the same.