The Dogs (Edited 11-3-15)

In my previous post, “God Will BE All in All”, I talked about those people, the nations, living outside the new Holy city, Jerusalem. One of the groups are called “dogs”. I didn't know if this was a group of people or a reference to the actual animal, dog. Here is what I've found in my studies:

To an Israelite, dogs were not well loved, and they were associated with evil and low status and unclean. In Jesus' time and before, the gentiles (non-Israelite) were called or referenced as dogs by the Jews.
11-3-15 - I am a gentile and knowing that I may be considered or called a dog by anyone, be it Jew or Muslim or anyone does not bother me. I am in God's eyes perfectly judged. I trust Him in His thoughts of me. I hope I have not built up more animosity towards the Jews by what I've said here. It is not my intention to do so. I only want to shed light on the "dogs" reference in Revelation.  

I found the reference in the Bible where I remembered Jesus appearing to call a woman a dog. She was not a Samaritan as I thought but worse, she was a gentile (heathen, pagan, infidel, non-religious person). There are two gospels that tells the story: Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30. There has been much discussion about this. Was Jesus insulting this woman or was it something else? I think something else.

I had to consider both scriptures to build a better picture as to what was going on here. Mark says that Jesus went to Tyre to try and get away from the crowds that were constantly following Him everywhere He went; He needed some quiet time. He enters a house and didn't want anyone to know about it but His presence leaked out to the people there. Tyre was in gentile territory. A woman who was a Greek, born a Syrophoenician, found out He was there and she goes to Him and keeps begging Him to cast a demon out of her daughter. She had many things going against her when she came to Jesus; she was a woman, a gentile, and Jesus was trying to escape the crowds, it seems He was in no mood to deal with her at that time. Jesus at first just ignores her; the disciples even tried to get Jesus to send her away but she was very persistent. Here is their conversation when Jesus finally acknowledges her, according to Matthew:

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Matthew 15:24-28

New International Version

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

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When I studied these passages in my “Ultimate Bible Study Suite”, I found that the Greek word that is translated as “dog” is actually a puppy dog, not an adult dog. When I take this into consideration, I see a type of loving exchange of words going on here between an Israelite and a Gentile. The woman knew her place as to this Hebrew man she was talking to. Jesus, referring to her as a puppy dog I think softened something that normally would have sounded harsh. I think she picked up on this which relaxed her to talk more freely with Him. She responded very well, and Jesus granted her wish for healing of her daughter.

Now back to the dog referenced in Revelation 22:15, those outside the new Holy city, Jerusalem.

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Revelation 22:15

New International Version

15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Revelation 22:15

Common English Bible

15 Outside are the dogs, the drug users and spell-casters, those who commit sexual immorality, the murderers, the idolaters, and all who love and practice deception.

Revelation 22:15

King James Version

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

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Some Bible translations separate “dogs” and what follows with an “and” but some seem to imply those that follow are dogs. When I think about the writer of “Revelation” being a Hebrew, then dogs may very well have been a reference to gentiles.