As previously, opposition led Jesus to withdraw to train His disciples (cf. Matthew 14:13-33). However, this time He did not just withdraw from Galilee but from Jewish territory altogether. The response of the Canaanite woman in this story to Jesus contrasts with that of the Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes in the preceding pericope. She was a Gentile with no pretensions about knowing the law, but she came to Jesus in humble belief trusting only in His grace. She received Jesus" commendation whereas the critics had received His censure. This incident helped the disciples know how to deal with people who believed in Jesus, even Gentiles. [source][source][source]
"This section at the close of the Galilean phase of Matthew"s story thus marks a decisive break from the previous pattern of Jesus" ministry, a deliberate extension of the mission of the Messiah of Israel to the surrounding non-Jewish peoples. The whole new approach is a practical enactment of Jesus" radical attitude toward Jewish purity laws which has just been declared in Matthew 15:11-20; he and his good news will recognize no such restriction of the grace of God." [1][source]