Matthew's Messianic Shepherd-King - In Search of The Lost Sheep of the House of Israel

In two places in the First Gospel (Matt 10:5b-6, 15:24) the Messianic mission of Jesus and his disciples is limited to a group called ïthe lost sheep of the house of Israelï. In light of Matthewïs intense interest in Jesusï Davidic Messiahship and the Jewish Shepard-King traditions surrounding King David it is argued that the ' lost sheep of the house of Israel' refers to remnants of the former northern kingdom of Israel who continued to reside in the northern region of the ideal Land of Israel.