So perhaps Jesus was acting like a parent who intends to grant a child’s request but withholds any outward sign of that intent in order to test out the child’s seriousness.
فَقَدِ ٱسْتَخْدَمَ عِبَارَةَ « صِغَارِ ٱلْكِلَابِ » ،‏ مِمَّا خَفَّفَ مِنْ وَقْعِ ٱلْمُقَارَنَةِ .‏