A Canaanite Women With Great Faith
April 27, 2022
Commentary
Jesus went into Tyre and Sidon, which is(present Lebanon) Gentile country (v. 21). As far as the Jews were concerned the Gentiles were “unclean” and they referred to them as “dogs”. Jesus wanted His disciples to have a compassion for Gentiles as well as Jews. The gospel “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:1-16).
Somehow a Caananite woman heard where He was and came to Him pleading that He have mercy on her demon possessed daughter (v. 22). At first Jesus did not answer (v. 23. As she was persistent the disciples said “send her away!” It appears that they were actually saying “Lord why don’t you go ahead and help this woman because she isn’t going to give up until you do.”
To point out the fact that He knew she was a Gentile He referred to the Jews as children and the Gentiles as dogs (vv. 24-26). In His reply, Jesus did not actually call her a “dog” the way the Pharisees would have talked to a Gentile. She immediately seized upon His illustration about the children’s bread, which was exactly what He wanted her to do. She said that it was true that Gentiles do not sit at the table as children but as dogs under the table, and she was willing to eat some of the crumbs (v. 27)! With this testimony of faith Jesus immediately healed her daughter (v. 28). Only two people in the Gospels are said to have “great” faith, and both of them were Gentiles (the other (Matt. 8:10). Great faith does not depend on background or position, but on the heart.
Application
This woman’s faith was great because she persisted in asking and trusting when everything seemed against her. Has there ever been a time when it seemed like everything was against me? If so this is when I need to keep asking and trusting.
Matthew 15:21– 28 (NET)
21 After going out from there, Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that area came and cried out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is horribly demon-possessed!” 23 But he did not answer her a word. Then his disciples came and begged him, “Send her away, because she keeps on crying out after us.” 24 So he answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and bowed down before him and said, “Lord, help me!” 26 “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,” he said. 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, your faith is great! Let what you want be done for you.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Illustration: Franz’s Results of Compassion Tests
Harvard University’s Carol Franz used personality tests to determine compassion and sympathy. The subjects: 75 of an original 379 children who were 5 when the study began. Findings:
Dads who spent time alone with his kids reared the most compassionate adults.Moms who were most accepting of a child’s dependency, also helped foster empathy.Both parents’ involvement was equally important for sons and daughters.But single moms and dads who work long hours shouldn’t feel their kids are doomed. “A child can benefit from having another adult who’s very responsive."(Encyclopedia of Illustrations #3690).