Text: Matthew 15:21-28
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So, his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” 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.
Mark’s Gospel (chapter 7) tells us that Jesus was in a house “and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter…She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.”
At first glance this story seems so out of character for Jesus – He ignores her, insults her race and insults her personally. So, what was going on? Let’s go behind the scenes to find out…
*Jesus is testing this woman’s faith *
I.e. he sees her courageous faith and seeks to draw it out
Jesus is educating the disciples
Jesus tests the woman and the disciples are watching:
Test 1: Indifference – Jesus simply ignores her
“Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
“Jesus did not answer a word”
That was completely acceptable in first century Middle Eastern culture. Jewish Rabbis wouldn’t even talk to female members of their own family in public, let alone a perfect stranger…
But Jesus’ is just feigning indifference for two reasons:
He wants to draw out the courageous faith of this woman
He wants to draw out the prejudice in his disciples
Jesus’ disciples would see nothing wrong with Jesus’ lack of response; in fact, it would endorse views of Gentiles and women with which they felt totally comfortable…
“His disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us” (i.e. around the house)
She’s a bother, a pest, a Gentile, a woman, get rid of her!
(Canaanite women were most morally despised of all Israel’s’ enemies)
The disciples are revealing the prejudice they have towards this woman and so Jesus plays along with it…
Kenneth Bailey in his brilliant book, Jesus through Middle Eastern eyes puts it this way, “The text can be understood as follows: Jesus is irritated by the disciples’ attitudes regarding women and Gentiles. The woman’s love for her daughter and her confidence in him impress Jesus. He decides to use the occasion to help her and challenge the deeply rooted prejudices in the hearts of his disciples. In the process he gives the woman a chance to expose the depth of her courage and faith.”
Test 2: You’re not a Jew so it’s not for you
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
Notice how Jesus doesn’t give his disciples a lecture on prejudice. He actually appears to agree with their bigotry…
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
I can just see the disciples nodding in agreement. That’s right Jesus, all the blessings of God and his Kingdom are just for us, not for Gentiles and certainly not for women…
Q. Do we Christians ever communicate that to the world around us?
What follows is a stunning exchange of banter:
The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
(She drops the Messianic title and the beggars cry)
He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
To Jews, dogs were unclean animals only slightly better than pigs. They were either savage guard dogs or scavengers feeding on garbage but they were never pets.
And even though Jesus uses the Greek word meaning “little dogs or puppies” it’s still an insult. Jesus is verbalizing what the disciples were thinking: The promises and blessings of God are for the Jews, not Gentile dogs. How would she respond?
“Yes, it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the [little] dogs eat the [little] crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
I.e. just a little bit of your power is what this little woman needs…
Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Practical Application
1. This story demonstrates God’s love for ALL people
The prejudices in the disciples took years to overcome. Much of the New Testament Scriptures address deeply rooted bigotry, intolerance, small-mindedness, and racism as God constantly encouraged his people that his blessings were not just for their benefit, but that as they had freely received they were also to freely give to others. The gospel is for ALL people; “that God was reconciling THE WORLD to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:19)
I’m so glad that in this day and age the church has finally overcome all of its biases and prejudice. We are no longer intolerant of other people, Christians are not known anymore for their bigotry or bias. On Social Media, blogs and sermons you never hear a negative or judgmental comment from a Christian about women or refugees or Muslims or people of colour, or indigenous people, or anyone! (Satire)
If only what I just said was true! As I heard someone say, “Racism is a pigment of the imagination!”
And so, the first practical application of this story is this question: “Are there any people that you think Jesus is not interested in?” Can you relate to the disciples’ prejudice towards this Gentile woman?
If so pray a simple prayer like: “Holy Spirit, please shine your light into my heart and mind and reveal any prejudices that dwell there.” And if he reveals them then ask his forgiveness and strength to overcome.
2. This story demonstrates courageous faith
Everything was stacked against her. She was Canaanite woman. The lowest of the low. The most undeserving. And yet she had courageous faith.
Q. In what situation do you need to display courageous faith?
3. This woman was desperate for help for herself
Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me
Lord, help me!
Yes, she wanted healing for her daughter but she was also a person in pain. She needed help too…
Further Study
Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes:
By Brandon J. O’Brien and E. Randolph Richards
Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes
By Kenneth E. Bailey
Discussion Questions
“Are there any people that you think Jesus is not interested in helping?” Can you relate to the disciples’ prejudice towards this Gentile woman?
What are the main biases that the Christian church is known for today in Australia? How can we change this perception?
In what ways have you been affected by the individualism of Western culture? How can you become more community-focused in faith and practice?
Jesus often tests people before helping them. Can you recall a time in your life when you’ve experienced this?
Have you ever thought that all the blessings of God and his Kingdom are just for Christians and not for others? What practical things can you do to show other people that God loves them and is vitally interested in impacting their lives?
Are you a caregiver or do you know someone who is? Think of a practical way that you personally – or as a Connect Group – can help this person.