Jesus Heals Canaanite Woman’s Daughter

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Saturday July 27, 2024}

Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30

Father, please warm my heart to anyone who cries out for help. May I never delay grace, mercy, and compassion because I judge a needy person for who they are, what they have said, or what they have done. Father, help me to come to Jesus in prayer and ask for His mercy. It is a rebellious heart that does not cry out to Him for help. Help me to show my deep faith in Jesus' love for me by being persistent in prayer, even when it appears Jesus is not answering me. Amen.

Father, the text tells us that Jesus, along with His disciples, “left that place.” The place referred to appears to be a house in the Capernaum area. The text also tells us that Jesus “retreated” to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Jesus may have wanted some rest from the crowds. Or, He may also have considered this a missionary journey, a divine appointment to bring salvation to a Gentile woman.

The text tells us that Jesus, and His disciples, entered a house secretly, hoping no one would recognize Him. It is logical to assume that Jesus had received an invitation to stay at the house from the homeowner. Either Jesus had met the homeowner or someone in Jesus entourage knew the homeowner. It is also logical to assume that the homeowner was supportive of Jesus’ ministry. I can imagine this home was in a secluded area, as it was a destination suitable for a retreat away from the crowds for Jesus. The home was also large enough to house His disciples as well, an indication the owner was most likely wealthy. The situation may have been similar to a pastor today being invited to stay at the mountain vacation home of a wealthy member of his congregation.

However, there was a Jesus “sighting”. Word quickly spread that He was a guest in this home. A Canaanite Greek woman, born in Syrian, Phoenicia, lived nearby. Upon hearing that Jesus was in the neighborhood, she quickly went to where He was staying. I can imagine her shouting from the street outside the home.

“Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”(NIV)

The text instructs us that the woman called Jesus the Son of David. In 2 Samuel 7:11-16, we read that the seed, or “son”, of David will have a kingdom that lasts forever. By ascribing Jesus with the title of Son of David, she is stating that Jesus is the Messiah. She is a woman of faith.

The text tells us that Jesus did not respond. Why?

1. Did Jesus want to pretend He was not there, thinking the woman would walk away? No. That could not be the answer. Jesus welcomes all who cry out to Him for deliverance.
2. Was His silence a test of the woman’s faith? Did Jesus want to discover how persistent she would be? That doesn’t make sense as the woman’s faith was already obvious, having traveled to this home in belief Jesus could heal her daughter.
3. Was His silence a test of His disciples’ faith? How would they treat this woman? Would they have compassion on her? This makes the most sense given what we read next in the passage.

She apparently kept pleading with the disciples to get Jesus to come out of the house and give her attention. The disciples found her nagging cries for help annoying. They asked Jesus to send her away. Why?

1. They wanted Jesus to do the dirty work of sending her away.
2. This is evidence that the disciples had no heart for ministry, especially ministry to the Gentiles.
3. Given this woman was a Canaanite, the disciples most likely considered her a wicked pagan and wanted nothing to do with her.
4. This is evidence that the disciples didn’t understand Jesus whatsoever. How could they think Jesus would turn this woman away?

Father, Jesus had an unexpected response to this sincere woman’s request for help. He rejected her three times:

1. He did not answer her.
2. He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel (NIV).” He said He was sent to minister only to Jews and not Gentiles.
3. He said, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs (NIV).” The Jews considered Gentiles to be “dogs”, an inferior people. It was unthinkable in Jewish culture of that day to show kindness to Gentiles. I believe Jesus is not so much calling the woman a “dog” as He is emphasizing and illustrating an example of an unloving and ungodly tradition among the Jewish people wherein they refer to people, made in God’s image, as “dogs”. He may have been putting into words what His disciples were thinking in their hearts about this woman.

Why did Jesus reject this woman’s request?

1. Provide an opportunity for His disciples to see the hardness and coldness of their own hearts. They were more than likely cheering on Jesus for not helping what they thought to be a wicked Canaanite woman.
2. A test of this woman’s faith. Will her faith waver if Jesus appears to not grant her request? How many times does Jesus’ delay answering our prayers today because He is testing our faith in Him?
3. Teach His disciples, and us, about being persistent in prayer. Don’t give up praying for that which is good!

The woman does not argue that she is perceived as a “dog”. It is well known by the Phoenicians that the Jews have such contempt for them. However, she does grab onto the idea that she is a beloved “dog”, a pet who is welcome to sit on the floor at the table as the family eats. This kind of “dog” is invited to eat whatever crumbs fall to the floor. This woman is acknowledging that she knows she is loved by Jesus, at minimum like a beloved pet is loved by its owner.

Jesus is amazed at her faith. She believes Jesus is the Messiah. She believes that Jesus loves her, a Canaanite woman. She believes that Jesus will eventually grant her relief. She believes that Jesus can heal her daughter.

“Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted (NIV),” Jesus said. “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter (NIV).”

Father, the text tells us that the woman went home and found her child lying on her bed. She was of sound mind and at peace because the demon had left her. You are a loving and compassionate God who is eager to answer the prayers of those who believe in You. Amen.