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.
Dean Honnette
Hope Center Covenant Church – Pleasant Hill CA
Observation: Humility is a vital part of faith in God. The Canaanite women was willing to considered a “dog” to receive help from Jesus! As a result Jesus said she had “great faith”.
Action: During Lent, I will humble myself before God daily and remind myself that God never “plays favorites”.
Dear Lord, I am a woman. I am not from Israel. I am a Syrophoenician. I do not know Jewish custom and am unclean- I do not worship Your God. Yet I need You.
You speak to me about order. You speak that first children must eat and then puppies get scraps. You came to fulfill Scripture promise- yet there is more than enough for all nations. Lord give me what I deserve on the basis of Your goodness- not mine. Lord let me accept Your challenge and receive what You offer.
Lay me low yet let me rise up with You. Let me trust like the Syrophoenician woman in the sufficiency and abundance of Your provision –Oh Lord I ask this day.
Thank You Lord for Your abundant grace and amazing word. Amen.
I see that approaching Jesus in humility shows that we trust Him.
I will not go to God with a sense of entitlement but with expectancy.
Observation: What has gone before is key to Your actions. Jesus you discipling your followers beyond the words you just spoke to the Pharisees about defilement, judgement and life. Here you tangibly demonstrate for us to see that there are no “dog’s” in your kingdom view. The way You treat people should be the way I treat people.
Action: Today I will demonstrate to someone they are not a “dog,” not an outsider to the love of Jesus
Observation : This woman was persistant and knew that any “crumb” from Jesus would be more than sufficient to heal her daughter.
Action: Sometimes I don’t think “crumbs” from God are enough. What a lie! Today I will look for Your provision, Your healing.
Observation: We all have someone we think of as a dog–someone not worthy of our time and attention. We don’t think we do, but we do.
Action: Catch myself in that moment when I see someone I think less of, and think differently.
Observation: God honors our intercession. Because of the mother’s faith, the daughter is healed. This reminds me of the story where the men drop the paralytic down through the roof in order to see Jesus. His reply to the man is, “Because of their faith, your sins are forgiven.”
Application: I am reminded today to continually stand in the gap for those who are not or can not petition the Father on their own.
Observation: I see that even though this woman was an outsider, she believed she had an in to Jesus. I see that I often feel like an outsider myself, bit rather than coming to Jesus I withdraw from Him in anticipation of being rejected.
Action: Lord Jesus, I will come to You in faith that You will accept me even though I am an outsider.
What I see: God honors faith-filled intercession.
What I will do: Today I will intercede on behalf of others who are in dire need.
What God is saying: Jesus responds to the woman’s cry “Lord, help me!” I hear God telling me to remember He wants to help people and their families – even the outcast and those I might think are outside God’s family. And He wants to help them through me. What an invitation and challenge!
What He wants me to do: Lord, I believe you want me to join with You to help those in my neighborhood who are in need by helping them physically and spiritually. I will look for and expect these opportunities.