A Mother’s A Mother’s FaithFaithMatthew 15:21-28Matthew 15:21-28

University Church of ChristUniversity Church of Christ

Matthew 15:21-25Matthew 15:21-25

And behold, a Canaanite woman from that And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”demon.”  But he did not answer her a But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”crying out after us.”  He answered, “I was He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 

A Desperate WomanA Desperate Woman

OJesus withdraws to the far northJesus withdraws to the far northOApproached by a Canaanite womanApproached by a Canaanite woman– Traditional enemies of IsraelTraditional enemies of Israel

OShe is crying, desperateShe is crying, desperateO““Son of David”Son of David”– Recognizes His great standingRecognizes His great standing

OApproaches as a motherApproaches as a mother– At wit’s endAt wit’s end

OWill Jesus help her demon possessed Will Jesus help her demon possessed daughter?daughter?

Silence From GodSilence From God

OHave you cried to God in desperation?Have you cried to God in desperation?OHave you only received silence in Have you only received silence in

response?response?OWhy would Jesus do this?Why would Jesus do this?OWhat do we do when God is silent What do we do when God is silent

when when we are desperate?we are desperate?

ODo we walk away, frustrated or Do we walk away, frustrated or angered?angered?

Send Her AwaySend Her Away

ODisciples want her sent awayDisciples want her sent away– She is a nuisanceShe is a nuisance– Implication: “heal her so she’ll leave”Implication: “heal her so she’ll leave”

OJesus is “sent only to the lost sheep Jesus is “sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”of the house of Israel.”– Limited earthly ministryLimited earthly ministry

OShe stands outside mission She stands outside mission parametersparameters

Another EntreatyAnother Entreaty

ODoes she leave, hopeless for her Does she leave, hopeless for her daughter?daughter?

OInstead of leaving, she kneels before Instead of leaving, she kneels before JesusJesus

O““Lord, help me.”Lord, help me.”OCry of desperationCry of desperationOShe knows He can do what she needsShe knows He can do what she needs

Matthew 15:26Matthew 15:26

And he answered, “It is not right to And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” to the dogs.” 

Disturbing ReplyDisturbing Reply

OFew NT narratives more disturbingFew NT narratives more disturbingOChallenges our understanding of Challenges our understanding of

JesusJesusOWhy does He seem reluctant?Why does He seem reluctant?OWhy does Jesus seemingly insult her?Why does Jesus seemingly insult her?OWhy won’t He show her mercy like Why won’t He show her mercy like

we expect?we expect?OLikely a proverbial expression stating Likely a proverbial expression stating

obvious priorityobvious priority

Matthew 15:27-28Matthew 15:27-28

She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.”  Then Jesus masters' table.”  Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. healed instantly. 

How to Respond?How to Respond?

OHow will she respond?How will she respond?

OJustified in angrily storming off?Justified in angrily storming off?

OContent with crumbs: just heal my Content with crumbs: just heal my daughter!daughter!

Great Faith!Great Faith!

OJesus impressedJesus impressed

OHe proclaims great faithHe proclaims great faith– Reminds us of centurion’s faith (Mat Reminds us of centurion’s faith (Mat

7:10)7:10)– Only ones whose faith praised by JesusOnly ones whose faith praised by Jesus

OThe daughter healed “instantly”The daughter healed “instantly”

Focused FaithFocused FaithOCanaanite mother knew who Jesus wasCanaanite mother knew who Jesus was– Son of DavidSon of David

OOnly He could do what she neededOnly He could do what she neededOHer goal—healing for her daughter—Her goal—healing for her daughter—

most important thingmost important thingOPride not an issuePride not an issue– KneelsKneels– Accepts she has no right to sit at Master’s Accepts she has no right to sit at Master’s

tabletable– Initially recognized Him as Israel’s king Initially recognized Him as Israel’s king

(“Son of David”)(“Son of David”)

Matthew 15:10-12Matthew 15:10-12

And he called the people to him and And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and said to them, “Hear and understand:understand:  it is not what goes into it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”  Then the disciples defiles a person.”  Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”when they heard this saying?”

Offended Offended

OPharisees offended by JesusPharisees offended by JesusOYet Canaanite woman is notYet Canaanite woman is notOShe attains her goalShe attains her goal– No pride, no angerNo pride, no anger

OOvercomes obstaclesOvercomes obstacles– Social status: Gentile womanSocial status: Gentile woman– Disciples hostilityDisciples hostility– Jesus’ perceived indifferenceJesus’ perceived indifference– Jesus’ perceived insultJesus’ perceived insult

Matthew 11:4-6Matthew 11:4-6

And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: John what you hear and see:   the the blind receive their sight and the lame blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”one who is not offended by me.”

Achieving the GoalAchieving the Goal

OWhat do we learn from this mother?What do we learn from this mother?OOnly God has what we needOnly God has what we needOWho we are does not limit usWho we are does not limit usOInitial silence cannot stop usInitial silence cannot stop usOOthers’ opposition cannot stop usOthers’ opposition cannot stop usOWe can only rely on God’s graceWe can only rely on God’s grace– We have no rightful claim to the tableWe have no rightful claim to the table

Luke 13:29Luke 13:29

And people will come from east and And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the and recline at table in the kingdom of God. kingdom of God.