When No Is No Answer The Miracle Of A Woman's Faith
Preaching
Preaching the Miracles
Cycle A
Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." 23But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." 24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 27She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.
In the miracle of Jesus' healing a Canaanite mother's demon-possessed daughter, we confront a different kind of Jesus. Is he the same Jesus whom we often describe as "meek and mild?" Can this be the same man who blesses little children, gives sight to a blind beggar, forgives an adulterous woman, heals a lady by her touch of his garment, and tells the story of a Good Samaritan?
Here we experience a Jesus who does not seem to fit into this portrait. He ignores a woman's cry for help. He addresses his disciples in her presence as though she were not present. He insults her by referring to her and her race as "dogs." At all other times he was the kind, loving, eager-to-help person. Now this! Are we shocked and disillusioned? Do we think less of Jesus than before?
How can we explain this strange behavior of the all-loving and caring Jesus? Does it point to his humanity? As a human was he expressing the prejudice of the Jews of his day toward gentiles? Or, was he playing a role to teach his followers how wrong it is to badly treat people of another race and religion? Here Jesus acts as a 100 percent Jew whose ministry is restricted to the Jewish people. Or, was he testing the faith of the woman to see if she were worthy and receptive to getting the answer to her plea? Probably this last is the answer.
What is the miracle in this gospel lesson? Is it the healing of the daughter? A greater miracle than this happened that day. It was a miracle of grace. It was a miracle that the woman overcame Jesus' reluctance. The great gulf between Jew and gentile was closed. The barriers of race and religion, like the Berlin wall, were torn down. It was also a miracle of faith. The focus is not upon the demon-possessed daughter who was healed but upon the mother and her persistent faith in Jesus. She was a lady who would not take "no" for an answer. Her insistence was based on her faith in Jesus and her love for her daughter.
Acclimation
The Situation
When people are in need of rest and refreshment, many go to the seashore. Jesus was one of them. Feeling the need for privacy, rest and reflection, he and his men go northwest to the coastal towns of Tyre and Sidon. According to Mark, he goes into a home to hide from the public, but his presence is soon found out. An unnamed Greek woman from Phoenicia in Syria came to Jesus and begged f'or the healing of her terribly afflicted daughter possessed by demons.
She pleads, "Son of David, have mercy on me." He reacted as though he did not hear her. She was ignored. This did not discourage the mother for she kept on crying for help to the point that the disciples asked Jesus to give her what she wanted so that she would leave them alone. In response to the disciples' request, Jesus says to them, "I was sent only to the Jews, the lost sheep of Israel." Having overheard this, she came to Jesus, fell on her knees, and repeated her plea. "Lord, help me." Now Jesus addresses her for the first time. He says, "It is not right to take the children's (Israelites) bread and throw it to dogs (gentiles)." In humility she replies, "Yes, Lord, that may be so, but the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Jesus was so favorably impressed with this reply that he said to her, "O woman, great is your faith!" Then he sent her home and promised her that when she arrived home, she would find her daughter well. And so it was!
The Setting
1. The Occasion. Jesus tries to get away from the demands of the people who keep him so busy preaching, teaching and healing that he scarcely has time to eat. In addition, hostility between him and the religious leaders is increasing almost to the breaking point. To get away he leaves the country for the seacoast towns of Tyre and Sidon located in Phoenicia, northeast of Galilee. His attempt to hide himself failed. A Syrophoenician woman insists that he heal her daughter of demon possession.
2. The Biblical Setting. This is the third of three miracles in Matthew 14 and 15. This third miracle is related to the prior discussion concerning what makes a person clean or unclean. Jesus teaches that what makes a person unclean is not what enters a person but what leaves a person. The mouth reveals an unclean heart. Cleanliness is an interior matter. This is related to the miracle concerning the gentile mother. Jews considered gentiles to be unclean. Association with them defiles a Jew. Therefore, Jews will not enter gentile homes or eat with gentiles. The miracle deals with this Jew-gentile problem. Because she is a gentile, Jesus has no obligation to help her. In the eyes of the Jews, she is a dirty dog.
Soon after this miracle, Jesus and his disciples go to Caesarea Philippi where in the same general area he asks the disciples who they think he is. Next Sunday, Pentecost 14, the gospel lesson takes us to Caesarea Philippi.
3. Parallel Passage (Mark 7:24-30). Only Matthew and Mark give the story of the Canaanite mother. Since Mark is considered the older account, Matthew adds several details. Only Mark tells us Jesus went into a house to hide from the public, but was unable to stay hidden. While Matthew identifies her as a Canaanite, Mark tells us she was from Phoenicia in Syria, northwest of Galilee. Mark omits both the fact that Jesus refused to speak to her at first and the disciples' request to send her away. Mark reports that Jesus answered her plea because of her answer, but according to Matthew, Jesus healed the daughter because of her mother's faith. Unlike Matthew, Mark has Jesus tell her to go home and she will find her daughter well.
Related Passages
Genesis 32:22-32 - Jacob wrestles with an angel of God.
Judges 16:4-22 - Delilah nags to get Samson's secret.
Matthew 8:5-13 - Jesus heals a Roman officer's servant.
Matthew 10:5-6 - Jesus sent his disciples to preach only to Jews.
Luke 8:26-39 - Jesus heals a demon-possessed man.
Luke 11:5-9 - Jesus teaches persistence in prayer.
Acts 10:23-29 - Peter preaches to gentiles.
Acts 13:44-48 - Paul takes the gospel to gentiles.
The Lectionary (Pentecost 13, Proper 15)
Lesson 1 (Exodus 1 6:2-15). Yahweh provides food for the Israelites. Under the leadership of Moses, the Israelites crossed the Red Sea to the wilderness of Sin. In a wilderness there is no food. The people complain and wish they were back in Egypt. God hears their complaint and sends meat in the evenings and bread in the mornings. A connection with the gospel lesson is evident: the Canaanite woman received healing for her daughter as she begged Jesus for help. God hears the cries of his people and provides.
Lesson 2 (Romans 11:13-16, 29-32). The Jews' rejection of the gospel brings salvation to all. Paul, apostle to the gentiles, makes the Jews jealous because they are accepting the gospel. Their rejection of Christ caused Paul to take the gospel to the gentiles. As the gentiles received mercy for their disobedience, so the Jews will also receive mercy. There is a connection of this Lesson with the Gospel for the Day. The gospel lesson deals with a gentile's plea for mercy and a Hebrew's response.
Gospel (Matthew 15:21-28). A gentile mother gains Jesus' help. This was not an easy miracle for a Canaanite mother of a demon-possessed daughter. In spite of sexual, racial and religious differences, she gained Jesus' help by her persistent faith in him.
Psalm of the Day (Psalm 78:1-3, 10-20). The Israelites tested God by demanding food. In the gospel, Jesus tested the faith of a Canaanite mother who came with a demand for healing.
Prayer of the Day: A prayer for faith. We need a faith like the Canaanite woman who through faith received an answer to her prayer.
"Almighty and ever-living God, you have given great and precious promises to those who believe. Grant us the perfect faith which overcomes all doubt."
Hymn of the Day: "When In The Hour Of Deepest Need"
The Canaanite mother was in the hour of her deepest need. She begged, "Lord, help me (v. 25)."
Explanation
Withdrew (v. 21). Jesus "withdrew" to a region where he could rest and reflect. His public ministry was drawing to a close. Soon he would be headed toward Caesarea Philippi where he would learn whether the disciples understood that he was the Christ. Then on to Jerusalem to die! Everyone, even Jesus, feels the need to withdraw from the frantic pace and the pressure of daily living. There is a need for solitude and silence to get in tune with God, to get things straight and to recharge one's batteries.
Canaanite (v. 22). For an understanding of what is to come, one needs to know where the mother lived. A Canaanite was a gentile living in Phoenicia in Syria. She belonged to a race that previously occupied the holy land. Mark identifies her as a Greek, a Syrophoenician.
Me (v. 22). The Canaanite woman begged, "Have mercy on me ..." Why me? She had no physical or mental problems. Her daughter was the one who was in terrible need because she was demon-possessed. The mother identified with her daughter to the extent that what was done for her was at the same time done for her daughter. Love causes this oneness. A child's needs or problems are also the parents' concern. Jesus taught, "As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me (Matthew 25:40)."
Answer (v. 23). Jesus gives the mother the silent treatment. In reply to her appeal for mercy, he ignored her by not answering a single word. The woman experienced the silence of God. It is a common experience: "Be not silent to me, O God (Psalm 109:1)." It may be the silence of unanswered prayer. We seek a word of guidance from the Lord but receive none. God's silence can be a test of our faith.
Help (v. 25). "Help" is an SOS of one in danger of perishing. At this time help is the woman's basic need. It will not go away even if Jesus refuses to speak to her or gives an excuse for not helping by saying he was sent to help only Jews. Regardless of reasons or arguments, the need persists. Her daughter is still in a terrible condition. All she can say is, "Help me." She knows she does not deserve help. She is only a woman, a pagan and a gentile, but she still needs help. Need knows no boundaries of culture, race, class or religion.
Dogs (v. 26). Jesus refers to gentiles as "dogs," a Jewish epithet for pagans. It is an insulting term like calling a policeman a "pig." Some have tried to take the sting out of the term by using the term, "puppy." However, biblical scholars advise us that neither in Hebrew nor Aramaic is there a word for "puppy." In Jesus' day Jews abhorred gentiles. They were considered unclean and outcasts. To associate with a gentile or to enter a gentile house caused a Jew to be defiled. At the time of Jesus' trial before Pilate, the Jews refused to enter the Roman praetoriurn to avoid defilement. Consequently, when Jesus sent his disciples to go out to preach and heal, they were instructed to go only to Jews. In this miracle Jesus claims he was sent to Jews only.
Faith (v. 28). Faith won the battle between Jesus and the woman. Jesus commended the woman for her great faith. It was a faith that overcame being ignored and insulted. It was a faith in Jesus as "Lord" and "Son of David" (Messiah). She believed in him. She was sure that he could and would help her. This was proved by her humility and persistence. However, faith did not bring healing to her daughter. Not faith but God alone heals. Faith is the agent that brings God's power and grace to a person.
Application
Relevance Of Revelation
1. Christianity and Other Religions. What keeps Jesus from immediately helping the Canaanite mother was the issue of Jew and gentile relationships. As a Jew, Jesus said his mission was to save the lost sheep of Israel (v. 24). She was a gentile and a pagan. Increasingly in America we live in a pluralistic society. At one time it was primarily Protestant. Later we claimed to be a Christian nation of Protestants and Catholics. Now we have growing numbers of Moslems, Hindus and Buddhists. How shall Christians hold to the one true God, the Father of Jesus Christ, and to Christ, the one and only mediator between God and humanity? Shall we isolate ourselves and refuse to help non-Christian people? Today's miracle speaks to this situation. When our neighbors of a different race and religion come to us for help, we must respond favorably as Jesus did.
2. Evangelization of Non-Christians. Should Christians attempt to evangelize non-Christians belonging to other religions? Are these religious people safe in their own beliefs? Do they need Christ as Lord and Savior? Should we try to persuade them to forsake their religion and accept Christ, or is it enough to dialogue with them concerning the needs of the soul as well as of society? Do we need an overseas mission program or is it enough to send food and other supplies to relieve need?
3. The Right to Come. This Canaanite mother had no right to invade Jesus' privacy and rest. She was a woman who in those days was considered a piece of property. She held to a pagan religion. As a gentile she was a despised person by the Jews. Because of this, she had no claim on Jesus. She did not deserve to ask for any blessing. Only her faith won Jesus' help. Today we are in the same situation. Who are we to ask for God's favor? We are sinners. We disobey God's commands. We break our promise to be faithful. In no way do we deserve mercy or help. Nevertheless, we humbly throw ourselves on his mercy and cry, "Lord, help us." The miracle is that he accepts, blesses and answers our prayers.
Sermon Suggestions
1. Jesus' reluctance. Why in this case was Jesus reluctant to help a non-Jew? In the past, he immediately healed a Roman centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-13). Jesus did not pass out miracles as though they were a dime a dozen. He refused to perform a miracle for the Pharisees and for King Herod. He taught that one should not throw pearls before swine. One has to be worthy of a miracle. The need must be desperate. Faith in Christ is essential. Perhaps this reluctance was due to the need to test the woman's sincerity and faith. Miracles by Jesus are not just for the asking!
2. Intercessory Prayer. This miracle is a case of intercessory prayer. The Canaanite woman was not asking for herself but for her daughter. There is no indication that the daughter appealed for a cure or had faith in Jesus. The daughter was perhaps miles away. Whether an intercessory prayer is answered and whether a miracle is performed depends upon the pray-er. The woman spoke for her daughter out of love and concern for her. It was a vicarious faith that brought
healing to the afflicted one. This episode teaches us the importance and value of praying for loved ones who are in need of Christ's mercy.
3. Help Her by Helping Me. The woman cried, "Lord, help me" as though she were the demon-possessed. Why "me?" She identified with her daughter. Her problem, pain and distress were hers. This identification was based not only on blood but on a love relationship. Jesus taught that he is identified with the needy so that what we do for them, we do for him. "Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me (Matthew 25:40)." Love makes us one with the beloved. Help me and you help the one I love. Help the loved one and you help me.
4. How to Take Insults. Receiving insults is a part of life. Jesus received insults during his trial and when on the cross. The Canaanite woman was insulted also by none other than Jesus. She was insulted by his ignoring her appeal and by referring to her and her race as "dogs." The average person probably would have walked away cursing him for his lack of concern. Not this woman, however! She took the insults with humility and wit. Her need was greater than any humiliation. Her faith was more firm than any disparagement.
5. Silent without Sound. We have been hearing about "the sound of silence." In the case of the Canaanite mother there was no sound in Jesus' silence. "He did not answer her a word." It is a common experience to have the silence of God. It often comes in unanswered prayer. We cry, "Be not silent to me, O Lord." The silent treatment is terrible. We are devastated when we are ignored. God's silence tests our faith. When we experience silence, we persist in faith and hope for the eventual words, "Be it done for you as you desire (v. 28)."
6. The Virtue of Persistence. Is it nagging or persistence? Is it a virtue or a fault? The disciples saw the woman's persistence as aggravating nagging - "Send her away (v. 23)." Her persistence won the day. She refused to take no for an answer. His refusal to answer would not stop her cry for help. His excuse for not helping her would not stop her shouting for mercy. No insult, no opposition from the disciples, no nothing would keep her from getting help for her daughter. Her persistence resulted from her faith.
7. Faith is the Key. Faith will do it every time! Jesus called her faith a great one (v. 28). She believed that Jesus could heal her daughter, because she had faith in him as "Lord" and as "Son of David." The Messiah was God's Son, and he had the very power of God. And with God all things are possible. Moreover, she had faith that he would help her. This faith enabled her to persist, for she knew eventually he would help her. And why would he? Because he had compassion on anyone in need.
8. The Strange Voice of the Church. The disciples in this case agreed with Jesus' ignoring and early refusal to help the crying mother. Her constant shouting for help irritated and bothered them to the point they asked Jesus to "send her away (v. 23)." The disciples in this incident often represent today's church. We of the church get too many requests for help. We may be unsympathetic and antagonistic with those in trouble coming to the church for help when they do not believe in Christ or come to church services. We often feel that they are using the church for their own benefit. Too often we say, "Send them away" - those with AIDS, the gay people, the homeless, the addicts.
Sermon Structures
1. When No is No Answer (15:21-28). The Canaanite mother refused to take Jesus' no for an answer. She was able to get a yes from God. How we, too, can get God's yes -
A. Ask for the right thing - "possessed by a demon" - v. 22
B. Be persistent - "crying after us" - v. 23
C. Have faith - "great is your faith" - v. 28
2. A Truly Great Woman (15:21-28). The focus of this miracle is not on the daughter but on the mother. She is responsible for getting a miracle not for herself but for the child. What made her great -
A. She had a great love for her child - v. 22
B. She had great humility - v. 27
C. She had great faith - v. 28
3. The Marks of a Miracle (15:21-28). This miracle was more than the healing of a daughter. In the account leading up to the healing we can see other miracles -
A. Miracle of grace - mother was helped in spite of being a pagan, woman, gentile
B. Miracle of humility - "crumbs" - v. 27
C. Miracle of prayer - "Help me" - v. 25
D. Miracle of faith - persistence - v. 23
4. O For a Faith that will not Let Go (15:21-28). Jesus commended the woman for having a great faith. What was the nature of this faith?
A. A faith of confession - "O Lord, Son of David" - v. 22
B. A faith of dependence - "Lord, help me" - v. 25
C. A faith of humility - "Even the dogs" - v. 27
D. A faith of persistence - "crying after us" - v. 23
5. Can Your Faith Stand Testing? (15:21-28). Jesus' reluctance to help may have been the reason for testing the woman's faith in him. If our faith is tested, will it pass the test?
A. The silence of God - v. 23
B. The refusal of help; unanswered prayer - v. 24
C. The insults - v. 26
6. A Divine-Human Wrestling Match (15:21-28). There are times when we must wrestle with God. Jacob wrestled with an angel at the Jabbok river. Jesus wrestled with his Father in Gethsemane. We wrestle with God when we feel we must have God give what we want. Like the Canaanite, we wrestle with Jesus -
A. When he will not answer our cry - vv. 22, 25
B. When he says I am not qualified for help - v. 22
C. When he claims I do not deserve aid - v. 26
Illustration
Persistence in Prayer. Monica, St. Augustine's mother, tried to raise her three children in the Christian faith. Augustine was her oldest child. He lived with a mistress for 15 years and had a son. She followed her son's wanderings and continually prayed for him for 30 years and finally witnessed his conversion. He was converted by listening to the sermons of Bishop Ambrose in Milan. On the night before Easter, 387 A.D., he was baptized.
Persistence in Reverse. For 14 years a church group of pious women had their priest say the 6 a.m. mass "for a special intention." As the years went by the same special intention was requested. One day the priest asked what favor they wanted that had not been granted for 14 years. "We have been praying that you would get transferred," they replied.
Humility. The Canaanite woman expressed her humility in enduring without protest Jesus' denial of her plea and his insult by calling her and her race "dogs."
Likewise, Lincoln expressed his humility by the abuse he took as president during the Civil War. He was insulted: his generals failed him, his cabinet snubbed him and the public reviled him. In spite of the insults he did not strike back with wounded pride. Salmon Chase humiliated him and plotted against him, but Lincoln praised Chase and made him chief justice of the Supreme Court. Edwin Stanton scorned him as an imbecile, but Lincoln made him secretary of war.
A Romanian proverb: "The sword will never sever a bowed head."
"And every virtue we possess, And every victory won, And every thought of holiness is His alone."
- Anonymous.
No Hiding Place. According to Mark Jesus went into a house to hide himself from the public in order that he might get some rest.
Before leaving for a tour of the British Isles my wife, Barbara, and I decided to go incognito. From past experience we learned that when people knew we were ministers, we were approached for counseling and our every move and word were critically observed. To be free from this we decided not to tell people our profession. The plan failed. On the second day of the trip the truth was out when we were asked specific questions about our work. We could not lie. We learned that there is no hiding one's Christianity.
Silence of God. At first Jesus did not answer the woman a word. Luther experienced the silence of God: "Punish us, O God, punish us, but be not silent towards us."
Diversity of Religions. In today's miracle we have the difference between Jew and gentile. Because the mother was a gentile, Jesus claimed he had no responsibility to help her.
At present America has religious diversity. The fastest growing religious body in the United States is Islam. According to the Wall Street Journal there are as many Moslems in America as there are Episcopalians. Some years ago this diversity shocked some in California. The Senate appointed a Buddhist as chaplain. The uproar was heard around the country. It indicated that America had become a secular nation with a pluralistic society.
Faith in Prayer. The Canaanite mother was praised by Jesus for her great faith shown by her persistence.
One day a farmer found a little lost girl in his meadow. He said to her, "Do not cry; I'll take you home." She snuggled up to him and with a smile said, "I knew you would; I was waiting for you." "Waiting for me? What made you think I was coming?" She replied, "I was praying you would."
Kneel in Prayer. When Jesus said that he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel, the mother of the demon-possessed girl knelt before Jesus and begged, "Lord help me." Kneeling is a posture that expresses earnestness and sincerity.
George Washington was known among his soldiers as a man of prayer. On one occasion a visitor to the Continental Congress asked how General Washington could be distinguished from other notables. The visitor was told: "You can easily pick him out when Congress goes to prayers. Mr. Washington is the man who kneels down when he prays." A famous painting shows Washington on his knees praying at Valley Forge.
In the miracle of Jesus' healing a Canaanite mother's demon-possessed daughter, we confront a different kind of Jesus. Is he the same Jesus whom we often describe as "meek and mild?" Can this be the same man who blesses little children, gives sight to a blind beggar, forgives an adulterous woman, heals a lady by her touch of his garment, and tells the story of a Good Samaritan?
Here we experience a Jesus who does not seem to fit into this portrait. He ignores a woman's cry for help. He addresses his disciples in her presence as though she were not present. He insults her by referring to her and her race as "dogs." At all other times he was the kind, loving, eager-to-help person. Now this! Are we shocked and disillusioned? Do we think less of Jesus than before?
How can we explain this strange behavior of the all-loving and caring Jesus? Does it point to his humanity? As a human was he expressing the prejudice of the Jews of his day toward gentiles? Or, was he playing a role to teach his followers how wrong it is to badly treat people of another race and religion? Here Jesus acts as a 100 percent Jew whose ministry is restricted to the Jewish people. Or, was he testing the faith of the woman to see if she were worthy and receptive to getting the answer to her plea? Probably this last is the answer.
What is the miracle in this gospel lesson? Is it the healing of the daughter? A greater miracle than this happened that day. It was a miracle of grace. It was a miracle that the woman overcame Jesus' reluctance. The great gulf between Jew and gentile was closed. The barriers of race and religion, like the Berlin wall, were torn down. It was also a miracle of faith. The focus is not upon the demon-possessed daughter who was healed but upon the mother and her persistent faith in Jesus. She was a lady who would not take "no" for an answer. Her insistence was based on her faith in Jesus and her love for her daughter.
Acclimation
The Situation
When people are in need of rest and refreshment, many go to the seashore. Jesus was one of them. Feeling the need for privacy, rest and reflection, he and his men go northwest to the coastal towns of Tyre and Sidon. According to Mark, he goes into a home to hide from the public, but his presence is soon found out. An unnamed Greek woman from Phoenicia in Syria came to Jesus and begged f'or the healing of her terribly afflicted daughter possessed by demons.
She pleads, "Son of David, have mercy on me." He reacted as though he did not hear her. She was ignored. This did not discourage the mother for she kept on crying for help to the point that the disciples asked Jesus to give her what she wanted so that she would leave them alone. In response to the disciples' request, Jesus says to them, "I was sent only to the Jews, the lost sheep of Israel." Having overheard this, she came to Jesus, fell on her knees, and repeated her plea. "Lord, help me." Now Jesus addresses her for the first time. He says, "It is not right to take the children's (Israelites) bread and throw it to dogs (gentiles)." In humility she replies, "Yes, Lord, that may be so, but the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Jesus was so favorably impressed with this reply that he said to her, "O woman, great is your faith!" Then he sent her home and promised her that when she arrived home, she would find her daughter well. And so it was!
The Setting
1. The Occasion. Jesus tries to get away from the demands of the people who keep him so busy preaching, teaching and healing that he scarcely has time to eat. In addition, hostility between him and the religious leaders is increasing almost to the breaking point. To get away he leaves the country for the seacoast towns of Tyre and Sidon located in Phoenicia, northeast of Galilee. His attempt to hide himself failed. A Syrophoenician woman insists that he heal her daughter of demon possession.
2. The Biblical Setting. This is the third of three miracles in Matthew 14 and 15. This third miracle is related to the prior discussion concerning what makes a person clean or unclean. Jesus teaches that what makes a person unclean is not what enters a person but what leaves a person. The mouth reveals an unclean heart. Cleanliness is an interior matter. This is related to the miracle concerning the gentile mother. Jews considered gentiles to be unclean. Association with them defiles a Jew. Therefore, Jews will not enter gentile homes or eat with gentiles. The miracle deals with this Jew-gentile problem. Because she is a gentile, Jesus has no obligation to help her. In the eyes of the Jews, she is a dirty dog.
Soon after this miracle, Jesus and his disciples go to Caesarea Philippi where in the same general area he asks the disciples who they think he is. Next Sunday, Pentecost 14, the gospel lesson takes us to Caesarea Philippi.
3. Parallel Passage (Mark 7:24-30). Only Matthew and Mark give the story of the Canaanite mother. Since Mark is considered the older account, Matthew adds several details. Only Mark tells us Jesus went into a house to hide from the public, but was unable to stay hidden. While Matthew identifies her as a Canaanite, Mark tells us she was from Phoenicia in Syria, northwest of Galilee. Mark omits both the fact that Jesus refused to speak to her at first and the disciples' request to send her away. Mark reports that Jesus answered her plea because of her answer, but according to Matthew, Jesus healed the daughter because of her mother's faith. Unlike Matthew, Mark has Jesus tell her to go home and she will find her daughter well.
Related Passages
Genesis 32:22-32 - Jacob wrestles with an angel of God.
Judges 16:4-22 - Delilah nags to get Samson's secret.
Matthew 8:5-13 - Jesus heals a Roman officer's servant.
Matthew 10:5-6 - Jesus sent his disciples to preach only to Jews.
Luke 8:26-39 - Jesus heals a demon-possessed man.
Luke 11:5-9 - Jesus teaches persistence in prayer.
Acts 10:23-29 - Peter preaches to gentiles.
Acts 13:44-48 - Paul takes the gospel to gentiles.
The Lectionary (Pentecost 13, Proper 15)
Lesson 1 (Exodus 1 6:2-15). Yahweh provides food for the Israelites. Under the leadership of Moses, the Israelites crossed the Red Sea to the wilderness of Sin. In a wilderness there is no food. The people complain and wish they were back in Egypt. God hears their complaint and sends meat in the evenings and bread in the mornings. A connection with the gospel lesson is evident: the Canaanite woman received healing for her daughter as she begged Jesus for help. God hears the cries of his people and provides.
Lesson 2 (Romans 11:13-16, 29-32). The Jews' rejection of the gospel brings salvation to all. Paul, apostle to the gentiles, makes the Jews jealous because they are accepting the gospel. Their rejection of Christ caused Paul to take the gospel to the gentiles. As the gentiles received mercy for their disobedience, so the Jews will also receive mercy. There is a connection of this Lesson with the Gospel for the Day. The gospel lesson deals with a gentile's plea for mercy and a Hebrew's response.
Gospel (Matthew 15:21-28). A gentile mother gains Jesus' help. This was not an easy miracle for a Canaanite mother of a demon-possessed daughter. In spite of sexual, racial and religious differences, she gained Jesus' help by her persistent faith in him.
Psalm of the Day (Psalm 78:1-3, 10-20). The Israelites tested God by demanding food. In the gospel, Jesus tested the faith of a Canaanite mother who came with a demand for healing.
Prayer of the Day: A prayer for faith. We need a faith like the Canaanite woman who through faith received an answer to her prayer.
"Almighty and ever-living God, you have given great and precious promises to those who believe. Grant us the perfect faith which overcomes all doubt."
Hymn of the Day: "When In The Hour Of Deepest Need"
The Canaanite mother was in the hour of her deepest need. She begged, "Lord, help me (v. 25)."
Explanation
Withdrew (v. 21). Jesus "withdrew" to a region where he could rest and reflect. His public ministry was drawing to a close. Soon he would be headed toward Caesarea Philippi where he would learn whether the disciples understood that he was the Christ. Then on to Jerusalem to die! Everyone, even Jesus, feels the need to withdraw from the frantic pace and the pressure of daily living. There is a need for solitude and silence to get in tune with God, to get things straight and to recharge one's batteries.
Canaanite (v. 22). For an understanding of what is to come, one needs to know where the mother lived. A Canaanite was a gentile living in Phoenicia in Syria. She belonged to a race that previously occupied the holy land. Mark identifies her as a Greek, a Syrophoenician.
Me (v. 22). The Canaanite woman begged, "Have mercy on me ..." Why me? She had no physical or mental problems. Her daughter was the one who was in terrible need because she was demon-possessed. The mother identified with her daughter to the extent that what was done for her was at the same time done for her daughter. Love causes this oneness. A child's needs or problems are also the parents' concern. Jesus taught, "As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me (Matthew 25:40)."
Answer (v. 23). Jesus gives the mother the silent treatment. In reply to her appeal for mercy, he ignored her by not answering a single word. The woman experienced the silence of God. It is a common experience: "Be not silent to me, O God (Psalm 109:1)." It may be the silence of unanswered prayer. We seek a word of guidance from the Lord but receive none. God's silence can be a test of our faith.
Help (v. 25). "Help" is an SOS of one in danger of perishing. At this time help is the woman's basic need. It will not go away even if Jesus refuses to speak to her or gives an excuse for not helping by saying he was sent to help only Jews. Regardless of reasons or arguments, the need persists. Her daughter is still in a terrible condition. All she can say is, "Help me." She knows she does not deserve help. She is only a woman, a pagan and a gentile, but she still needs help. Need knows no boundaries of culture, race, class or religion.
Dogs (v. 26). Jesus refers to gentiles as "dogs," a Jewish epithet for pagans. It is an insulting term like calling a policeman a "pig." Some have tried to take the sting out of the term by using the term, "puppy." However, biblical scholars advise us that neither in Hebrew nor Aramaic is there a word for "puppy." In Jesus' day Jews abhorred gentiles. They were considered unclean and outcasts. To associate with a gentile or to enter a gentile house caused a Jew to be defiled. At the time of Jesus' trial before Pilate, the Jews refused to enter the Roman praetoriurn to avoid defilement. Consequently, when Jesus sent his disciples to go out to preach and heal, they were instructed to go only to Jews. In this miracle Jesus claims he was sent to Jews only.
Faith (v. 28). Faith won the battle between Jesus and the woman. Jesus commended the woman for her great faith. It was a faith that overcame being ignored and insulted. It was a faith in Jesus as "Lord" and "Son of David" (Messiah). She believed in him. She was sure that he could and would help her. This was proved by her humility and persistence. However, faith did not bring healing to her daughter. Not faith but God alone heals. Faith is the agent that brings God's power and grace to a person.
Application
Relevance Of Revelation
1. Christianity and Other Religions. What keeps Jesus from immediately helping the Canaanite mother was the issue of Jew and gentile relationships. As a Jew, Jesus said his mission was to save the lost sheep of Israel (v. 24). She was a gentile and a pagan. Increasingly in America we live in a pluralistic society. At one time it was primarily Protestant. Later we claimed to be a Christian nation of Protestants and Catholics. Now we have growing numbers of Moslems, Hindus and Buddhists. How shall Christians hold to the one true God, the Father of Jesus Christ, and to Christ, the one and only mediator between God and humanity? Shall we isolate ourselves and refuse to help non-Christian people? Today's miracle speaks to this situation. When our neighbors of a different race and religion come to us for help, we must respond favorably as Jesus did.
2. Evangelization of Non-Christians. Should Christians attempt to evangelize non-Christians belonging to other religions? Are these religious people safe in their own beliefs? Do they need Christ as Lord and Savior? Should we try to persuade them to forsake their religion and accept Christ, or is it enough to dialogue with them concerning the needs of the soul as well as of society? Do we need an overseas mission program or is it enough to send food and other supplies to relieve need?
3. The Right to Come. This Canaanite mother had no right to invade Jesus' privacy and rest. She was a woman who in those days was considered a piece of property. She held to a pagan religion. As a gentile she was a despised person by the Jews. Because of this, she had no claim on Jesus. She did not deserve to ask for any blessing. Only her faith won Jesus' help. Today we are in the same situation. Who are we to ask for God's favor? We are sinners. We disobey God's commands. We break our promise to be faithful. In no way do we deserve mercy or help. Nevertheless, we humbly throw ourselves on his mercy and cry, "Lord, help us." The miracle is that he accepts, blesses and answers our prayers.
Sermon Suggestions
1. Jesus' reluctance. Why in this case was Jesus reluctant to help a non-Jew? In the past, he immediately healed a Roman centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-13). Jesus did not pass out miracles as though they were a dime a dozen. He refused to perform a miracle for the Pharisees and for King Herod. He taught that one should not throw pearls before swine. One has to be worthy of a miracle. The need must be desperate. Faith in Christ is essential. Perhaps this reluctance was due to the need to test the woman's sincerity and faith. Miracles by Jesus are not just for the asking!
2. Intercessory Prayer. This miracle is a case of intercessory prayer. The Canaanite woman was not asking for herself but for her daughter. There is no indication that the daughter appealed for a cure or had faith in Jesus. The daughter was perhaps miles away. Whether an intercessory prayer is answered and whether a miracle is performed depends upon the pray-er. The woman spoke for her daughter out of love and concern for her. It was a vicarious faith that brought
healing to the afflicted one. This episode teaches us the importance and value of praying for loved ones who are in need of Christ's mercy.
3. Help Her by Helping Me. The woman cried, "Lord, help me" as though she were the demon-possessed. Why "me?" She identified with her daughter. Her problem, pain and distress were hers. This identification was based not only on blood but on a love relationship. Jesus taught that he is identified with the needy so that what we do for them, we do for him. "Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me (Matthew 25:40)." Love makes us one with the beloved. Help me and you help the one I love. Help the loved one and you help me.
4. How to Take Insults. Receiving insults is a part of life. Jesus received insults during his trial and when on the cross. The Canaanite woman was insulted also by none other than Jesus. She was insulted by his ignoring her appeal and by referring to her and her race as "dogs." The average person probably would have walked away cursing him for his lack of concern. Not this woman, however! She took the insults with humility and wit. Her need was greater than any humiliation. Her faith was more firm than any disparagement.
5. Silent without Sound. We have been hearing about "the sound of silence." In the case of the Canaanite mother there was no sound in Jesus' silence. "He did not answer her a word." It is a common experience to have the silence of God. It often comes in unanswered prayer. We cry, "Be not silent to me, O Lord." The silent treatment is terrible. We are devastated when we are ignored. God's silence tests our faith. When we experience silence, we persist in faith and hope for the eventual words, "Be it done for you as you desire (v. 28)."
6. The Virtue of Persistence. Is it nagging or persistence? Is it a virtue or a fault? The disciples saw the woman's persistence as aggravating nagging - "Send her away (v. 23)." Her persistence won the day. She refused to take no for an answer. His refusal to answer would not stop her cry for help. His excuse for not helping her would not stop her shouting for mercy. No insult, no opposition from the disciples, no nothing would keep her from getting help for her daughter. Her persistence resulted from her faith.
7. Faith is the Key. Faith will do it every time! Jesus called her faith a great one (v. 28). She believed that Jesus could heal her daughter, because she had faith in him as "Lord" and as "Son of David." The Messiah was God's Son, and he had the very power of God. And with God all things are possible. Moreover, she had faith that he would help her. This faith enabled her to persist, for she knew eventually he would help her. And why would he? Because he had compassion on anyone in need.
8. The Strange Voice of the Church. The disciples in this case agreed with Jesus' ignoring and early refusal to help the crying mother. Her constant shouting for help irritated and bothered them to the point they asked Jesus to "send her away (v. 23)." The disciples in this incident often represent today's church. We of the church get too many requests for help. We may be unsympathetic and antagonistic with those in trouble coming to the church for help when they do not believe in Christ or come to church services. We often feel that they are using the church for their own benefit. Too often we say, "Send them away" - those with AIDS, the gay people, the homeless, the addicts.
Sermon Structures
1. When No is No Answer (15:21-28). The Canaanite mother refused to take Jesus' no for an answer. She was able to get a yes from God. How we, too, can get God's yes -
A. Ask for the right thing - "possessed by a demon" - v. 22
B. Be persistent - "crying after us" - v. 23
C. Have faith - "great is your faith" - v. 28
2. A Truly Great Woman (15:21-28). The focus of this miracle is not on the daughter but on the mother. She is responsible for getting a miracle not for herself but for the child. What made her great -
A. She had a great love for her child - v. 22
B. She had great humility - v. 27
C. She had great faith - v. 28
3. The Marks of a Miracle (15:21-28). This miracle was more than the healing of a daughter. In the account leading up to the healing we can see other miracles -
A. Miracle of grace - mother was helped in spite of being a pagan, woman, gentile
B. Miracle of humility - "crumbs" - v. 27
C. Miracle of prayer - "Help me" - v. 25
D. Miracle of faith - persistence - v. 23
4. O For a Faith that will not Let Go (15:21-28). Jesus commended the woman for having a great faith. What was the nature of this faith?
A. A faith of confession - "O Lord, Son of David" - v. 22
B. A faith of dependence - "Lord, help me" - v. 25
C. A faith of humility - "Even the dogs" - v. 27
D. A faith of persistence - "crying after us" - v. 23
5. Can Your Faith Stand Testing? (15:21-28). Jesus' reluctance to help may have been the reason for testing the woman's faith in him. If our faith is tested, will it pass the test?
A. The silence of God - v. 23
B. The refusal of help; unanswered prayer - v. 24
C. The insults - v. 26
6. A Divine-Human Wrestling Match (15:21-28). There are times when we must wrestle with God. Jacob wrestled with an angel at the Jabbok river. Jesus wrestled with his Father in Gethsemane. We wrestle with God when we feel we must have God give what we want. Like the Canaanite, we wrestle with Jesus -
A. When he will not answer our cry - vv. 22, 25
B. When he says I am not qualified for help - v. 22
C. When he claims I do not deserve aid - v. 26
Illustration
Persistence in Prayer. Monica, St. Augustine's mother, tried to raise her three children in the Christian faith. Augustine was her oldest child. He lived with a mistress for 15 years and had a son. She followed her son's wanderings and continually prayed for him for 30 years and finally witnessed his conversion. He was converted by listening to the sermons of Bishop Ambrose in Milan. On the night before Easter, 387 A.D., he was baptized.
Persistence in Reverse. For 14 years a church group of pious women had their priest say the 6 a.m. mass "for a special intention." As the years went by the same special intention was requested. One day the priest asked what favor they wanted that had not been granted for 14 years. "We have been praying that you would get transferred," they replied.
Humility. The Canaanite woman expressed her humility in enduring without protest Jesus' denial of her plea and his insult by calling her and her race "dogs."
Likewise, Lincoln expressed his humility by the abuse he took as president during the Civil War. He was insulted: his generals failed him, his cabinet snubbed him and the public reviled him. In spite of the insults he did not strike back with wounded pride. Salmon Chase humiliated him and plotted against him, but Lincoln praised Chase and made him chief justice of the Supreme Court. Edwin Stanton scorned him as an imbecile, but Lincoln made him secretary of war.
A Romanian proverb: "The sword will never sever a bowed head."
"And every virtue we possess, And every victory won, And every thought of holiness is His alone."
- Anonymous.
No Hiding Place. According to Mark Jesus went into a house to hide himself from the public in order that he might get some rest.
Before leaving for a tour of the British Isles my wife, Barbara, and I decided to go incognito. From past experience we learned that when people knew we were ministers, we were approached for counseling and our every move and word were critically observed. To be free from this we decided not to tell people our profession. The plan failed. On the second day of the trip the truth was out when we were asked specific questions about our work. We could not lie. We learned that there is no hiding one's Christianity.
Silence of God. At first Jesus did not answer the woman a word. Luther experienced the silence of God: "Punish us, O God, punish us, but be not silent towards us."
Diversity of Religions. In today's miracle we have the difference between Jew and gentile. Because the mother was a gentile, Jesus claimed he had no responsibility to help her.
At present America has religious diversity. The fastest growing religious body in the United States is Islam. According to the Wall Street Journal there are as many Moslems in America as there are Episcopalians. Some years ago this diversity shocked some in California. The Senate appointed a Buddhist as chaplain. The uproar was heard around the country. It indicated that America had become a secular nation with a pluralistic society.
Faith in Prayer. The Canaanite mother was praised by Jesus for her great faith shown by her persistence.
One day a farmer found a little lost girl in his meadow. He said to her, "Do not cry; I'll take you home." She snuggled up to him and with a smile said, "I knew you would; I was waiting for you." "Waiting for me? What made you think I was coming?" She replied, "I was praying you would."
Kneel in Prayer. When Jesus said that he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel, the mother of the demon-possessed girl knelt before Jesus and begged, "Lord help me." Kneeling is a posture that expresses earnestness and sincerity.
George Washington was known among his soldiers as a man of prayer. On one occasion a visitor to the Continental Congress asked how General Washington could be distinguished from other notables. The visitor was told: "You can easily pick him out when Congress goes to prayers. Mr. Washington is the man who kneels down when he prays." A famous painting shows Washington on his knees praying at Valley Forge.
