A Crumb Is Enough *

Matthew 15:21–28 “Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Matthew 15:21–39 (NAC Mt): (b) The Canaanite Woman’s Faith (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 suffering terribly from demon-possession.”

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 their dogs.”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

28 Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

TEXT

Mark 7:24–30 “And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.”

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

The key is hearing- We hear and believe / God hears and is provoked to perform

Purpose and Context of the Story-

Jesus was using this encounter with this woman to open the door of salvation to the Gentile world.

Tyre and Sidon- Great Faith from Unexpected Places

Tyre and Sidon, ancient cities of Phoenicia, are mentioned several times in both the Old and New Testaments. Tyre and Sidon are port cities located in modern Lebanon on the Mediterranean coast. Sidon is believed to have existed prior to 2000 BC, with Tyre being just a little younger.

The Old Testament mentions Israel’s dealings with these cities, including the Israelites’ failure to conquer Sidon in the conquest of the Promised Land (Judges 1:31),

These people worshipped Sidonian gods on several occasions (Judges 10:6–16; 1 Kings 11),

At the building of the temple God’s people obtained materials from Sidon and Tyre (1 Chronicles 22:4). King, King Hiram of Tyre provided many of the temple furnishings for Solomon (1 Kings 7:13–51).

Tyrians and Sidonians are also mentioned in helping rebuild the temple in Ezra’s time (Ezra 3:7).

Queen Jezebel was a Sidonian (1 Kings 16:31).

But here is the historical fact that Grabbed my attention!!!

The Sidonian city of Zarephath was where a widow took care of Elijah (WITH LEFTOVERS) and the Lord provided oil and flour for her through the famine; later, the widow’s son became ill, and Elijah raised him from the dead (1 Kings 17:8–24). (Elijah is running from Ahab and Jezebel seeking hiding and Jesus is now hiding from the crowd and a woman!)

The Old Testament also has several prophecies against Tyre and Sidon that predicted a complete overthrow (Isaiah 23; Jeremiah 25; 27; 47; Ezekiel 26–28; Joel 3; Amos 1:9–10; Zechariah 9:1–4). Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre from 585–572 BC. Alexander the Great conquered Tyre in 322 BC, completely destroying the city. The Persian king Artaxerxes conquered Sidon. In short, God’s prophesied judgment came to pass. Later, both cities became prosperous provinces of Rome. Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities north of Israel, and Jesus had been sent to the Jews (Matthew 15:24). But Jesus still ministered to them: crowds from Tyre and Sidon came to see and listen to Him (Mark 3:7–8). Jesus helped a Syrophoenician woman and commended her faith (Matthew 15:21–28). Jesus mentions Tyre and Sidon in Luke 10:13–14 (see also Matthew 11:20–24), comparing them to several cities in which He had performed miracles. These cities of Israel had been blessed with Jesus’ presence, preaching, and power, yet they had not repented. Jesus pronounces woes on them, stating that Tyre and Sidon, given the same opportunity, would have turned from their wickedness and been saved: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.” Jesus also says Capernaum is under God’s judgment for their rejection of Christ (verse 15), because “whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me” (verse 16). Jesus used the pagan cities of Tyre and Sidon to highlight the way God’s chosen people refused Him. The Israelites of Jesus’ day believed themselves to be righteously following God, yet they did not recognize God in their midst. Jesus, in essence, shamed Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum—they, who were supposed to be God’s representatives on earth, refused to listen; yet pagan cities would have quickly repented. Jesus’ comments demonstrate the importance of responsibility and stewardship. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48). God’s desire is for His Word to be known and believed, with the result that people are transformed (see Luke 6:46). To reject the light we’ve been given is to remain in darkness. To spurn the grace of God and reject the Savior is to receive the due penalty for our sin.

Tension: She was an Outsider.

Knowing what we now know about Tyre and Sidon, Mark Says that this “Certain Woman was not an isrealite. She was a Greek (A Gentile Woman from the coast of Tyre and Sidon)

First thing we know is that She was a woman

Second thing we not is that being a Gentile, she was an outsider. (Her people worshipped idols)

Third Jesus came to Tyre and Sidon to Hide out, No one in this pagan town is expected to notice Jesus, or better yet believe in Him. (The Jews had already failed to recognize Jesus)

She was an Outsider and She Knew it!

What business do you have approaching Jesus? Don’t you know you are already disadvantaged, You are not worth being in His Presence

But I have a need!!!

Jesus withdrew to Gentile territory to avoid the opposition of the Pharisees.

Jesus was demonstrating his frustration with disbelieving Israel

Mark tells us -”He could not be Hid”

It was impossible for Jesus to go unrecognized.

Because you can’t hide greatness!

Greatness has no privacy.

The Need:

This woman came to Jesus on behalf of her daughter, who was tormented by a demon. Obviously this woman was greatly distressed over her daughter’s suffering.

And I became Curious

I wonder what gave her the idea to seek out Jesus?

Matthew says who she is- a woman of Canaan, and where she is from the coast of Tyre and Sidon. We know who she is ans where she is from but not why she came. (Because her need was not enough to drive her to Jesus, many people had needs, we only hear of “a” woman- one woman)

It when you flip over to the synoptic (common writings with similar views) The gospel Mark tells us exactly what drove her to Jesus…Mark 7:25

Mark 7:25 “For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:”

She Heard of Him

In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The word of Jesus’ arrival had spread from village to village. One woman in particular came to Jesus as soon as she heard that he was in the region. She had heard about Jesus’ miracle-working power and how he cast out demons, so she humbly came and fell at his feet on behalf of her little girl who was possessed by an evil spirit.

Bruce B. Barton, Mark, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 208.Have you heard? -

She probably heard that he had healed gentile people before.

HOW DO WE GET FAITH? (Romans 10:17) “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

WHAT IS FAITH? (Hebrews 11:1)  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (11:2)  For by it the elders obtained a good report.

WHY DO WE NEED FAITH?  Because Faith pleases God.  (10:23)  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (11:6)  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

God requires for us that know Him to live by faith. (Hebrews 10:38)  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Each person has been given a proportion of faith to operate in their lives. (Romans 12:3)  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Levels of Faith:

Each person has been given a proportion of faith to operate in their lives. (Romans 12:3)  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

NO FAITH: (Mark  4:35)  And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. (4:36)  And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. (4:37)  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. (4:38)  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? (4:39)  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (4:40)  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? (4:41)  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

(Their lack of knowledge of Jesus caused them to fear instead of trusting God in their storm)

LITTLE FAITH:

(Matthew 6:30)  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? (6:31)  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (6:32)  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (6:33)  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

We have to learn to exercise and build what faith that we have so that it grows daily, otherwise we limit the possibilities and opportunities that we can be accomplished by having Great Faith.  Take the little that you have, work with it until it becomes more that what it was originally.

GREAT FAITH: Is something that we all should strive to achieve, it’s that Faith that believes that can succeed in any situation or circumstance, overcome obstacles and jump over hurdles, climb or if necessary go through mountains, and stand in the midst of the raging storms of life and SURVIVE!  Great Faith is built from test, trials and tribulations; it is forged in the fiery furnace when the heat is turned up and we become temperate in all things, learning to endure and not give up, refusing to quit and determined to persevere we become stronger and less vulnerable to those things, people and situations that once almost destroyed and hindered our faith.  You can’t buy Great Faith, you have to work to achieve it, and once you have it, no one or nothing can take it from you, from that moment on you become invincible and your faith begins to work miracles and wonders, because your belief and trust is in God and Him alone.

(Matthew 8:1)  When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. (8:2)  And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.(8:3)  And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.(8:4)  And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. (8:5)  And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, (8:6)  And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. (8:7)  And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. (8:8)  The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. (8:9)  For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. (8:10)  When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Application:

Great Faith is Faith that has been and/or is being Tested:

You might be going through a trial right now but understand this, that Eeery test and trial that we go through is for the trying of our faith. (James 1:3)  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (1:4)  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Like building strong muscles in our physically bodies, we must learn to work out our faith. (2 Corinthians 5:7)  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (5:8)  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (5:9)  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Like working on a project or building, the foundation must be solid in order for the building to stand against any adversity that comes against it. (Jude 1:20)  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, (1:21)  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

What is Great Faith?

Great faith is the deliberate attitude to provoke the power of God to operate beyond any human limitations to receiving. It is the knowledge that the Word knows no boundaries; that merely speaking it can bring an answer; that thinking on it can bring an answer. It is the consciousness that ALL scripture is profitable.

What made her Faith Great

Her faith was measured by how whe handled the three tests

1-She Harassed

The woman continued to follow after them, and she continued to shout.

TENSION: The Seeminly Insensative Silence of God

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

i. “As Augustine says, ‘The Word spoke not a word,’ and that was so unlike him. He who was always so ready with responses to the cry of grief had no response for her.” (Spurgeon)

b. Send her away, for she cries out after us: It is likely that the disciples meant, “Send her away by giving her what she wants.” It is entirely possible that they just wanted her to go away, and the easiest way was for Jesus to fix her problem.

GETTING PAST “CHURCH PEOPLE”

One of the obstacles the Canaanite woman had to overcome was the dismissive attitude of the disciples. Likewise, seekers today are advised not to judge the gospel on their first impression of most church folk.

If you are seeking help from Jesus, don’t be put off by the airs and attitudes of some people who claim to know him. Christians are not perfect. “Get rid of her,” said the disciples. And so today in many different ways people in need of Jesus are put off by the “righteous.”

If you’re looking for Jesus, don’t stop until you find him. And when you find him, try your best to be as generous and loving to others as he is.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

He made it clear that He was not sent to Gentiles like her.

Woman you are not entitled to this. My mission is to expand my blessings among my people.

Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

2-She Honored

He ignored her and she responded in worship

She literally bowed down in reverence.

Application: Quit your Crying and Begin worshiping)

Learn to worship when you feel like you are being ignored. (Blond Bartameus, he cried out the more, Jesus thou son of David.)

There are some people who refuse to quit. The more they suffer, the more they worship, the more they praise God.

you have to lean to praise God even when things look bleak, when it seems like God is not hearing you.

God responds to worship, He wont ignore your worship.

Understand this that Jesus left his own due to rejection, But she found the answer, she took advantage and said if you don’t want to praise him, I will!

Worship will get you what crying won’t

Quit your crying and begin worshipping

TENSION:

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

Jesus responds to the woman allegorically.

In speaking of children, He is referring to the children of Israel, the Jews.

In speaking of bread, He is referring to Himself, the Bread of Life.

In speaking of dogs, using the Greek word for a pet dog, He is referring to the Gentiles.

In other words, Jesus is saying, “Since I have come first and foremost to the house of Israel, my primary focus must be upon the Jews.”

It is not good, desirable or beautiful (Not that it was wrong, it wouldn’t look right)

Offence and Pride

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And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

3-She Humbled

c. Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table: The woman responded with great faith. She admitted her low estate, and did not debate the issue when Jesus called her one of the little dogs. She did not demand to be seen as a child; but only to be blessed as a dog.

i. It was as if she said, “Jesus, I understand that the focus of Your ministry is to the Jews—that they have a special place in God’s redemptive plan. Yet I also understand that Your ministry extends beyond the Jewish people, and I want to be part of that extended blessing.”

ii. Her response is especially meaningful in light of the increasing rejection of Jesus by the Jewish religious leaders. It was as if the woman said, “I’m not asking for the portion that belongs to the children, just the crumbs that they don’t want.” In the flow of Matthew’s gospel, there was more and more that the Jewish religious establishment did not want to receive.

iii. These were two faith-filled words: Yet even. She accepted Jesus’ description and asked for mercy despite it—or perhaps because of it. “She would not give over, though he gave her three repulses. So as she said, like Jacob, I will not thee go, until thou bless me. And as he, like a prince, so she, like a princess, prevailed with God and obtained the thing which she desired.” (Poole)

Notice that this woman does not battle with that truth at all, she does not raise any question about it; she wisely waives it, and she just goes on praying, ‘Lord, help me! Lord, have mercy upon me!’ I invite you, dear friend, to do just the same.” (Spurgeon)

Truth Lord-I am not worthy, I am a sinner, truth Lord.

Rely on God

The implied tension here is offence and Pride could have hindered her from her Miracle.

She recognized His greatness when she was at her worst.

Humility Expanded the reach of her Faith.

Application - (You Statements)

How many times have pride caused us to miss our miracle

How many times have we been at the edge of a breakthrough, but stop short by a spirit of offence

When you are at the bottom and have no pride left. Because Pride is the last thing to fall.

Humiliated or Humbled? I believe to in his ability too much to be offended.

Tension:

A crumb is not a whole lot. Some other translations say scraps, some say leftovers.

Illustration - Bring the Bread and the Table

The Power of Leftover - Woman of Zaraphat (Elijah was out of pocket, out of range)

Jesus coming to Tye and Sidon - Off duty, out of range (out of pocket) - Leftover

I don’t need the whole loaf, all I need is the Crumbs!

Size of human to dog - leftover may not fill a human but it will fill a dog. - If I humble myself small enough I will be filled.

Matthew 23:12 “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

Yet the dogs under the table are allowed to eat of the children’s crumbs—the droppings from their master’s full table: Give me that, and I am content: One crumb of power and grace from Thy table shall cast the devil out of my daughter.” Oh, what lightning quickness, what reach of instinctive ingenuity, do we behold in this heathen woman!

One Crumb of power is enought to deliver my daugher

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

In Closing - What Made Her Faith Great? (She was a woman, from an evil place, disadvantaged)

Definition:

Great faith is the deliberate attitude to provoke the power of God to perform beyond any human limitations to receiving. It is the knowledge that the Word knows no boundaries; that merely speaking it can bring an answer; that thinking on it can bring an answer. It is the consciousness that ALL scripture is profitable.

Definition:

Great faith is the deliberate attitude to provoke the power of God to operate beyond any human limitations to receiving. It is the knowledge that the Word knows no boundaries; that merely speaking it can bring an answer; that thinking on it can bring an answer. It is the consciousness that ALL scripture is profitable.

Application

a. Then Jesus answered: Finally, the woman will receive an encouraging word from Jesus.

b. O woman, great is your faith! Jesus never said this to another person. He complimented the great faith of the Roman centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant (Matthew 8:10), but He said it to the crowd, not to the centurion directly. This Gentile woman heard it from Jesus directly.

i. Significantly, the only two people to receive this compliment from Jesus were these Gentiles. This shows us that:

• Great faith may be found in unexpected places—not merely Gentiles, but a centurion and a woman!

• Great faith is sometimes measured from its disadvantages. Their faith was great because it did not have the advantage of being nourished by the institutions of Judaism.

• Faith is often greatest when it is expressed on behalf of someone else’s need.c. O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire: Her faith was great enough to receive her request—what she desired from Jesus.

• Her faith was great, even compared to her other virtues. She was humble, she was patient, she was persevering, she cared for her child. Yet Jesus didn’t compliment any of these good things, but only her faith.

• You have to believe God when your situation seems unlikely

Trust God when it seems like He is ignoring you. When no one expect you to receive a miracle.

• Great faith is when you can worship God even before he gives you the answer.

It is when you can worship God when you feel like He is ignoring you.

• Your faith is great Great faith was great when it is tested severely. It’s hard to think of a greater test than a demon-possessed child; but her faith was also tried by the seeming indifference or coldness of Jesus.

• Your Faith is great when it is clever. Use His word (Jesus’ word inside-out) and make what might have been taken as an insult as a door open for faith.

• Her faith was great because it concerned a need right in front of her, and a real need at that. Many people have faith for everything except those things that are right in front of them.

• Your faith is great because it will not give up. Di not stop until you get what you need from Jesus.

• Amazing Faith - could say that her faith conquered Jesus. He not only healed her daughter but He did so immediately, something that she had not even asked for.

Her Faith was Great because Her Pride was little.

i. We read of nothing else that Jesus did during this time in Tyre and Sidon. It would seem that His only divine appointment was to meet the need of this woman of faith and her afflicted daughter.

Body- She cried out

Soul - She worshipped

Spirit- Humility -Humiliation- Too deep to be offended.