Persistent Faith

Matthew 15:21–28 ESV

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Introduction

Imagine that you have lived in an utterly sinful and deplorable way.

Imagine again that all of your friends and family are also utterly sinful.

But further imagine that despite all the sin, and the broken, all the evil, you have a child and that child is one of the few sources of joy in your life...

It’s likely that no matter how sinful you may be, and your surrounding culture may be, you are going to do everything to save this child from whatever illness may come over her.

Now imagine that you’ve heard of this holy man who can heal.

If confronted by him you will immediately sense the disparity between his way and your way, his people and your people.

Perhaps in such a scenario you wonder if it’s worth your time to approach such a holy man.

But you have this child, whom you love with all your heart.

So you approach anyway.

Friends, if you can understand this scenario from a parent’s perspective, then you understand today’s text.

Let’s begin with verses 21-23.

Faith Faces Frontiers

Matthew 15:21–23 ESV

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”

Jesus encounters this Canaanite woman who cries out to Him, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly."

Let me be honest, if you’re an Israelite your first response may be, “Of course she’s demon possessed! You worship demons!”

To understand the significance of this encounter, we need to recognize who the Canaanites were.

The Canaanites were ancient enemies of Israel, known for their idolatry and practices that were abhorrent to God.

The enmity between Israel and the Canaanites has deep roots in biblical history.

When God promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants, He said that the sin of the Amorites (a Canaanite people) was "not yet complete" (Genesis 15:16), indicating their growing wickedness.

Later, as the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land, God commanded them to drive out the Canaanites, warning that if they didn't, the Canaanites would be "barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live" (Numbers 33:55).

The book of Joshua recounts numerous battles between the Israelites and Canaanites as they took possession of the land.

Even after the initial conquest, the book of Judges tells us that the Canaanites who remained became a snare to the Israelites, often leading them into idolatry and away from the worship of the true God (Judges 2:3, 3:5-6).

Their primary deity was Chemosh, often referred to as the god of the Moabites but also widely worshipped among Canaanite peoples.

Chemosh was associated with war and destruction.

The worship of Chemosh often involved practices that were deeply offensive to the God of Israel, including human sacrifice.

In times of dire need, the Canaanite worshippers of Chemosh would offer their children as sacrifices, a practice strictly forbidden and condemned by God (Leviticus 18:21, Deuteronomy 12:31).

The Canaanites also engaged in other forms of idolatry and sexual immorality as part of their religious practices.

These customs represented a stark contrast to the worship of the true God and the moral laws given to Israel.

These practices represented the depth of sin and separation from the true God that characterized Canaanite culture.

So, who is this Canaanite woman approaching Jesus, calling Him "Lord" and "Son of David" - titles that acknowledge His authority and Messianic identity?

Very simply, she is someone who has reached the ends of her false religion, and she needs more.

This woman's approach to Jesus shows us that all religion will fail and lead to an empty spirit unless directed toward the one, true God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Despite her background, despite the centuries of enmity between her people and the Israelites, she recognized Jesus as the source of hope and healing.

Her faith led her to seek out the One she knew could help her.

Faith's Fervent Fortitude

Matthew 15:24–26 ESV

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

At first, Jesus' response seems harsh.

He doesn't answer her at all, and when the disciples urge Him to send her away, He says, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

When the woman kneels before Him pleading for help, Jesus replies, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs."

This exchange might shock us, but it serves a purpose.

Jesus, in His divine wisdom, is not merely testing the woman's faith.

He is demanding something far more fundamental and essential: a recognition of sin and the need for repentance.

Remember, Jesus knew exactly who this woman was and where she came from.

He was fully aware of the idolatrous practices of the Canaanites, the evil of their ways, and the centuries of enmity between her people and the people of God.

His seemingly harsh words serve as a holy reminder of this reality.

By referring to the Israelites as "children" and using the term "dogs" for Gentiles (a common Jewish expression of the time), Jesus is highlighting the vast spiritual divide between the woman's background and the covenant people of God.

He's essentially saying, "Do you understand your position? Do you recognize where you stand in relation to the God you're asking help from?"

This moment is crucial because it reminds us that Jesus demands of us a recognition of our sin.

He requires repentance.

He doesn't allow us to approach Him on our own terms, pretending that our sinful past doesn't matter.

Instead, He confronts us with the reality of our spiritual state.

The beauty of this encounter is in the woman's response.

She doesn't argue or try to defend herself.

She doesn't claim any rights or worthiness.

Instead, her reply shows her humility and her willingness to acknowledge her position.

Unlike her Canaanite ancestors who proudly defied the God of Israel, she humbly accepts Jesus' statement.

She's willing to admit her unworthiness, to confess that she has no claim on God's blessings.

This is a crucial point: receiving God's blessings often starts with acknowledging our sin and our need for grace.

Too often, people seek a blessing with pride and ego, in some whay believing they deserve the blessing.

We can learn from this The Canaanite woman, who doesn't argue or assert her rights.

Instead, she agrees with Jesus' assessment but persists in seeking His help anyway.

Her response is, in essence, an act of repentance - a turning away from her old identity and a throwing of herself completely on the mercy of Jesus.

Faith's Fruitful Fulfillment

The woman's reply is a master class in faithful persistence:

"Yes, Lord," she says, "even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table."

She acknowledges Jesus' priority to Israel but believes that God's grace is so abundant that even the "crumbs" would be enough to meet her need.

Jesus' response to this is powerful: "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted."

In that very hour, her daughter was healed.

This moment is transformative.

A woman from a people known for worshipping false gods like Chemosh has her prayer answered by the true God.

Her persistent faith, her willingness to humble herself, and her recognition of Jesus' authority all combined to bring about this miracle.

Conclusion

This story teaches us several important lessons:

God's grace is available to all who come to Him in faith, regardless of their background or past sins.

True faith persists even in the face of apparent rejection or silence from God.

Humility and acknowledgment of our need for grace are key components of effective faith.

Jesus responds to sincere faith, no matter who expresses it.

The Canaanite woman's encounter with Jesus foreshadows the eventual spread of the Gospel to all nations.

It reminds us that in Christ, there is no longer Jew or Gentile, no longer any ethnic or cultural barrier to receiving God's grace.

Oh, that we were all more like the Canaanite woman.

Do we persist in prayer even when God seems silent?

Do we acknowledge when we fall short of God’s way as fully and completely as this woman?

Are we willing to humble ourselves and acknowledge our complete dependence on God's grace?

And do we recognize that this same grace is available to all people, even those we might consider outsiders?

Friends, may we, like this Canaanite woman, demonstrate a faith that persists, a humility that acknowledges our need, and a recognition of Jesus as the true source of all blessing and healing.

Prayer of Response: Lord Jesus, we thank You for the example of the Canaanite woman's faith. Help us to recognize our own need for Your grace and to approach You with humility and persistence. May we, like her, acknowledge our unworthiness yet trust in Your boundless mercy. Give us the strength to look beyond barriers and to share Your inclusive love with all. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Hymn of Response: Great is Thy Faithfulness (vs 1, 3)