Crumbs from the Master's Table
Tony Schachle
Crumbs from the Master's Table • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 58 viewsHave you ever felt like an outsider, like you didn’t belong or weren’t worthy of receiving something good? The story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28 is a powerful reminder of the kind of faith that moves the heart of God. It’s about a mother, desperate and determined, who overcame obstacles of rejection, silence, and cultural boundaries to seek a miracle for her daughter. Her unwavering faith demonstrates that even the smallest crumbs from the Master’s table are enough to transform a life. Today, we’ll explore how this story reveals the power of humility, persistence, and faith that hungers for God.
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever felt like an outsider, like you didn’t belong or weren’t worthy of receiving something good? The story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28 is a powerful reminder of the kind of faith that moves the heart of God. It’s about a mother, desperate and determined, who overcame obstacles of rejection, silence, and cultural boundaries to seek a miracle for her daughter. Her unwavering faith demonstrates that even the smallest crumbs from the Master’s table are enough to transform a life. Today, we’ll explore how this story reveals the power of humility, persistence, and faith that hungers for God.
SCRIPTURE
SCRIPTURE
Matthew 15:21-28
EXPOSITION
EXPOSITION
21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
This was a Gentile area.
Located around 50 miles away.
Jesus said it would be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for those in Israel that rejected Him as Messiah.
14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.
22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”
Matthew refers to her as a Canaanite woman.
Mark’s Gospel refers to her as Syro-Phoenician.
Interesting that Matthew uses Canaanite to describe her since the Canaanites were one of the 7 nations in the Promised Land that Israel was supposed to drive out.
2 And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.
She referred to Jesus by His Messianic title, “Son of David.”
She had a great need. Her daughter was severely demon-possessed.
23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”
Jesus’ initial response to this woman was to ignore her request.
Apparently she continued to cry out to the point where the disciples were getting frustrated.
The disciples asked Jesus to dismiss her and send her away.
24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Jesus came as a Jewish Messiah to the nation of Israel.
His initial priority was to offer salvation to the house of Israel.
However, it was always the plan that Jesus would be the Messiah for the entire world.
25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”
Notice that she didn’t let the fact that she was not a Jew keep her from continuing to cry out to Jesus.
She came to Jesus and began to worship Him.
26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
The children are the nation of Israel.
The children’s bread is the power of the Gospel to save, heal, transform lives.
The Jews referred to Gentiles as dogs, meaning they were not worthy to receive the blessings of God.
Jesus is not calling her a dog in the way we think. The word Jesus used here is not the dogs that roamed the neighborhoods. But he used the word that describes a household pet.
So Jesus’ words here were not harsh. He was using this moment as an opportunity to invite greater faith from this woman.
27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
This woman responded with great faith.
It is like she said, “I don’t deserve anything. I just want the scraps that accidentally fall from Your abundance.”
28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Jesus tested this woman’s faith, and she responded with great faith.
As a result, Jesus answered her request and healed her daughter.
MESSAGE
MESSAGE
A single crumb from the Master’s table is more than enough!
At Schachle get-togethers, you better get the dessert when it is available. If you come back later, there will probably only be crumbs left.
The woman knew the crumbs were enough to set her daughter free.
The power of God is so great that just the smallest touch is enough to completely change our situation.
Jesus doesn’t just offer crumbs, He offers an abundant banquet!
Crumbs are a sign there is something greater available.
Jesus has a table spread, where the saints of God are fed, He invites His chosen people, Come and dine!
He will prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies (Psalm 23).
You’ll never experience the Master’s banquet until you get hungry enough for the crumbs that fall from the Master’s table.
Her faith was fueled by humility.
7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Proper faith is not coming to Jesus and demanding something from Him.
Proper faith is coming to Jesus in humility and pleading for His mercy.
Her faith was fueled by hunger.
Her daughter was in a desperate place and needed a miracle.
She was hungry for a touch from Jesus.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
9 For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
CLOSING
CLOSING
The Canaanite woman’s faith teaches us a profound truth: even the smallest touch of Jesus, even the crumbs of His grace, carry life-changing power. But Jesus offers more than crumbs—He invites us to His banquet of abundant blessing. The question is, are we humble enough to come hungry, recognizing our need for Him?
As we close, remember this: faith that is humble and hungry is the kind that receives from God. Let’s approach Him with the same boldness, persistence, and humility as this woman, trusting that what He offers is more than enough to meet our deepest needs. Today, let’s not settle for crumbs when the Master’s table is open to all who come in faith.
