The Determined Dog

Selling Candy with my Father and being blown off by people.

The Rejection was hard to deal with.

When the stakes got harder in my life I have learned to pushed past the fear of rejection.

See When the stakes get higher we have the tendency to put our fears aside for the greater goal.

Intro:

Matthew 15:21–28 CSB

21 When Jesus left there, he withdrew to the area of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came and kept crying out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely tormented by a demon.” 23 Jesus did not say a word to her. His disciples approached him and urged him, “Send her away because she’s crying out after us.” 24 He replied, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came, knelt before him, and said, “Lord, help me!” 26 He answered, “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.” And from that moment her daughter was healed.

-Matthew 15:21 “Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon”

-Mark 7:24 “24Jesus got up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice.

-Both Matthew and Mark report this narrative and they both put emphasis on the need for Jesus to withdraw to get some much-needed rest. This lets’ us know that the previous narrative might help us interpret this narrative.  What happened in the previous narrative that frustrated Jesus?

-Matthew 15-There was a dispute that broke out between Jesus and Pharisees about the disciples not washing their hands before they ate.

a. (v.2) Why do your disciples break tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.  You will notice that the Pharisees are holding the disciples accountable to the “Traditions of the Elders” not the OT law.  It is was a man-made standard. This is not about the disciples eating with dirty hands, but the Pharisees requirement that the people need to ceremonial washed their hands before eating.  According to the Law this was a requirement for priest before they sacrificed, but it was not a requirement of the people.

(v.3) Jesus answer via question: “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?”

(v.7) Jesus says “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship ME, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of Men.” Listen to Jesus exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.  Essentially saying that this man-made belief system is not what I prescribed in the Law. It is man-made and divisive. It does not lead people to Me, but away from me.

(v.17-20) Jesus explains that food eaten from unwashed hands goes into the stomach, then is eliminated

What a person eats does not make him unclean? 

It is the things that proceed out of the mouth that come from the heart, that defile man. What comes from the heart: evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. Jesus says these are the things that truly defile the man, not eating with unwashed hands.

-Jesus has essentially told his disciples that although the Pharisees consider you to be unclean I do not! Writing later with better understanding of the New Covenant related to food laws Mark inserts this in MK 7:19 “19because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.)”

-Now understand that Jesus used the symbolism of food to teach a greater lesson about people.

-It was at this point that Jesus left all Jewish provinces, and went to a totally Gentile territory of Tyre and Sidon….

-This area is where modern day Lebanon is.  It is a coastal city. It is pagan and idolatrous.

-The way the narrative is being stated it seemed as if Jesus was trying to go to a place that he was unknown so that he could rest: Notice what MK says again 7:24 “-Mark 7:24 “24Jesus got up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice.

-In the midst of Jesus trying to get some rest he got a visit from a desperate & determined Woman

Always

-The cup of the diligent & humble seeker shall be filled.

I. Her Cry

Matthew 15:22 CSB

22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came and kept crying out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely tormented by a demon.”

(v.22) “And a Canaanite woman from that region came out” MK 7:26 “Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race”

-Matthew states she was a Canaanite and Mark gives more information stating she was a Gentile of Syrophoenician race Essentially Matthew is stating who her descendants are, and Mark is stating her current classification.  By this time Jesus was on the scene the Canaanites had been eliminated as a people group. She was Syro(Syria) Phoenician(Ethnicity) Analogy-African-American (African ethnicity) (American where we live)

-Both Matthew & Mark want to make it clear that she is Gentile, but Matthew puts special emphasis in her being a descendant of Canaan, who were the Jews mortal enemies.

(v.22) Notice her Cry “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David” That word “mercy” means: to show pity, compassion, or to extend help for the consequences of sin.  When a person says “have mercy on me” they are asking to get something that they absolutely do not deserve.

-(v.22) “Son of David” WOW!!!! Now where would she have the wherewithal to call Jesus by his messianic name.  Her usage of this name affirms her belief that she is talking to the Messiah.  Most of the Jews especially the Pharisees or Scribes would never call him by this title. One would need to study a little to find out why this Canaanite Idolatrous woman would be waiting for the Messiah.

1 Kings 17:9-24

1 Kings 17:9–24 CSB

9 “Get up, go to Zarephath that belongs to Sidon and stay there. Look, I have commanded a woman who is a widow to provide for you there.” 10 So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering wood. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup and let me drink.” 11 As she went to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” 12 But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I don’t have anything baked—only a handful of flour in the jar and a bit of oil in the jug. Just now, I am gathering a couple of sticks in order to go prepare it for myself and my son so we can eat it and die.” 13 Then Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid; go and do as you have said. But first make me a small loaf from it and bring it out to me. Afterward, you may make some for yourself and your son, 14 for this is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘The flour jar will not become empty and the oil jug will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the surface of the land.’ ” 15 So she proceeded to do according to the word of Elijah. Then the woman, Elijah, and her household ate for many days. 16 The flour jar did not become empty, and the oil jug did not run dry, according to the word of the Lord he had spoken through Elijah. 17 After this, the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. His illness got worse until he stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, “Man of God, what do you have against me? Have you come to call attention to my iniquity so that my son is put to death?” 19 But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, brought him up to the upstairs room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, have you also brought tragedy on the widow I am staying with by killing her son?” 21 Then he stretched himself out over the boy three times. He cried out to the Lord and said, “Lord my God, please let this boy’s life come into him again!” 22 So the Lord listened to Elijah, and the boy’s life came into him again, and he lived. 23 Then Elijah took the boy, brought him down from the upstairs room into the house, and gave him to his mother. Elijah said, “Look, your son is alive.” 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know you are a man of God and the Lord’s word from your mouth is true.”

(v.9) Due to a famine God instructed Elijah to a village called Zarephath located in Sidon

(v.10-16) Elijah ask this woman to take her last handful of flour, and oil and make him some bread.  This woman is taking care of herself, and her son.  She is apprehensive at first then eventually gives Elijah her last bit of sustenance.  Due to her faith Elijah promises her that she will always have bread for her home. Notice (v.15-16) “15So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through Elijah

(v.17-23) God through Elijah has richly supplied for this woman, but then something happens to her son.  Her son is dead.  The woman begins to beseech Elijah as to why this happened to her, reasoning that it was her sin that caused this Calamity.  Elijah takes the boy up to his room and lays on him three times praying for him, then God restores life to him……

(v.24) 24Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.” After this miracle, the woman is convinced of the Power of Yahweh. She became a worshipper of Yahweh and like other Jews she begins to wait for the promised Messiah.

Two things we can surmise from this Story

1. God’s primary purpose in sending Elijah to this woman was to prove his Power over Nature and Death.  Proving that he is more powerful than the Canaanite God(Baal).

2. God’s secondary purpose in sending Elijah was to lay the ground work for his redemptive plan spreading to this area when Jesus came.

-Also in Matthew 4:23-24 “23Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. 24The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them Based on this news about Jesus and what she grew up hearing about this Messiah and what he would do, she was convinced that the Messiah had arrived.

Transition Statement

-This woman cried to Jesus so passionately, that the disciples grew tired of her. What was troubling her heart?

II. Her Concern

Matthew 15:22 CSB

22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came and kept crying out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely tormented by a demon.”

(v.22b) “my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed” That word cruelly is also means “severely or to bring harm.  The demon was probably causing this little girl to harm herself, and cause danger to herself.  Momma is standing in the gap for her little girl.

(v.22b) “Have mercy on me, Lord(Divine), Son of David This woman is pleading for the mercy of God.  I would argue that this woman blames herself for her daughter’s demon-possession.  Out of guilt and true contrition she is pleading for the Lord to extend her mercy.  Let’s take a look at this:

OT References to idols & demons

Deuteronomy 32:16-17 “16“They made Him jealous with strange gods; With abominations, they provoked Him to anger.17“They sacrificed to demons who were not God, To gods whom they have not known, New gods who came lately, Whom your fathers did not dread

-Leviticus 17:7 “7“They shall no longer sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat demons with which they play the harlot. This shall be a permanent statute to them throughout their generations.”

NT References to idols & demons

-1 Corinthians 10:20-21 “20No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

-Revelation 9:20 “20The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;

-The Region that this woman was from was pagan and worshiped Baal (God of Harvest) and Asherah (Goddess of Fertility)

-I believe this woman is suffering from the guilt of exposing her daughter to Idols, which also became the source of her daughter’s possession. My reasoning comes from the text itself: “Have mercy on me” She is pleading for mercy for herself.  I think she believes that if God grants me some underserved compassion it will extend to my daughter who is suffering from my mistakes.

Transition Statement

-This woman deep concern for her daughter lead to a great determination to seek Jesus

III. Her Certitude

Matthew 15:23–28 CSB

23 Jesus did not say a word to her. His disciples approached him and urged him, “Send her away because she’s crying out after us.” 24 He replied, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came, knelt before him, and said, “Lord, help me!” 26 He answered, “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.” And from that moment her daughter was healed.

(v.23) “But He did not answer her a word” As this woman screams for help Our Lord does not answer her a word---This is not the same Jesus that minister to the Samaritan woman.

(v.23) “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us” The disciples were basically asking Jesus to go ahead and heal her daughter, because she is getting on our nerves

(v.24) “I was only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” Jesus tells his disciples this is off mission.  My first priority is the Jews.

(v.25) “She bowed before him saying, Lord, help me!!!” undeterred by Jesus rejection she keeps coming

(v.26) Jesus finally addresses her “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” as this woman lay at his feet humbly bowed Jesus’s “donkey kicked her” he described her as “a dog” this was a common derogatory name that Jews called gentiles.  Jesus however a Greek term for Dog “kunarion” which describes a little dog or puppy that lives in the house. The dogs eat what the children have rejected.  So I can’t answer your prayer request until the Jews have totally rejected me at the cross, then you may partake of salvation.

(v.27) The Woman responded to Jesus “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master’s table” This woman was so desperate, broken, and determined that she essentially says; “I will be a dog, as long as I can catch some of the residual blessing that fall from the table as the Jews eat” This woman is so convinced of the Power of Jesus, that she believes the crumbs that slip off the table are enough to heal her, and her daughter……I believe this woman might say it like this: It is better to eat off the floor in heaven, than be at the guest table in Hell!!!

(v.28) The Jesus said to her “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish” Jesus starts by emphatically addressing this woman; early in story he was not even talking to her. Now he is blow away by her faith!!! Jesus heals her daughter at once….Not when he got to her, Not when the Mother got home, but at once.  He spoke the word and she was healed.

Application

Jesus initial response to this woman was so disrespectful?

Did she just eventually wear him down, so he changed his mind? or did he truly heal her daughter out of respect of her faith?

Is Jesus a racist? 

No to all of these: Jesus is using relational rejection to create a deeper thirst so as to magnify the depth of this Gentile woman’s faith as an embarrassment to the entitled Jews who essentially rejected him. 

Jesus knows that this is a Spirit work and he will continue to draw her to him despite his apparent rejection of her.

1. When you truly seek Jesus he will answer, any perceived silence is just his way of getting you to keep coming.

2.  The way of Salvation is on your knees broken before God.

Open the Doors/Prayer/Gospel

If you do not remember a time, that you were broken, helpless, and humble before God