Jesus still Breaks Boundaries

IN Matthew 15:21–28 as well as Mark 7:24–30 we see the same story. We are going to be in Matthew 15:21-28

Matthew 15:21–28 NLT

21 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” 23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.” 24 Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” 25 But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” 26 Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” 28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

PRAY

Here we encounter a Gentile woman from Canaan who seeks Jesus to heal her daughter. Her approach reflects a deep desperation and a cultural defiance, demonstrating the lengths to which she is willing to go for her daughter’s healing.

This narrative reveals not only her remarkable faith but also challenges preconceived notions about who can receive favor from God. Jesus grants her request based on her faith and not on her ethnicity or background.

As we look at this narrative, remember that faith knows no boundaries and can break through any and all societal barriers.

Maybe we need to challenge our own assumptions about who is deserving of grace and healing.

Jesus shows us that extraordinary faith can lead to extraordinary outcomes, regardless of one’s background. God's willingness to engage with those who earnestly seek Him is the gateway for receiving God's mercy and blessings.

Christ's mission has always been to redeem all humanity, not just the Jews. We see that Jesus is highlighted as the Savior for all, demonstrating that the Kingdom of God is inclusive. Even those who were once on the fringes of society, Jesus came to put them in a place of healing and restoration.

Faith that transcends societal boundaries not only pleases God but also transforms lives, inviting us to re-examine whom we believe God can reach and heal.

1. Persistence Pays Off

Matthew 15:21–23 NLT

21 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” 23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.”

Jesus was silent toward this woman’s plea.

Nobody likes the silent treatment, especially from Jesus! Why would Jesus not speak to this woman who was desperate for a healing touch?

I always struggle with this passage because it appears that this woman was treated so poorly by Jesus and HIS disciples. Such disrespect but why the disrespect from Jesus?

Jesus’ silence seems difficult to understand until we read the lesson of faith that he taught both the woman and his disciples.

The woman continued to follow after them, and she continued to shout. Finally, the disciples urged Jesus to send her away. This may have meant to get rid of the woman because she was bothering them with her nagging persistence.

Matthew identified this woman as a Canaanite woman. This would speak to his Jewish audience. They remembered the Canaanites as bitter enemies when Israel was settling the Promised Land. Matthew’s Jewish audience would have immediately understood the significance of Jesus helping this woman.

This Canaanite woman had heard about Jesus’ miracle-working power. She heard that Jesus had the power to cast out demons, so there was no way that she was going to miss a chance to see Jesus.

The woman called Jesus, Lord, Son of David. This woman accepted Jesus’ identity as the Jewish Messiah.

This woman came to Jesus on behalf of her daughter, who was tormented by a demon.

Jesus was initially silent towards the woman's plea, but that didn’t stop this woman because her faith was resilient. She needed to show persistence from the depth of her belief to breakthrough this rejection.

Don’t give up on God, even in the midst of the silence. Remain steadfast and hopeful, even when your prayers seem to be unanswered. Keep on seeking the Lord and don’t give up.

Perseverance in faith teaches us that God sometimes allows us to grow through the challenges that we face. Jesus is always willing to engage with those who earnestly seek HIM.

Jesus had a lesson about faith that he needed to teach this woman. But this lesson would also be for the disciples as well.

It is possible to become so occupied with spiritual matters that we miss real needs right around us, especially if we are prejudiced against needy people or if they cause us inconvenience.

Instead of being bothered, be aware of the opportunities that surround you. Be open to the beauty of God’s message for all people, and make an effort not to shut out those who are different from you.

2. Courageous Conversations

Nobody likes to have difficult conversations with someone.

Jesus was willing to have a difficult conversation with this woman in the context of their culture but at the same time, this woman humbly and desperately declared her request before Jesus. Despite the difficulty of thi

Matthew 15:24 NLT

24 Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.”

When Jesus says “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.”… HE was not contradicting the truth that God’s message is for all kinds of people.

God’s word is clear when it comes to reaching the world with HIS message.

Matthew 28:19 NLT

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 56:7 NLT

7 I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.

Psalm 22:27 NLT

27 The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him.

When Jesus spoke these words, he was in Gentile territory. Jesus often ministered to Gentiles on many other occasions but always in Jewish territory.

Jesus was simply telling the woman that Jews were to have the first opportunity to accept HIM as the Messiah. God wanted the Jews to present the message of salvation to the rest of the world.

God spoke this promise to Abraham…

Genesis 12:3 NLT

3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

Jesus was not rejecting the Canaanite woman. Instead, he was explaining that because of HIS humanity, his activities and HIS schedule were limited thus he had to focus on HIS goal.

Since Jesus had only a short time on earth, HIS mission was focused on the Jews.

But at the same time, Jesus tested this woman’s faith. Jesus used the situation to teach that faith is available to all people.

She was unfazed by Jesus’ apparent unwillingness to respond to her request. The woman came and knelt before him, begging for help.

Matthew 15:25 NLT

25 But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!”

Then Jesus answers this woman in the language of a parable.

Matthew 15:26 NLT

26 Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

Jesus refers to this woman as a dog! First HE gives this woman the silent treatment and then HE refers her as a dog! Why would Jesus treat this desperate woman so poorly?

It’s likely that Jesus probably spoke Greek to this woman because she would not have known Aramaic.

The word for dog he used was a word that referred to a little dog, a household pet.

The simple parable meant that the children at the table should be fed before the pets; it would not be right to take the children’s food and give it to the dogs.

It’s true that Gentiles were often referred to as “dogs,” but that does not apply here. The Greek word used as a derogatory nickname applied to wild dogs or scavenger dogs, not household pets.

Jesus was saying that HIS first priority was to spend time feeding his children (teaching his disciples), not to take food away from them and throw it to the pets.

Jesus was not insulting the woman; instead, he was saying that she must not demand what God had ordained for the Jews.

She should wait until God’s appointed time when the Gentiles would receive the Good News of the gospel. The point of Jesus’ parable is “precedence”—who gets fed first? The children do.

This woman understood this parable and she didn’t allow this difficult conversation to offend her. She wasn’t turned off by Jesus’ response to her request.

3. Faith Facilitates Favor

God will always honor our faith.

Matthew 15:27–28 NLT

27 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” 28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

This woman came to Jesus humbly, not demanding anything from Jesus. She knew that she didn’t deserve anything from Jesus. She identified herself as a dog begging for scraps from her masters table and she was totally okay with that.

It was this woman's humble and faith-filled reply that amazes Jesus, leading to the miracle.

When we combine faith and humility we can move the heart of Christ, paving the way for miraculous intervention.

WE all have a story about how we have encountered God’s amazing transformative love and grace. Regardless of how marginalized we think we are or may have been we are still called to extend faith beyond societal limits as a reflection of Christ's inclusive love.