The Woman of Canaan and her Daughter

A Mother’s Love for her Daughter

Introduction

The Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition Chapter 7

25 But immediately a woman, whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell down at his feet

The Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition Chapter 15

22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon.”

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 7

25. For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit—or, as in Matthew (Mt 15:22), “was badly demonized.”

25. For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit—or, as in Matthew (), “was badly demonized.”

Those of you, who are mothers can identify with the needs of a sick child. As a mother, would you not do everything possible to get your child healed that was sick? Of course you would, that is the normal reaction and response. If your child is sick, you take the child to the doctor to get medical attention and cure the illness.

The same thing is occurring here in the today’s Gospel reading from Matthew. A Canaanite woman, her daughter being possessed by a demon sought help from Jesus.

What real lesson has this woman, this mother of a daughter who is possessed by a demon shown us? As one early church father, Augustine of Hippo wrote;

Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament, Vols. I & II Sermon XXVII. [LXXVII. BEN.]

[i] 1. THIS woman of Canaan, who has just now been brought before us in the lesson of the Gospel, shews us an example of humility, and the way of godliness; shews us how to rise from humility unto exaltation

As Augustine of Hippo affirmed, this mother

This mother seeking mercy for her daughter from Jesus, as we have seen in , knew who Jesus was, as she cried out O Lord, Son of David! How is it possible that a Gentile woman would know the lineage of Jesus or even of who he was? It is obvious from this passage that this distraught mother was a believer in Jesus and what he taught. This is also evidence by what Matthew wrote of Jesus’ response to the mother’s request of mercy for her daughter. Matthew wrote;

The Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition Chapter 15

28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

From these two passages from Matthew, we see that if you have faith and present yourself to the Lord in humility, you will receive mercy.

Two lessons are presented

There are 2 lessons presented in today’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew. The first lesson was of the Canaanite Woman seeking mercy from Jesus and to have him heal her daughter.

The second lesson is for the disciples’ Jesus is teaching the disciples in his actions towards the Canaanite mother that salvation is not only for the people of the House of Israel.

Lesson for the Disciples

You may ask, where does Jesus say or show that He has come not only for the lost people of the House of Israel? That is a fair question. Let us look at what Matthew wrote occurred during this incident with the Canaanite woman.

The Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition Chapter 15

23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying after us.”

Here we can see the prejudice of the disciples in wanting Jesus to send the woman away. The prejudice is a product of the Law of Moses where Jews are not to associate with Gentiles. Jesus wanted to teach the disciples that He has come for everyone. Matthew wrote Jesus’ response to the disciples;

King James Version Chapter 15

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

The Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition Chapter 15

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

This response from Our Lord should have taught the disciples that he was sent to establish his church among all the nations. But this lesson was not easily learned by the disciples for we have another source as John wrote;

King James Version Chapter 4

27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?

Augustine of Hippo referred to this second lesson in his sermon XXVII, where he wrote;

Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament, Vols. I & II Sermon XXVII. [LXXVII. BEN.]

[ii] 2. Here arises a question out of these words; “If He was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel, how came we from among the Gentiles into Christ’s fold? What is the meaning of the so deep economy of this mystery, that whereas the Lord knew the purpose of His coming—that He might have a Church in all nations,

This lesson was finally driven home after Pentecost when the Apostles began to fulfill the Great Commission that Jesus placed on them prior to his Ascension to Heaven. Peter would learn this lesson when Cornelius, a Roman Centurion sent for him to preach the Gospel to him and his house, as described in the Book of Acts.

Paul was commissioned by Jesus to spread the Gospel specifically to the Gentiles. Which is where our Epistle reading for today come in. Paul wrote that the rejection of Jesus by the Jews allowed for the Gentiles to obtain mercy and that having received mercy they are now expected to grant mercy unto the Jews that wish to become members of the church of Christ.

We can see the progression of God’s plan to bring all peoples unto himself. By Jesus showing mercy to the God-fearing Canaanite woman and healing her daughter, he also at the same time showed the disciples that he came not only for the House of Israel but for all the nations. This action eventually led to Peter preaching in Rome and Paul’s extensive missions to Asia Minor and Greece.

These actions are how we ourselves have been given the gift of salvation by Jesus’ death and resurrection. We now have been given mercy, and forgiveness, along with an unconditional love from our heavenly father.