Sermon 13Th Sunday Pentecost

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Series A

Matthew 15:21-28

21 Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

22 A Canaanite woman from that territory came to him and began to shout, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.”

23 But he did not answer her at all. Then his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away. She keeps shouting behind us.”

24 Jesus responded, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.”

25 She came to him, bowed down, and said, “Lord, help me!”

26 Jesus replied, “It’s not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”

27 She said, “You’re right, Lord. But even the dogs eat scraps that fall from their masters’ tables.”

28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, you have strong faith! What you wanted will be done for you.” At that moment her daughter was cured.[1]

Intro

Jesus leaves GENNESARET (G-town) and visits an area of 2 cities about 40 miles to the far Northeast. TYRE and SIDON (show map) were 2 cities at the outer most edge (line) of the Promised Land. The Promised Land was land promised to Abraham (Abram originally) and his DESCENDANTS (children) in Genesis 12:7, “Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘I’m going to give this land to your descendants.’ So he [Abram] built an altar there to the Lord, who [place God] had appeared to him [Abram].”[2] Abraham’s children are also named ISRAELITES (I-chin). The Israelites got their name from Abraham’s grandson, JACOB, also known by his 2nd name, ISRAEL (Genesis 32:28).

Hopefully, you remember that JACOB or his other name, ISRAEL, had 12 sons. The 12 sons became the owners of the Promised Land…also called ISRAEL. The promise of salvation was focused on the children of Israel and was not generally open to everyone. Today, the Gospel or the promise of salvation is open to all people. “Peace on earth and good will (want) to all men,” is the promise not only to Israelites but also to non-Israelites…you and me! This promise was made on Christmas morning and completed (success) on Easter Sunday!

We sometimes call people from Israel, JEWS. This name, Jews, is probably from the long surviving family classification (class) under Jacob’s 4th son, JUDAH. Jesus is the great grandson of JUDAH or the Jews. Jesus is also called the “The Lion that is from the Tribe (family) of JUDAH” (Revelation 5:5).

Why is this important? The importance is in the name of the woman coming to meet Jesus in area of TYRE and SIDON. The Bible says the woman is CANAANITE. This woman was not Jewish. She was not a pure (100%) descendant (child) from Abraham. The woman had no legal rights to come to Jesus. Jesus had no obligation (responsibility) to help this woman. Jesus says in verse 24, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.” Wow! Jesus seems (mirror) very mean to the woman. Verse 23 of our reading says, “But he did not answer her at all.” Jesus acts (do) like he is “deaf” to her. Jesus ignores her shouts and screams. Jesus pretends the woman is not there. Wow! ?How would you feel if Jesus ignored you? ?How do you feel if your friends or someone important ignores you? ?What happens when the pastor or someone at church ignores you? ?Aren’t you hurt by their rejection? ?Don’t you want to leave and never come back? Learn a lesson from the Canaanite woman and be stubborn…stubborn in faith. The woman refused to give up! The woman believed in Jesus…no matter the disciples rejected her. No matter people at church accept you…no matter your friends reject you…believe in the promise of Jesus. Jesus will never fail you!

The woman must have been stubborn and a bother. Jesus’ disciples come to Jesus and say, “Send her away. She keeps shouting behind us.” Jesus’ friends were sick (tire) of her. The woman had a real problem. The C-town woman’s daughter was tormented (suffer) from a demon. The woman shouted to Jesus, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” Verse 24, Jesus responded, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.” Faith refuses to let go of the promises of God! This woman’s faith would not give up. She knew Jesus was the answer for her and her daughter’s problem. Imagine (idea) your son or daughter being under the Devil’s control. Sad! Very sad!

However (but), Jesus has no obligation (responsible) to help her. Jesus has no obligation to help us poor sinners either (same). The woman had no rights. We have no rights or demands on Jesus. Jesus ignored her. Jesus could ignore us too. ?Is God required to listen to sinners? No! Really, God is supposed to destroy evil-doers. Psalm 145:20, “The Lord keeps all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.”[3] No one (person) has loved God except Jesus. We are all outside the Promised Land or Heaven. We are all Canaanites (C-town people) living on the far Northeast edge of destruction. We are mostly a bother to other people and God. ?Why does God listen to our prayers or screaming? God listens and answers not because of anything we say or do. No! God answers, why, truly out of His infinite (forever) grace and love. Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result (happen) of works, so that no one may boast.”[4]

Jesus answers this woman’s prayer because of His grace and her belief. Verse 28, “‘Woman, you have strong faith (belief)! What you wanted will be done for you.’ At that moment her daughter was cured.” We to are cured at the moment we believe Jesus’ gracious promises in Word (Bible) and Sacraments (Lord’s Supper & Baptism). And like (same) the Canaanite woman we don’t see the cure until we arrive home. Most of us (also) journey 60, 70, 80, maybe 100 years, but when (happen) we die we see our loved ones and the Lord. Jesus makes everything correct because of His GRACE!

When (happen) the C-town woman arrived home she saw her daughter healthy and in her right mind. The demon (evil) that tormented her daughter was gone at the word or promise of Jesus. And you see…the devil is gone out of our lives at the promise of Jesus in our baptism and Lord’s Supper. The devil cannot stand the preaching of Jesus but is sent away by the words of Jesus.

?How often do we pray for our children or loved ones (person)? The C-town woman was doing, as any good parent should. She was praying for her daughter and loved her daughter no matter the problem. We would do well to pray for our children and place them (children) before the Lord. Indeed (true), we would do well to pray for our pastor, church, home, family, friends, and all people that they would believe in Jesus and have a good life. Jesus is the answer and the cure. Jesus makes all things correct!

We should be careful not to become in a hurry to send people away. The disciples (followers) wanted to send away the screaming (bother) woman. Sometimes happens a deaf person or young kid comes to church, we want to get rid (sent away) of them too. Sometimes we see a person from the deaf club, bowling, or some other place, come into the church building and we say bad things about them inside ourselves. Also and sadly, we often tell them to their face these bad things. ?Why did you come here? You are trouble-maker we don’t want you here…go home!

Sometimes happens we are outside the church building at a social or meeting of the deaf people. We ignore or don’t seek (search) for the lost and lonely people. We stay only with our Christian friends. This is sad too! We think we are better than other deaf or hearing people. We break the 1st Commandment and set ourselves up as God. We don’t bring them the love of Jesus. We are not humble. We don’t follow Matthew 28:19. Jesus also said, “aIt is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”[5]

You see we can learn another lesson from the C-town woman. She was humble woman. Wow! Jesus called her a dog! Yes! Strange for Jesus to say the words in verse 26, “It’s not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” Jesus was saying He (Jesus) should not give help to someone not born from Abraham’s family. Abraham’s family is the chosen family. Other people are same as a dog! Wow! Jesus insults woman. But the woman is humble. She believes Jesus and says, “You’re right, Lord. But even the dogs eat scraps that fall from their masters’ tables.” We can learn this too! The C-town woman admits her condition. “You’re right, Lord.” She is saying, “Yes, I am a dog.” This should be our confession too! “Yes, Lord I am a dog. I am a terrible sinner and don’t deserve your grace, but please help me anyway.” Happens the woman says, “But even the dogs eat scraps that fall from their master’s tables.” The woman is saying I don’t deserve grace but I will take anything you are willing to give Lord.

Often the Lord does not give us the lottery ticket but He does give us the daily bread. Often the Lord does not give us the beautiful face of ELVIS but he does give us a face. Often the Lord does not give us the great big house but we have a roof over our heads to protect us from the rain and walls to keep us from the cold. Often the Lord does not give us the power or fame, but the Lord gives us His love and promise…most important the Lord gives us mercy and forgiveness in His Son, Jesus. Because of Jesus we have every good gift. We are no longer dogs but we are the children of God. Jesus makes a correction in us. Jesus gives us himself in all His gracious promises. We are free and new. We are the children of God. We are going to heaven because of Jesus’ love. We have been made correct in Christ. We are happy in the words of Jesus. Luke 10:20, “Be happy that your names are written in heaven.” Amen!

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[1]God's Word. 1996, c1995 (Mt 15:21-28). Grand Rapids: World Publishing.

[2]God's Word. 1996, c1995 (Ge 12:7). Grand Rapids: World Publishing.

[3]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ps 145:20). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[4]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Eph 2:8-9). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[5]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Mk 2:17). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.