Matthew 15:21-28
The Canaanite woman had nothing to lose. Her daughter was suffering from demon-possession. She was a member of a condemned race that to Jewish civilization was nothing more than a despised and hopeless people. Yet the irony that develops between this woman and Jesus is beautiful. Completely unlike the demons who threatened to expose Jesus earlier, here this woman intimates essentially the same thing as the demons. For they said: “You are the Son of God” and “I know who you are the Holy One of Israel!” She called him Lord and the Son of David. Yet amazingly, Jesus did not rebuke her for her assertions and instead rewarded her according to her persistence and faith.
The difference between the woman and the demons was a difference of the heart. The Canaanite woman did not yell out a threat, but cried a humble plea. She did call him Lord and the Son of David, admitting that he was the Christ and powerful enough to save, but she begged Jesus with a believing heart. Her motivation was not to stop Jesus from carrying out his mission. Her cry was not even for herself, but for seeking relief for her demon-possessed daughter.
Outside of the wisdom that Jesus gives us in the Gospels, there may not be a wiser response than the one this woman gave. Despite the apparent initial rejection she replies to his amazement: “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
This is an unbelievable statement of faith. Here the Lord Jesus seems to infer that he cannot help her. On three occasions he seems to turn her away. After her first plea, he remains silent and then answers her only after the disciples insist that he send her away and show her no mercy. After the second, more insistent plea, he makes a statement that reinforces the first. But her third plea is a wise reply and reflects to Jesus an unwavering faith and hope in Jesus that required a merciful answer despite her status.
The woman teaches us something of depending upon the wisdom of the world too. Her traditions and history offer her little comfort. They tell her to expect nothing more from the Jewish rabbi. They tell her that Jews cannot offer her any help according to their own traditions and laws as well. And yet this woman persists and pushes through mere human wisdom into the realm of divine mercy. She answers Jesus’ replies by continuing to beg for his help anyway. She essentially says: “I admit that I am no more than a dog, Jesus. But even the little dogs are granted mercy from their masters’ table. Even they are permitted to eat up the scraps that fall. So I don’t believe that you will do nothing more for me. I know you are merciful, Jesus. I’ve heard how you’ve helped other Gentiles. I believe in your Gospel. I have heard of your compassion, and so I refuse to believe that you will not help me in my distress just as your Father helped the Syrian widow and her son (1 Kings 17:67-24) and helped Naaman the leper (2 Kings 5:1-19) through the prophet Elisha.”
Jesus was delighted with her answer. He happily granted her request, and we are forever blessed with this brave woman’s example. The desperate mother pushed through her fear and believed. She expressed faith in face of her Lord’s seeming indifference. And though God may test us in seemingly strange and unpredictable ways, he will not turn away from his Gospel. And he will never turn his back on true faith.
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