The Canaanite Woman
The Canaanite Woman
Scripture: Matthew 15:21-28
Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee
Spiritual Life Officer
USA Southern Territory
A Lingering Memory
When Elijah left Israel while hiding from King Ahab, he was directed to a widow with a son who was in desperate need of a miracle (1 Kings 17:7-16). But she was no daughter of Israel. Rather, she was a despised Gentile in the middle of an idolatrous land. But because of her faithful obedience, she saved both her son’s life and her own and left behind a legacy of the true God at work in the land of Syria. Perhaps this story was still told among the people centuries later. Now another Syrian woman played out a drama of her desperate need amid the toughest circumstances.
A Surprising Faith
With all the mad rush around Him and the disciples, Jesus went into the area of Tyre and Sideon, presumably for some rest. It was here that the Syro-Phoenician woman met Him, no doubt having heard of His miraculous work throughout Judea. She understood that He was more than a gifted man, as evidenced in her call that was also a confession of faith: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David” (Matthew 15:22). In addressing Christ as Lord, she echoed the earliest confession of the Church of His divine place. In calling Him Son of David, she articulated the expectation that He was the Messiah. Was she repeating phrases like some superstitious chant or as a faithful proclamation of the true believer? In that place that the disciples presumed was the pit of Gentile ignorance and spiritual darkness, had a light of revelation somehow shown through to this little woman? How could that be when so many in the land of Israel, where God had revealed so much of His truth, remained spiritually blind? This would be tested as the story unfolded.
There was more going on than most modern readers understand. This mother had much going against her. As a woman, it was totally inappropriate for her to speak in public before a man spoke to her. Beyond that, she was raised in a religious setting that no doubt clouded her understanding of who Christ was. In her religious world, accepting someone else as another god among the many worshipped already in Syria was not a problem. What would have been a problem was accepting that Christ’s place was exclusive and supreme, that other gods must be renounced to own Him. And finally, she was a Gentile, sneeringly referred to by Jews of the day as dogs, believed by some to have been created only to provide fuel for the fires of Hell. The prejudice of culture was a challenge then as it is today. To the disciples who surrounded Jesus, this woman had no right to show up among them, let alone speak and certainly not to make a request.
The Cultural Divide
She crossed the cultural divide offering this heartfelt plea, this desperate intercession on behalf of her tormented daughter, trailing behind Jesus despite the censure of the disciples. She was only met only by His silence. The Bible records, “But He did not answer her a word” (vs. 23). When Jesus finally spoke to her, He said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” (vs. 24). Why did Jesus act toward her in this way?
Perhaps Jesus wanted the disciples to see how callous their viewpoint was by mirroring it in His seeming indifference. They knew Him to show compassion so many times when they had not, to touch ones that they recoiled from, to speak gently when they would push angrily away. To see themselves now in His callousness – maybe they wondered, “Is that how I come across?”
But then there might have also been something the woman needed to learn. Faith is deepened in God’s seeming denials. God’s refusal to act causes us to examine our requests to see if they are legitimate or to look at our hearts to see if the cause for God’s silence might be our sin that blocks the way. If that is the case, we must deal with that before Him. But there are other times that God wants to develop us. He knows that no muscle is strengthened without straining against an opposing force. But persist we must. Reverend Luthardt once said, “We must not let Jesus go. If He goes away, follow Him; if He seems stern, become more urgent; if He hides His face, cry louder; if He will not listen, assail His heart.”
This woman needed to be clear in what she believed. Where people come to faith in Christ from other religions, there is a constant danger of syncretism, the grafting in of the Christian faith with the old faith. For example, it can be Jesus plus Buddha or Allah or Brahma. For this woman to follow Christ, she must follow Him exclusively. No plus/and but full commitment to Him and Him exclusively. The delay in answering was the sifting between the old religious beliefs and the new reliance on Christ alone.
Lord, Help Me!
To Jesus’ reply the woman implores, “Lord, help me!” The Greek word for help is the same used for someone crying out while drowning. This is life and death and yet Jesus still pushed her away. This time it was more gently. Perhaps quoting a proverb of the day, He said, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (vs. 26). As mentioned above, Gentiles were referred to as dogs, but the word used normally meant the vicious street scavengers that ran in packs, attacking the weak that at best were a nuisance. But Jesus used a different word that meant a household pet, a puppy that was a part of the family. Imagine Jesus’ tone softening while the disciples marked Him turning toward this one that they had been taught to despise.
The mother pressed her case. “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table” (vs. 27). She knew that if the Gentiles were house dogs, they too, belonged to the Master. She also knew that it wasn’t all of grace she needed, that even the crumbs were more than enough to meet her need. The smallest blessing from Christ was a large and overabundant blessing to receive. This she would ask for and no more. But in receiving what might appear to be a little bit, her moment of victory was at hand.
And now, the light broke through! The woman who had been an annoyance is now an example. Jesus proclaimed, “‘O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly” (vs. 28).
An old Salvation Army song says,
If all were easy, if all were bright,
Where would the cross be, and where the fight?
But in the hardness, God gives to you
Chances of proving, that you are true.
Keep on believing, Jesus is near;
Keep on believing, there’s nothing to fear;
Keep on believing, this is the way;
Faith in the night as well as the day.
-Lucy Booth-Helberg
Salvation Army Song Book 773
Our Corporate Prayer
Dear Lord, Help me to have a faith that turns away from falsehood of my old beliefs that are founded in anything but You. Like this woman, let me look to You and not be turned away by voices and attitudes that tell me I don't have a right or I don't belong. Let me claim You as my Lord and provider, the answer for all my needs, my shelter and my protecter. Let me be willing to eat the crumbs that fall from Your table, knowing that these would be a feast compared to anything the world has to offer because they come from Your hand. I trust in You, my master and my God. I pray this in Your holy name. Amen.
Our Worldwide Prayer Meeting
The Philippines Territory
Thinking It Through
Has the Lord ever had to show you how your attitude was wrong? How did He do it? Could it be that You feel He should He should withhold His answers from someone you think is not worthy?
Notable Quotables
None knows the weight of another's burden. - George Herbert
You may want to join in singing the old song, "Keep on Believing," as the lyrics appear with the video. It is a great old song that we don't hear much anymore.
We would appreciate any feedback and/or suggestions on how to improve these devotionals. Please email comments to: SpiritualLifeDevelopment@uss.salvationarmy.org or by going to our website: https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/uss/spiritual-life-development.
We would love to hear from you.
Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee
Territorial Spiritual Life Development Officer/THQ Chaplain
USA Southern Territory