09/30/2020 EVEN THE DOGS
Matthew 15:22-28 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to HIM, crying out, “LORD, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” JESUS did not answer a word. So HIS disciples came to HIM and urged HIM, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” HE answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before HIM, “LORD, help me!” she said. HE replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” “Yes LORD,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then JESUS answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. [New International Translation]
Summary
During Biblical times the Jewish people considered themselves separate from gentiles* of their times. One group of gentile “outsiders” living around the Jewish people during the time of CHRIST were the Canaanites. To many Jewish people, the Canaanites were no better than “dogs.” So, one day when a Canaanite woman came to JESUS crying for mercy on behalf of a sick child, even some of JESUS’ own Jewish disciples were annoyed and urged JESUS to send her away. From their perspective, she was just a gentile, unclean, and woman. But, the woman was desperate. She was a mother, and her daughter needed help. Moreover, the woman knew JESUS could help her daughter. She believed in JESUS. She acknowledged HIS authority---she called HIM “LORD.” So, she literally begged JESUS for help.
Initially, JESUS said nothing. When the woman persisted, JESUS pointed out that HIS [immediate] mission was to save the “lost sheep of Israel,” meaning the Jews. But the woman would not be dissuaded; she came and knelt before HIM, in humble submission. She worshipped HIM. She pleaded.
Testing her “faith” JESUS spoke to the woman and said: “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”
Still, the woman did not give up. She replied: “Yes LORD,” basically acknowledging the common attitude of the Jew. And in essence, she was admitting that “YES, I know that Jews consider us Canaanites to be “dogs.” But with fierce determination, the woman quickly retorts: “But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” In other words, “even the dogs” deserved to be blessed by the MASTER too!
Seeing how great the woman’s faith was, even with the testing of her faith, JESUS grants the woman’s request. JESUS heals her daughter immediately! All because of the faith of a determined woman!