O Woman, Great Is Your Faith!

 

      On the surface of this narrative in Matthew 15:21-28, it appears that Jesus was unkind to the woman, almost harsh. However, it is important to remember that the tone of voice and facial expression with which a thing is said make a lot of difference. There is nothing in the story to suggest that the woman felt offended by the words of the Master. Actually, Jesus was merely trying to test her faith. And how marvelously she responded!

 

      At first, Jesus tested the woman by His silence. When she asked for help, “He did not answer her a word.” This was surprising. She had heard of Jesus’ compassion for needy people, but He seemed to pay no attention to her plea. Then, Jesus tested her further by reminding her that He was “sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” She was a Gentile and belonged to the Canaanites, the ancestral enemies of the Jews.

 

      The woman’s faith, however, seemed to become stronger with the testing. With undiminished fervor she fell at Jesus’ feet and cried, “Lord, help me.” At first, she had recognized Jesus as “the Son of David.” Now she acknowledged Him to be, “Lord.” First, she stood and requested help; then she knelt and pleaded for mercy.

 

      Jesus followed up with the most severe test. He said, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” However, the woman was quick to observe that in using this common Jewish expression, Jesus used the diminutive word for dog, which denotes the household pet and not the scavenger of the street. Quickly seizing the opportunity, she replied, “Yes, Lord, yet even the pets eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” She suggested that even Gentiles might receive something from His overflowing grace. When Jesus heard this, He said, “0h woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” Her faith had emerged trium­phant.

 

Faith looks beyond the problem to the promise.

                                                                                 J.T. Seamands

 

    “This woman brought to Christ a gallant and an audacious love, a faith which grew until it worshipped…an indomitable persistence springing from an unconquerable hope, a cheerfulness which would not be dismayed.  That is the approach which cannot help finding an answer to its prayers.”                                                                             William Barclay