Jesus came into the region of Phoenicia and ministered to “unclean people” in an “unclean place” (or so thought by the Jews). Jesus had been dealing with the “little faith” of his own people. The false teachings and traditions of His people, and the land of His people. He left Gennesaret (Matthew 14:34) so the hostilities in Galilee might subside. The challenge He laid upon the religious elite was quite heavy (Matthew 15:3-11). It was for these exchanges they would later kill Him.

Jesus “withdrew” himself (which could relate to us the idea of refuge) to the coast of Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 15:21). Jesus sought refuge among the very people that the Jews hated. The Canaanite people had a reputation that spanned the centuries, and they had been condemned by the prophets of God long before. Ezekiel (Eze.26-28), Isaiah (Isa.23:1), Jeremiah (Jerm.25:22), Joel (Joel 3:4), Amos (Amos 1:9-10), and Zechariah (Zech.9:2-4) all had their say about the wickedness and idolatry which saturated the land that Jesus now seeks refuge in. Who else needed Jesus more? And hasn’t His “fame” been spread abroad (Matthew 4:24-25)?

It is in this setting that a certain woman with a tender request, acknowledges His deity and begs of His mercy (Matthew 15:22). Her daughter was demon possessed and stood no chance of living a normal life apart from the healing touch of the Great Physician. Jesus was known to have been executing the very things that the scriptures had foretold of the things God would do “in the future” (Isaiah 35). I am not convinced that this woman was familiar with the sacred text, but she had heard of His power. Word travels fast. It always has and it always will.

Jesus didn’t answer her request. It almost seems (in our English Bibles) like He didn’t even acknowledge her presence. And the response of the disciples seems equally as harsh, “Send her away; for she crieth after us” (Matthew 15:23). Now, it is human nature to withhold the benefit of the doubt. Maybe benefit of the doubt is exactly what the disciples need at this juncture. There is no doubt that they want her gone. They had not developed themselves to the point of being past the prejudice that God’s people had practiced for so long. Remember Peter and Barnabus with other Jews (Galatians 2:11-14)? But upon a deeper investigation, it could very well be that the disciples asked for Jesus to “send her away,” but with her request fulfilled. Wouldn’t that be the easiest way to get rid of the nagging woman? Fix her problems. One support for this view is found in Luke 2:29, “Lord, now let thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.” In Luke 2, Simeon had “seen thy salvation,” and the saying which the Holy Spirit had revealed to him was confirmed (Luke 2:26). Simeon could ask to die, being a just and devout man (Luke 2:25), having had the promise fulfilled. The same verb is used in both verses.

In verse 24, Jesus answered both, the disciples and the woman, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Now, at this time, Jesus main focus was Israel. But He had blessed the Roman Centurian (Matthew 8:10). He would soon say, “Other sheep I have which are not of this fold.” Jesus’ mission was always about one flock- one shepherd (John 10:16). It was necessary to unfold the way it did.

The Jews should have been much more prepared for the Messiah than the pagans. They had the prophets and Moses, and all the signs that would confirm His identity. But to large measure, the gentile world would be the first to accept Him. This woman is a prime example of the sharp difference between the two groups.

Jesus’ reply was a dagger in the heart of her request. In layman’s terms Jesus said, “No.” And it was the second test of her faith that would prove the most difficult. You see, the first test of her faith was going to Jesus in the first place. That took courage. She had to overcome herself, her fear, her reservations, and approach this man, and His other men, and ask for a blessing. The second test was in His response. Many people would have turned around a ran off crying, blaming the Lord for being mean and insensitive. They would likely deny that He was God or sent by God because, “God would never talk to someone like that.” I can imagine it so vividly. Her faith was bigger than her feelings.  

Marks account does tell us that she fell at His feet, but this had been her position in this entire encounter. The account Matthew left us reveals that her next words were, worship… After being denied her request, her faith grew stronger and instead of attacking, instead of becoming hardened and abrasive, she melted before her Master and made supplication with the most reverence and respect she could muster. He was her only hope, and she showed Him that very truth. The test continued though, as Jesus places the issue in a real-world paradigm.

Jesus then told her that it wasn’t fitting to take the portion that belonged to the children and give it to the pups (Matthew 15:26). The term “dogs” is diminutive and not something we should view as an ugly derogatory attack on her personage. It was not about uncleanness, as the Jews would assert, but about order, or subordinance.

Her response to the Lord’s example was another revelation, not only of her faith, but of her wit! She, in the most respectful manner, met the Lord’s example with insight that not only impresses us, but it impressed the Lord. And she said, “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from the Masters table” (Matthew 15:27). Instead of taking offense that the Lord brought up an example that affirmed His first objection, she recognized the truth of it, and offered a truth of her own.

Jesus could heal her daughter and it would not take anything that was rightfully the Jews away from them. Jesus could unbind her daughter from the terror and torture of the demonic that controlled her, and not rob the Jews of anything. The Jews would be no poorer for Jesus exercising His majestic power and giving this gentile woman her daughter back. And in this response of faith, Jesus recognized it as just that, great faith, and it’s recorded for all time.

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, “O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” Her daughter was made whole from that very hour. She got what she came for!

The statement: “Great is thy faith” is without doubt the greatest compliment that could ever be paid. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus was well pleased with this gentile woman. So, what was great about her faith?

Great faith can be found in seemingly unexpected places. Not only was great faith found among gentiles, but a Centurian and a woman. These would have been at a disadvantage relative to nurturing faith. The institutions of Judaism had brought the Jews along to a point where they should have been ready to receive the prophet like unto Moses (Galatians 4:4; Deuteronomy 18:15). And many Jews did receive Christ, but they were truly few in comparison to the nation as a whole.

• This woman had many virtues that are worthy of note. She was reverent and respectful, she was persistent, and she was thoughtful. Most of all, and chief of her attributes was mentioned by Christ, her faith. It was unlikely that a gentile would have such trust in Jesus, but her faith was demonstrated with unquestionable clarity.

• Her faith was great because even when she didn’t have the answer she wanted from Him, she worshipped Him. He was worthy to be worshipped prior to any blessing she might receive from Him. So many only “worship” God after they get what they’re after. They have in their mind this idea of a “genie-god” and if their wishes aren’t granted, that god isn’t worthy of adoration. This was not the case with the woman of great faith.

•  Her faith was clever. She turned His truth into her truth. They were both true and neither one denied it. It was her faith that reasoned thus with the Lord that He could still provide regardless of the expected order. It blessed her forever, and shortly, even more gentiles would receive more than crumbs (Matthew 15:29-37).

• Her faith was persistent. It was concerned with a need right in front of her, and she wasn’t going to be sent away easily. She would not give up. She did not stop. Her reverence never waned, and her request didn’t either. She knew Jesus could fix it and she went to Him in faithful persistence.

May these truths be a lesson to us in our own time. We need Jesus just as she did. Mankind has the plight of sin that only Jesus can fix. In this text, we see the compassion of Jesus tempered with His desire to allow faith to bloom and develop and manifest itself. Her faith not only blessed her and her daughter, but it blessed the disciples. They got to witness first hand one of the greatest displays of faith recorded for us. And it was an outsider who did it. What does that say to me? What does that say to you?

If we at the Eastside Church of Christ can help you in getting to know God, in coming to a saving faith, please allow us the privilege of studying or assisting you.