Monday, 27 July 2015

Matthew 15: 21-28 The Deliverance of the Canaanite Woman’s Daughter.

Mat 15:21  Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew into the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon.
Mat 15:22  Here a Canaanitish woman of the district came out and persistently cried out, "Sir, Son of David, pity me; my daughter is cruelly harassed by a demon."
Mat 15:23  But He answered her not a word. Then the disciples interposed, and begged Him, saying, "Send her away because she keeps crying behind us."
Mat 15:24  "I have only been sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel," He replied.
Mat 15:25  Then she came and threw herself at His feet and entreated Him. "O Sir, help me," she said.
Mat 15:26  "It is not right," He said, "to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
Mat 15:27  "Be it so, Sir," she said, "for even the dogs eat the scraps which fall from their masters' tables."
Mat 15:28  "O woman," replied Jesus, "great is your faith: be it done to you as you desire." And from that moment her daughter was restored to health.

Introduction.

This narrative is also found in Mar_7:24-30.
The coasts of Tyre and Sidon - These cities were on the seacoast or shore of the Mediterranean. See the notes at Mat_11:21. Jesus went there for the purpose of concealment Mar_7:24, perhaps still to avoid Herod.
Mat_15:22
A woman of Canaan - This woman is called, also, a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, Mar_7:26
In ancient times, the whole land, including Tyre and Sidon, was in the possession of the Canaanites, and called Canaan. The Phoenicians were descended from the Canaanites. The country, including Tyre and Sidon, was called Phoenicia, or Syro-Phoenicia. That country was taken by the Greeks under Alexander the Great, and those cities, in the time of Christ, were Greek cities. This woman was therefore a Gentile, living under the Greek government, and probably speaking the Greek language. She was by birth a Syro-Phoenician, born in that country, and descended, therefore, from the ancient Canaanites. All these names might, with propriety, be given to her.


Mat 15:21  Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew into the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon.
Mat 15:22  Here a Canaanitish woman of the district came out and persistently cried out, "Sir, Son of David, pity me; my daughter is cruelly harassed by a demon."
Notes
"Sir, Son of David, pity me; my daughter is cruelly harassed by a demon."  
Mat 15:22  And behold, a woman of Canaan coming out of these borders cried to Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is grievously vexed with a demon.MKJV
And Behold means “Look” “take Note” a favourite expression of Matthew’s.
This Canaanite Woman has Exceptional Faith. She had left her home and come looking for the Son of David Master whom she knew could deliver her daughter.

She persistently cried out, She kept on Crying out [imperfect tense] She continued shouting out. 
O Lord Son of David Have Mercy on Me!”
She understood the Greatness of Jesus claiming nothing for herself but the delieverance of her daughter, “Lord, Son of David”. Jesus was the Lord, the Master who had the power and authority to change her situation. ‘Son of David’ He was the Messiah Promised. He was the Son of the Greatest King of Israel.


Mat 15:23  But He answered her not a word. Then the disciples interposed, and begged Him, saying, "Send her away because she keeps crying behind us."
Notes
The disciples were upset by her continual appeal to Jesus.
But He answered her not a word. The disciples probably wanted to get rid of this Canaanite woman and have her on her way. Jesus never turned anyone away who genuinely was seeking Him. The disciples had never experienced it anyway. Now they see her crying behind them.
Why was Jesus so silent? He was probably testing the genuineness of her faith.


Mat 15:24  "I have only been sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel," He replied.
Notes
The “lost sheep of the house of Israel” were the Jews. He came first to them. He came as their expected Messiah. He came to preach the gospel himself to the Jews only. Afterward it was preached to the Gentiles, but the ministry of Jesus was confined almost entirely to the Jews. Barnes Notes.


Mat 15:25  Then she came and threw herself at His feet and entreated Him. "O Sir, help me," she said.
Notes
At this the woman came and fell at his feet. "Help me, sir!" she said. GNB
She put herself in the place of humility and  desperate appeal at his feet. There is no better place for someone who is in need. “Help me Lord”she said.


Mat 15:26  "It is not right," He said, "to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
Notes
This seems a harsh answer from the Loving and Kind Saviour of men.”To take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." The children’s bread should be used for the children and not thrown to the  c. the household pets should not be fed at the expense of the children of the house.
How does Jesus say this to her. It may not have been said in a Harsh manner at all. We dont know the context exactly. Was is merely a Bitter insult calling the Canaanites dogs.  This blunt answer is not just a literal statement but a Parable or proverbial statement used to make clear that his work was with his own people.
Mat 15:27  "Be it so, Sir," she said, "for even the dogs eat the scraps which fall from their masters' tables."
Notes
Truth, Lord - Ναι κυριε, Yes, Lord. This appears to be not so much an assent, as a bold reply to our Lord’s reason for apparently rejecting her suit.
The little dogs share with the children, for they eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. I do not desire what is provided for these highly favored children, only what they leave: a single exertion of thy almighty power, in the healing of my afflicted daughter, is all that I wish for; and this the highly favored Jews can well spare, without lessening the provision made for themselves. Is not this the sense of this noble woman’s reply? A. Clark


Mat 15:28  "O woman," replied Jesus, "great is your faith: be it done to you as you desire." And from that moment her daughter was restored to health.


Notes
"O woman," replied Jesus, "great is your faith….” The amazing greatness of her faith despite the Lord’s seeming blunt replies makes her miracle all the more wonderful.

be it done to you as you desire." And from that moment her daughter was restored to health.
Great Faith in Christ is always rewarded. She pushed through the cultural and theological Barriers and her daughter was restored to perfect health
And from that moment her daughter was restored to health. She was made whole completely healed from that very moment.

Perhaps you are pleading with the Lord for someone in your family today. Be persistent. Press in and see that Christ is the same today as in Bible days.

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