"YOU HAVE GREAT FAITH!"

Passage: Matthew 15:21-28

Key verse: 28

NIV

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman(A)

21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.(B) 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David,(C) have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”(D)

23 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.”

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”(E)

25 The woman came and knelt before him.(F) “Lord, help me!” she said.

26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith!(G) Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

21 (A)And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, (B)a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, (C)“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, (D)“Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, (E)“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and (F)knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and (G)throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat (H)the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, (I)great is your faith! (J)Be it done for you as you desire.” (K)And her daughter was (L)healed instantly.[a]

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 15:28 Greek from that hour
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. A desperate cry for help (21-26)

After rebuking the religious leaders, Jesus withdrew to Gentile region. Jesus was met by a Canaanite woman who begged him to heal her demon-possessed daughter. This woman's child suffered terribly. Jesus did not immediately respond, and the disciples urged him to send her away. Jesus replied to her that he was sent for Jews, but the woman persisted. Then Jesus responded that it was not right to toss children's bread to the dogs. Jesus sounded cruel, but this was a test of faith.

2. A spiritual response that pleased Jesus (27-28)

Rather than take offense, the Canaanite woman heard Jesus' response as an invitation. She caught that Jesus called her a house dog-a pet that is fed by the master of the house. She humbly accepted her position before Lord Jesus. She wholly depended on Jesus' grace to receive what she could not earn nor pay for. Jesus was impressed by her genuine and humble faith and healed her sick daughter. Like this woman, we are all like dogs before Jesus, but let us have her faith.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for answering my cries for help with your one-sided grace. Help me to live with a humble faith that pleases you.

One Word: Faith that pleases the Lord Jesus