What can we learn from the Canaanite woman ? Matthew 15:26
She came in great need and worshipped Jesus, saying, Lord, help me.
Jesus said to the Canaanite woman, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” and she replied, “Lord, help me,” and Jesus answered, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.” Her answer seems very strange. She said, “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” And Jesus commended her for her great faith. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
What was she saying?
The Canaanite woman, often called the Syro-Phoenician woman, showed great quality of character in the requests she made of Jesus, and He in turn recognized them and took the opportunity to teach a lesson.
The passage in question is Matthew 15:25-28.
In it a Canaanite woman was pursuing Jesus, who was with his disciples. She was seeking His aid for her daughter, but the disciples felt badgered and implored Jesus to send her away. Jesus said to her “I was sent only to the lost children of Israel.” When she shows her sincerity by her persistence, He replies, as if by parable, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs,” as if denying her request. Again she shows her persistence, and her understanding of His statement, as she uses in her reply the same symbolic language He used to address her: “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
By this brief conversation, we see the woman’s humble attitude. She was content to be among the “dogs,” the demeaning term often used by Jews to describe Gentiles. In Jesus’ day, the Jews often assumed that they were God’s chosen people and therefore superior to others. This attitude generated much animosity among non-Jews.
But the Canaanite woman showed no animosity, only a confidence that there was something for her, despite her nationality; that she could have a share in what Jesus could give, without depriving those who seemed to be preferred. She would not impoverish others, yet she sought enrichment for herself. Her faith won the highest praise from the Master, and He replied, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.”
In every age God judges people by their quality of character. Actions are weighed–not nationality, not birth right. If she was a Gentile in nationality, she was a true Israelite in disposition, and as such she was blessed. Her concern was not status or recognition but only that she could have some share in the provisions of the Master’s table.
She said in essence, I do not desire what is provided for the highly favoured children, only what they leave. Perhaps she comprehended what Jesus had been teaching, that the Jewish people were not taking advantage of their opportunity as they should have been.
How easy it is to let opportunities slip by. We think that there will always be another chance. Another opportunity..We procrastinate as we consider living for the lord knowing it is a straight and narrow pathway.. We often just wait for another day. For a more convenient time…For another opportunity… But what if God stops feeding us because it is a waste, like throwing good food to the dogs? What if we find ourselves on the outside looking in… Wishing that we had not waited for another day… that we had not ignored the love extended to us by the father…What if we wait too long?
Jesus encountered several people with a similar mind-set:
To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-62)
If you think that you’ll start serving after you get things squared away, you won’t. There’s always some excuse not to serve. Jesus doesn’t want your excuses, he wants you. If you’re too busy to serve, then you are too busy for Jesus.
Do you feel Spiritually Weak or undeserving?
Perhaps you feel unworthy to serve. This is one of my struggles—how could God use someone like me? Corinthians 1:27 reminds us that “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” Knowing you are weak is a wonderful starting point for service. It’s where Simon Peter started from when Jesus called him. Seeing the power and holiness of Jesus, Simon “fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord’” (Luke 5:8b). Like he did with Simon, Jesus uses people of contrite spirit to do his work.
Serving When your Hurt
It’s hard to serve God and others when we are in pain, especially if that pain is caused by those we are serving.
The week leading up to Jesus’s crucifixion must have been consistently painful: as he entered triumphantly on Palm Sunday, he knew that in just a week he would be killed; as he washed his disciples’ feet, he knew they would all run when he was taken; as he ate dinner with them, he knew Peter would deny him and Judas would betray him. Yet, Jesus went willingly into the pain of the cross to serve God and us. He bore the sins of those who spat on him and murdered him.
Jesus suffered this way to pay the penalty for our sin and reconcile us to God, and also that we would know that he understands our suffering. We can feel confident to find solace and comfort in Jesus because he has also suffered.
We must remember that in his suffering, Jesus continued to serve God by doing the work he was given; As should we.
As it says in the hymn….
I've nothing left to hide
No, no reasons left to lie
Give me another chance
Oh Lord I'm ready now
All the walls are down
Time is running out
And I wanna make this count………
Paul says,
Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.
And do this,(to fulfil the law and be saved ) understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Romans 13:8-14
“Let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
We pray that your word will strengthen us daily, that we can become the rock on which to build your house, and that with your grace we can finish our race with honour in a way pleasing to you. Help us smooth the pathway for others and set an example that will be a shining light in a bleak and dark world. We pray that those with an uncertain pathway will find their way to thee, that those who suffer will not suffer greatly, those that seek to lift up others will support many, and that your sight can be our vision as we come to the finish line….
We ask these things in Jesus name…
Amen
Jesus said to the Canaanite woman, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” and she replied, “Lord, help me,” and Jesus answered, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.” Her answer seems very strange. She said, “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” And Jesus commended her for her great faith. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
What was she saying?
The Canaanite woman, often called the Syro-Phoenician woman, showed great quality of character in the requests she made of Jesus, and He in turn recognized them and took the opportunity to teach a lesson.
The passage in question is Matthew 15:25-28.
In it a Canaanite woman was pursuing Jesus, who was with his disciples. She was seeking His aid for her daughter, but the disciples felt badgered and implored Jesus to send her away. Jesus said to her “I was sent only to the lost children of Israel.” When she shows her sincerity by her persistence, He replies, as if by parable, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs,” as if denying her request. Again she shows her persistence, and her understanding of His statement, as she uses in her reply the same symbolic language He used to address her: “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
By this brief conversation, we see the woman’s humble attitude. She was content to be among the “dogs,” the demeaning term often used by Jews to describe Gentiles. In Jesus’ day, the Jews often assumed that they were God’s chosen people and therefore superior to others. This attitude generated much animosity among non-Jews.
But the Canaanite woman showed no animosity, only a confidence that there was something for her, despite her nationality; that she could have a share in what Jesus could give, without depriving those who seemed to be preferred. She would not impoverish others, yet she sought enrichment for herself. Her faith won the highest praise from the Master, and He replied, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.”
In every age God judges people by their quality of character. Actions are weighed–not nationality, not birth right. If she was a Gentile in nationality, she was a true Israelite in disposition, and as such she was blessed. Her concern was not status or recognition but only that she could have some share in the provisions of the Master’s table.
She said in essence, I do not desire what is provided for the highly favoured children, only what they leave. Perhaps she comprehended what Jesus had been teaching, that the Jewish people were not taking advantage of their opportunity as they should have been.
How easy it is to let opportunities slip by. We think that there will always be another chance. Another opportunity..We procrastinate as we consider living for the lord knowing it is a straight and narrow pathway.. We often just wait for another day. For a more convenient time…For another opportunity… But what if God stops feeding us because it is a waste, like throwing good food to the dogs? What if we find ourselves on the outside looking in… Wishing that we had not waited for another day… that we had not ignored the love extended to us by the father…What if we wait too long?
Jesus encountered several people with a similar mind-set:
To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-62)
If you think that you’ll start serving after you get things squared away, you won’t. There’s always some excuse not to serve. Jesus doesn’t want your excuses, he wants you. If you’re too busy to serve, then you are too busy for Jesus.
Do you feel Spiritually Weak or undeserving?
Perhaps you feel unworthy to serve. This is one of my struggles—how could God use someone like me? Corinthians 1:27 reminds us that “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” Knowing you are weak is a wonderful starting point for service. It’s where Simon Peter started from when Jesus called him. Seeing the power and holiness of Jesus, Simon “fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord’” (Luke 5:8b). Like he did with Simon, Jesus uses people of contrite spirit to do his work.
Serving When your Hurt
It’s hard to serve God and others when we are in pain, especially if that pain is caused by those we are serving.
The week leading up to Jesus’s crucifixion must have been consistently painful: as he entered triumphantly on Palm Sunday, he knew that in just a week he would be killed; as he washed his disciples’ feet, he knew they would all run when he was taken; as he ate dinner with them, he knew Peter would deny him and Judas would betray him. Yet, Jesus went willingly into the pain of the cross to serve God and us. He bore the sins of those who spat on him and murdered him.
Jesus suffered this way to pay the penalty for our sin and reconcile us to God, and also that we would know that he understands our suffering. We can feel confident to find solace and comfort in Jesus because he has also suffered.
We must remember that in his suffering, Jesus continued to serve God by doing the work he was given; As should we.
As it says in the hymn….
I've nothing left to hide
No, no reasons left to lie
Give me another chance
Oh Lord I'm ready now
All the walls are down
Time is running out
And I wanna make this count………
Paul says,
Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.
And do this,(to fulfil the law and be saved ) understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Romans 13:8-14
“Let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
We pray that your word will strengthen us daily, that we can become the rock on which to build your house, and that with your grace we can finish our race with honour in a way pleasing to you. Help us smooth the pathway for others and set an example that will be a shining light in a bleak and dark world. We pray that those with an uncertain pathway will find their way to thee, that those who suffer will not suffer greatly, those that seek to lift up others will support many, and that your sight can be our vision as we come to the finish line….
We ask these things in Jesus name…
Amen
Comments
Post a Comment