Jesus was being silent to a woman

JESUS WAS BEING SILENT TO A WOMAN
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Matthew 15:23 23Jesusdid not answer a word. So his
disciplescame to him and urged him, "Send her away,
for she keeps crying out after us."
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
A Claim On God's Mercy
Matthew 15:22
R. Tuck
Have mercy on me. The woman was wiserthan she knew. She could bring no
claim; as a foreignershe had no sort of right to our Lord's help. She made no
pretence of having any claim, save the claim which every sufferer and every
sinner may have on God's mercy. But that is the bestof all claims; the one to
which response is always assured. The sufferer and the sinner may fully hope
in God's mercy.
I. THE CLAIM OF THE SUFFERER ON GOD'S MERCY. Mercyincludes
interest, pity, sympathy, consideration, and desire to help. The goodman feels
merciful toward the suffering creature;the father is merciful to the suffering
children. God is merciful to the suffering being he has made. But God's mercy
is assuredbecause, to him, all suffering is the fruitage of sin; and God knows

how the suffering has to fall on those who have not committed the sin. If God
saw only sin, he would respond with judgment. He sees so much suffering
following on sin, to which he can only respond with mercy. The child pleaded
for was not suffering directly for sin. The mother's suffering was part of the
race burden, and not distinctively her own. So, here, suffering claimed mercy.
We might be led on to indicate that God's mercy can be shown to sufferers by
prolonging the suffering as truly as by removing it. Mercyin its operationis
ever guided by an infinite wisdom.
II. THE CLAIM OF THE SINNER ON GOD'S MERCY. Nota natural claim.
There is no reasonwhy God should bear with sinners in the nature of things.
Every notion of government shows demand for justice. Officially God must
deal justly. Mercybrings in the qualification that belongs to God's character.
We see this in the case ofa human magistrate. As a magistrate he has no
mercy; he is strictly to apply the law. As a man, and as a character, he can
bring mercy in to qualify the strict applications of law. It is wellto remember
that God never deals with men simply as an official. He is always a character,
a noble character, and therefore "merciful and gracious."Leadon to show
that the supreme interestof the manifestation of Christ, the supreme interest
of such a scene as is now before us, lies in its revelation of the characterof
God, and especiallyits disclosure of the fact that God's having a character
gives both sufferers and sinners a claim upon his mercy. - R.T.

Biblical Illustrator
Then Jesus wentthence and departed Into the coasts ofTyre and Sidon.
Matthew 15:21, 28
The woman of Canaan
J. Ker, D. D.
I. WHAT MADE THE FAITH OF THIS WOMAN SO REMARKABLE?
1. She had much againsther in her original circumstances.In the eye of a Jew
she belongedto the most hated of all the Gentile races. There was a frontier
line of dislike to cross, farwider than any distance betweenTyre and
Palestine. Yet it did not keepher from finding her way to the greatTeacherof
the Jewishnation.
2. She got little countenance from Christ's disciples. Annoyed at her
importunity, and desiring to be freed from the trouble of her presence, they
desired Christ to send her away. She could not but feel they would gladly be
rid of her, in the way some castan alms to a persistent beggar. Weakerfaith
would have felt the chill, and would have desisted. But it is not from them that
she seeksananswer. She will take her dismissalfrom none but Christ Himself.
3. The woman's faith reaches its greatesttrial in the conductof Christ. The
disciples, cold as they are, seemmerciful compared with their Master. As she
cries, and pours her heart into her prayer, He moves awaywith silent neglect.
That dreadful silence is harder to bear than the sorestword that canbe
spoken. Still she cried after Him, and at lastHe spoke. But His words, were
they not evenharder than His silence? ForHe did not speak to her, but only
of her, and that in such a slighting manner as almostto quench all hope. Still
she persists, and at length — as Christ all along intended she should — gains
her heart's desire.

II. WHAT HELPED HER FAITH TO HOLD ON AND TRIUMPH? We do
not speak ofthe first cause ofall, which was Christ's eye watching her steps,
and His hand bearing her up, but of the mediate causesby which her faith
was upheld.
1. She had a deep home and heart sorrow, spurring her on to make every
exertion. In other means had failed, but something told her there was hope
here, and to this she clung. The greaterthe feeling of the trouble, the more
surely will it carry you into the presence ofthe only Saviour.
2. She had learned to take a very humble view of herself. As humility goes
deep down, faith rises up high and strong, for humility furnishes the roots by
which faith holds on.
3. Her faith was so strong, because it had hold of another Christ, greaterand
more merciful than her eyes saw. She lookedbeyond appearances, andfixed
her gaze on things unseen and eternal. It is this which keeps men right, amid
adverse surroundings. Thick thunderclouds of Atheism and Pessimism
sometimes hang lowering over the earth, and threaten to quench all the higher
hope; but God has given to the spirit a powerby which it can pass up through
them and sing like the lark in the sunshine and the blue sky. It is the work of
the Lord Jesus Christto educate and strengthen it by drawing it, often
through much tribulation, to Himself.
(J. Ker, D. D.)
Victorious wrestling in prayer
C. E. Luthardt.
Of all the expressions of Christian life, prayer is the foremost, h precedes and
accompanies everyother. It is the breathing of the soul, the palpitation of the
heart of the new inward man.
I. (1) Prayer is a NECESSITY. A Christian cannotlive without inward
intercourse with his God and Saviour. Love cannotexist without unbosoming
itself.(2)It is also a spiritual power. It not only reacts upon ourselves and our

temper, it also acts from us outwardly on the course of things; for it both cases
our heart, and overcomes God's.
II. THE SENSE OF OUR WANT URGES US TO PRAY. Knowledge of our
sinfulness drives us to God. As the drowning man attaches himself to the
saving hand, and does not let go his hold, so the soul attaches itselfto the hand
of Jesus, and refuses to be shakenoff. Then the wrestling prayer for salvation
begins, for it is begottenof the feeling of the soul's misery.
III. WHAT HELPS US TO OVERCOME IN THE STRUGGLE IS THE
PERSEVERANCE OF HUMBLE FAITH. Jesus is the conqueror; but Jesus
we seize by faith, and with Him is victory.
1. We must seek Jesus. No resttill we come to Him. No other can help us, or
rid us of our sin.
2. We must not let Jesus go. If He goes away, follow Him; if He seems to be
stern, become more urgent; if He hides His face, cry the louder; if He will not
listen, assailHis heart. Every No of Jesus is an Aye in disguise. It is true we
deserve none of the things we pray for; but He has enough and to spare for
all; and after the children are filled, He can afford to castthe crumbs to the
dogs. If we have but the crumbs from His rich table, we shall be satisfied.
Even if we are the lastin His kingdom, it is sufficient, so that we only have
some share of His grace. If it is only one look of His eye; only one glance from
Him. If we are not allowedto reston His breast with John, we shall be
satisfiedif only with Thomas we are permitted to behold the print of the nails.
And when we have become quite exhaustedin wrestling with Him, and all our
strength is broken; when, so to speak, the hollow of our thigh is out of joint;
when we canonly cling to Him and declare we will not let Him go except He
bless us; even then we shall overcome, and He will declare Himself to be
vanquished.
IV. WHAT DO WE WIN IN THE VICTORY? The blessing of Jesus Christ —
"Be it unto thee, even as thou wilt." What a wonderful word. To whom does it
apply? To him who first has sacrificedhis self-will, and has learnt to say, from
the bottom of his heart, "Lord, not as I will, but as Thou wilt." Then God's
will and man's are become one. Just before, almostpowerless:now, almost

almighty. He who thus wins God's heart, wins everything. A child of God is
lord over all things,
(C. E. Luthardt.)
The woman of Canaan
Leonard W. Bacon, R. Newton.
This story is the simplest of dramas, having two persons and a chorus.
I. THE FIRST PERSONIS THE HEATHEN WOMAN, AND HERE WE
NOTE:
(1)Her trouble;
(2)Her faith, which is neither a superstitious credulity, nor a hesitating
experiment;
(3)Her reward.
II. THE OTHER PERSON IS THE LORD JESUS. Looking onHim as the
model of human duty, and the expressionof the Divine nature, we find in this
story things amazing and perplexing. What are we to learn from them?
1. The perplexities in the life of Christ are like the perplexities in the
government of God.
2. This incident exhibits Christ gazing inexorable, for a time, on human
suffering.
3. His apparent unkindness is only apparent.
4. His blessing is already given, while yet the supplicant is unaware of it.
(Leonard W. Bacon)
I. THAT IT IS HIGHLY GRATIFYING TO MEET WITH DEVOUT
PERSONSWHERE WE EXPECT NOT TO FIND THEM. She was a
heathen, not a Jew.

II. THAT AFFLICTIONS, BOTHPERSONALAND DOMESTIC, ARE
POWERFULINCENTIVES TO PRAYER.
III. THAT IN OUR EXERCISES OF DEVOTION WE OUGHT TO PRAY
FOR OTHERS AS; WELL AS FOR OURSELVES.
IV. THAT SINCERE SUPPLICANTSMAY MEET WITH GREAT
DISCOURAGEMENTSIN PRAYER. Delays are not denials. We are apt to
value highly that which costs us effort
V. THAT SINCERE SUPPLICANTS ARE ALWAYS PERSEVERING.
VI. THAT THE PRAYER OF FAITH MUST ULTIMATELY PREVAIL.
(R. Newton.)
Significant silence
W. Burrows, B. A.
The Saviour's silence was not the result of intellectual poverty. Was not that
of one takenwith mere self-considerations.Was notcausedby indifference.
I. The Saviour's silence indicates thoughtfulness.
II. Denotes loving estimates.
III. Manifests the greatness ofself-control. Effective speechis power over
one's fellows, but silence is powerover one's own self.
IV. And yet the Saviour's silence may have been sympathetic.
V. Was preparative. What powerin a judicious pause. Delaymay enhance the
preciousness ofthe gift.
(W. Burrows, B. A.)
The Woman of Canaan

C. Bradley., T. Mortimer.
I. WHAT WE CAN FIND IN THIS WOMAN TO COMMEND.
1. Strong and wise parental love.
2. Her earnestness.
3. Deephumility.
II. WHAT OUR LORD HIMSELF ACTUALLY COMMENDEDIN HER —
"Greatis thy faith." This virtue singled out because allothers flow from it.
III. THE GRACIOUS TREATMENT SHE RECEIVED FROM OUR LORD.
1. Christ delayed His answerto her petition.
2. He gave her strength to persevere in prayer for it, and made that prayer
more humble and earnest.
3. He put on her signalhonour.
4. He at last gave her all that she desired.
5. There is often more love towards us in the heart of Christ than we cansee
in His dealings with us.
6. The prayer of faith is always crownedwith success.
(C. Bradley.)
I. WHO THIS WOMAN was. She was not an Israelite. The cause of her
sorrow was not her own. Her prayer.
II. HER SAVIOUR.
1. His silence when we should not have expectedit.
2. He seems to plead that His commission had been exclusively to Israel.
3. He appears to add insult to cruelty.
4. He suffers Himself to be conquered by faith.

II. WHAT DOES THIS SAY TO YOU?
1. YOU may go to Christ for yourselves.
2. You may go to Christ for your relatives.
3. Jesus canand will do helpless sinners good.
(T. Mortimer.)
God's delays in answering prayer
C. M. Merry.
1. To try our faith.
2. To fosterhumility.
3. To intensify desire after the blessings we request.
4. To enhance the joy of success whenthe answeris vouchsafed.
5. Blessedare they that wait for Him.
(C. M. Merry.)
The elements of prevailing prayer
J. B. Jeher, D. D.
I.Sincerity.
II.Humility.
III.Importunity.
IV.Faith. Conclude with a few practical remarks.
(J. B. Jeher, D. D.)

Faith triumphing over difficulties
Anon.
Faith overcomes —
I.Obstacles in our personalcircumstances.
II.The concealments ofJesus.
III.The silence of Jesus.
IV.The refusals of Jesus.
V.The reproaches ofJesus.
(Anon.)
The woman of Canaan
T. Manton.
This is an instance of a wrestling faith; faith wrestling with grievous
temptations, but at length obtaining help from God. We ought to consider
this(1) because Christpronounced it to be greatfaith;(2) it instructs us that
the life and exercise offaith is not easy, but will meet with great
discouragements;(3)because ofthe successattending it.
I. The quality of the woman.
II. She was a believer.
III. The greatness andstrength of her faith; seenin her trials and
temptations; and in her victory over them, by her importunity, humility, and
resolvedconfidence.The woman's temptations are four.
I. Christ's silence. Thougha sore temptation, this should not yet weakenour
faith; for God's delay is for His own glory and our good:to enlarge our
desires, and put greaterfervency into them.

II. The small assistance she had from the disciples.
III. Christ's seeming to exclude her from His commission.
IV. Christ's answerimplying a contempt of her, or at leasta strong reason
againsther.The woman's victory over her temptations.
I.By her importunity.
II.Her humility.
III.Her resolvedconfidence. All which are the fruits of greatfaith.
(T. Manton.)
The woman of Canaan
Daniel Wilcox.
I. THE TRIALS AND DIFFICULTIES this supplicant's faith met with.
1. Christ is wholly silent.
2. Christ intimates that He had nothing to do with her.
3. Christ seems to answerwith reproach and contempt.
II. How THE WAS DISCOVERED IN ITS TRIALS, AND WORKED
THROUGH ALL.
1. Though Christ was silent she did not drop, but continued her suit.
2. She passes overthe doubt she could not answer, and instead of disputing,
adores Him, and prays to Him still.
3. She humbly let pass the (seeming) indignity, and turned that which seemed
to make most againsther into an argument for her obtaining the mercy she
came to Him to beg for.
III. THE HAPPY ISSUE OF THIS, HOW GLORIOUSLY IT WAS
REWARDED.

1. Her faith was owned, commended, and admired by the Author of it.
2. The reward of her faith was ample.
(Daniel Wilcox.)
Christ and the woman
J. Jortin.
In judging our Lord's treatment of this woman —
1. Observe that Christ, while He was upon earth, said nothing and did nothing
of Himself.
2. Our Lord, who knew the hearts of men, both saw and esteemedthe good
disposition of this petitioner, but for a time concealedHis kind intentions,
being willing to exercise her faith and submission, her patience and
perseverance.The woman's faithwas great—
1. With relation to her religion, and to her country.
2. In comparisonwith the unbelieving Jews.
3. Consideredin itself.
4. Becauseit stoodso severe a trial.
(J. Jortin.)
T/he Canaanite's faith
Adolphe Monod.
The position of this woman and the conduct of our Saviour to her.
1. She believed in Jesus before the scene relatedin this gospel;we distinguish
in her conversionthat strength of soul which is sure to triumph over all
obstacles;all that follows is explained by such a commencement. She was a

heathen, and only receivedGod's Word indirectly, through the prejudices of
the Jews. The feeble ray which reachedher proved sufficient to guide her feet.
2. The conduct of our Lord corresponds with His manner of acting towards
the heathen generally, and with His especialdesigns ofmercy towards her.
Our Lord did not so treat this woman merely because she was a heathen; but
to make His mercy more conspicuous. While He proves He strengthens her.
From the heroes of faith He draws back to exercise their courage.
3. See how this woman wrestles with our Lord. Jesus soughtretirement. She
anticipated His coming. She was alone in seeking Him. She had to force
herself into His presence. But Christ could not escape from the faith of this
woman. He allows us to conquer Him. She triumphs over the preventives
which our Lord opposedto her. Once in the presence ofJesus she in satisfied.
His silence. To try her patience. Only for a time. His speechseems cruel. The
Word of God does seemsometimes againstthe child of God. In the love of
Christ she finds refuge againstHis silence and words; His love is only hidden
for a moment under harshness. She could not be defeatedbecause she would
not doubt. She triumphs.
(Adolphe Monod.)
A word to parents
F. F. McGlynn, M. A., The Pulpit.
I. On this occasionCHRIST HAD LEFT HIS OWN COUNTRYAND
PEOPLE. Perhaps to avoid the hatred of the scribes and Pharisees;or to
abate His popularity. We find Him coasting to Tyre and Sidon. Her need was
her plea.
II. THE LEADING PRINCIPLES OF HER FAITH
1. In this prayer she recognizes the unity of the Deity, "Lord."

2. What a beautiful trait in her characterwhen she prays, "Have mercy on
me;" but we know the chief objectof her prayer was her daughter. She
identifies herself with her daughter's misery.
3. She asks for mercy and help (ver. 25).
4. RegardJesus as Godable to save or destroy.
(F. F. McGlynn, M. A.)
I. THE CHARACTER OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
1. A Greek.
2. A believer in Christ.
II. THE CAUSE OF HER COMING.
III. THE IMPEDIMENTSSHE MET WITH.
1. A long delay.
2. A mortifying rebuke.
3. An apparent refusal.
4. A silent denial.Then her conduct:
1. An humble request.
2. A persevering prayer.
3. An humble confession.
4. An affecting reply.
IV. THE BLESSINGS AT LAST RECEIVED.
1. The principle our Lord commends is her faith; from faith all other graces
spring.
2. He granted her request.Improvement:
1. The use we should make of affliction.

2. The efficacyof prayer.
(The Pulpit.)
The triumph of faith
J. T. Woodhouse.
I. FAITH'S APPROACH
1. She came to the right person.
2. In a right spirit.
3. With a right plea
II. FAITH'S TRIAL.
1. Christ tried her faith by perfect silence.
2. By seeming indifference.
3. By apparent reproach.
III. FAITH'S APPEAL.
1. She was a devout suppliant.
2. An earnestsuppliant.
3. An ingenious suppliant.
IV. FAITH'S TRIUMPH
1. Christ commends her faith.
2. He grants her request.
3. He healed her daughter.
(J. T. Woodhouse.)

The secondSunday in Lent
J. A. Seiss, D. D.
I. THE DISCOURAGEMENTS WHICH SHE OVERCAME. These were
great, numerous, and increasedas she proceeded.
1. The first was the seeming unwillingness of the Saviour to have his
retirement disturbed by any one, in any way(Mark 7:24).
2. Her case was itselfa very unpromising one. She was a Gentile.
3. The coldness in our Lord's behaviour, which seemedto disdain the least
attention to her — "He answeredher not a word."
4. The conduct of the disciples introduced a still further dissuasion, well
calculatedto dampen her hope of success.
5. To this was added the still further disheartening answerof the Master, "I
am not sent," etc.
6. Children's bread was not to be given to the dogs. This was the current spirit
of the religion of the times.
II. THE MEANS OF HER VICTORY.
1. She felt her need, and the true characterofher affliction.
2. She credited what she had heard of Christ.
3. And believing as she did, she improved her opportunity. Jesus was in the
neighbourhood.
4. She confessedherunworthiness.
5. She had a true and powerful faith.
6. And as the result of her faith, she was invincible in her prayers.
III. THE LESSONS WHICH THIS CASE TEACHES.
1. It impressively reminds us of the sorrowful condition of human life.

2. This gospelassuresus where our help is.
3. It indicates how to avail ourselves of our great mercies.
4. Precious encouragementdoes it bring to us.
(J. A. Seiss, D. D.)
A woman of Canaan
R. Glover.
The movements of mankind are best studied in the lives of individuals.
I. THE WOMAN HERSELF. All we know of her origin and feeling is
containedin the three terms that are applied to her — Canaanite, Syro-
Phoenician. a Greek. The first two imply her race. She belonged to that race
that the Hebrews calledCanaanites — that is, Lowlanders, for the great
Phoenicianpeople had settled themselves in the fertile valleys, and on the
maritime plains of Palestine, and there in their walled cities had developedin
the highestdegree an ancient civilization. To this Phoenicianstock she
belonged. It was divided into two parts — the African and the Syrian stock.
She belongedto the Syrian, to the people who inhabited the narrow strip of
land betweenLebanon and the sea. The lastterm "Greek," has ofcourse
nothing to do with race, nor does it sayanything of her language;but religion.
St. Paul divides men into Jew and Greek;the word means heathen. She was
one of those that worship Baaland Astarte.
II. IN HER CASE OBSERVE THE WORKINGS OF SORROW. Thatfrom
the outsetthere began to operate compensating results which took awaysome
of the bitterness.
1. This sorrow workedout in a greaterlove "Have mercy on me; my daughter
is vexed." As if she and her daughter were one. It was a mitigation, and in
some degree a compensation, that with her sorrow grew such love.
2. The love and the sorrow togetherco-operatedto produce something higher
still. They enlargedthe heart, purified her feeling, lifted the thought to

immortality; Astarte could no longerfill her heart. She wanted a deity that
could be a God of love, not of passion;who would create purity, not crush it.
This I gatherfrom the fact that she calls Christ " Son of David." She beganto
think trustfully of Israel's God. Such were the workings ofsorrow in her
heart.
III. AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE GREAT DRAWINGS BETWEENTHE
SAVIOUR AND THE SOUL THAT NEEDS HIM. There is something
mysterious here. It is not by accidentthat greatmercy and misery meet. What
is the secretofthat journey to Tyre and Sidon. I suppose the Saviourfelt some
magnetic need pulling upon His heart, claiming the help of His pity and
power. She was fifty miles away;the road was mountainous; in all the journey
there and back He cures no other affliction and preaches no sermon; His sole
purpose was to minister to this single sufferer. The prophetic soul knows when
its Lord is nigh.
IV. THE SERENE RESULT THAT IS REACHED. She learned the powerof
prayer. The disciples were changed; educatedfor their missionary work; they
see how rich a thing a human heart is. She came asking a mercy for herself,
and went awaycarrying it to others.
(R. Glover.)
The woman of Canaan
J. Wonnacott.
I. THE GREAT FAITH OF THIS WOMAN IS TO BE TRACED IN HER
HUMBLE CONFESSION.
1. She confesseshermisery when imploring the mercy of Christ.
2. She confessesherweaknesswhenimploring the help of Christ.
3. She confessesherunworthiness by admitting the mission of Christ.
II. THE GREAT FAITH OF THIS WOMAN IS TO BE TRACED IN HER
FERVENT PRAYER.

1. Mark her recognitionof the characterof Christ.
2. Her confidence in the powerof Christ,
3. Her earnestness in seeking the aid of Christ.
III. THE GREAT FAITH OF THIS WOMAN IS TO BE DISCOVERED IN
HER DETERMINED PERSEVERANCE.
1. Her faith overcame the difficulty of obtaining u personal interview with
Christ.
2. It overcame the singularly apparent coldness ofChrist.
3. It overcame the limitation of the usual ministrations of Christ.
(J. Wonnacott.)
The disciples sending awaythe Canaanite woman
E. Bersier, D. D.
Amongst the causes whichkeepsouls at a distance from Jesus, we must count
the attitude of the disciples of Jesus as one of the most powerful. To the
Masterwe must go; not to the disciples. Let us first dispel all
misunderstandings. When I declare that we must look to the Master, not to
the disciples, I do not forget that the apostles were enlightenedby special
revelations and were calledto found the Church. I do not oppose their
teaching to that of the Master;there is no contradictionbetweenthem. But
when we leave the apostolic age the situation changes. The Church is placed
before Christ. But now let us descendto the sphere of the individual
conscience. To leadto Jesus!What a privilege and glory. Fidelity of testimony
is necessaryto this mission. Some are brought to Christ by words, some by
indirect influences, others by a love that nothing wearies.But it is possible to
put souls awayfrom Jesus Christ. Betweenthem and Christ there have been
our sins, pride, etc.

1. Let us remove the hypocrites; to make of their duplicity an arm againstthe
gospelis an unworthy proceeding. You see their inconsistencies;are you sure
you do not exaggerate them? Have you weighedall that Christian faith
produces of excellentworks? Granting that your complaints are well founded:
in what way can they justify your unbelief? They could only do so if you had
the fairness to seek their cause in the gospelitself. But van contrastthe two. Is
it not rather the fidelity that offends you, rather than the faults of Christians?
2. A word to you who believe:
1. Judge yourself as you are seeking whatis lacking in others. Savedby grace,
shall we not exercise mercy?
2. Let us learn to see in our brethren along with the evil that distresses us, the
Roodthat we have misunderstooduntil now.
3. Raise your look to the Master, there van will find peace and certainty.
(E. Bersier, D. D.)
The woman of Canaan
G. Moberly, D. C. L.
I. "THIS POOR WOMAN'S UNREMITTING OBSTINACY, it may so call it,
IN PRAYERS. See the power of persevering prayer. They may seemfor a
while unanswered; they may not seemto work any alteration in our secret
hearts.
II. THE POWER OF INTERCESSION. Itis our duty to pray for others.
III. That this poor woman's reiterated prayers are by our Lord called faith.
Greatis the faith that prays without ceasing. The sphere of common duty is
the sphere also of secretspiritual growth.
IV. Regardagainthis poor woman thus singledout in all the heathen world to
receive the only cure, as a type of the Church of God. The Church, like her,

has many sons and daughters grievously vexed with the evil spirit. They are
brought to Christ in prayer.
(G. Moberly, D. C. L.)
Greatfaith
J. Vaughan, M,A.
How singularly and beautifully appreciative Jesus always was ofanything,
that was good. His words show accuracyofobservationand calculation.
I. There are many striking features in the characterofthis woman. Her
motherly care, energy, humility, pleading; but Christ selectedonly one. Faith
the rootof all, Some think we make too much of faith, and place it out of its
proper proportion.
II. The elements which went to make the "greatfaith." Sorrow seems to have
been, if not the cradle, yet the schoolof her faith. She comes and makes her
petition as faith always ought, leaving details with God. The test to which she
was put was exceedinglysevere.
(J. Vaughan, M,A.)
Help from he, heaven
A. O.
"Lord, help me." This prayer is suitable —
I. Forthose who are seeking salvation.
II. For a soulunder spiritual darkness.
III. For the believer amidst worldly perplexities.
IV. For the Christian labourer.

V. For the dying saint.
(A. O.)
The faith of the Syro-Phoenicianwoman
CongregationalPulpit.
I. THE EXTRAORDINARYCHARACTER OF HER FAITH.
1. It was basedon the most limited knowledge.
2. It conquered natural prejudice in herself, and the fearof its influence in
others.
II. WHY CHRIST SO SEVERELYTESTED IT.
1. His first object was to expose and rebuke the intense bigotry of the Jews
around Him.
2. He wished to draw out and exhibit the full strength of her faith.Lessons:
1. Christ's mercy and mission extend to all, howevervile and outcastthey may
be.
2. The true way to derive goodfrom Him is by faith, rather than by
knowledge oracts of worship.
3. An encouragementto the utmost tenacity and desperationof faith.
4. An illustration of the way in which appearances may deceive us. God may
seemto repulse us, but never does so actually.
(CongregationalPulpit.)
This woman of Caananteaches us to pray
Lapide.

(1) With greathumility in that she acknowledges herselfto be a dog;(2) with
faith, in that she calls Christ the Son of David, i.e., the Messiah;(3)with
modesty, because she sets before Christ the right of dogs and her own misery;
yet does not draw from thence the conclusionthat Christ should heal her
daughter, but leaves that to Him;(4) with prudence, in that she takes hold of
Christ by His ownwords, and gently turns His reasoning againstHimself, into
an argument for obtaining her desire;(5) with reverence, with religion and
devotion, because she made her application on her knees;(6)with resignation,
in that she did not say, "Heal my daughter," but "Help me," in the manner
that shall seemto Thee best;(7) with confidence, because,althougha Gentile,
she had a firm hope that she would be heard by Christ:(8) with ardour;(9)
with charity, in that she made intercessionfor her daughter, as if she were
anxious for herself, saying, "Help me";(10) with constancyand perseverance,
in that she persistedwhen she was twice repulsed, and became yet more
earnestin prayer.
(Lapide.)
A double miracle
J. H. Burn, B. D., Harry Jones, M. A., J. Morison, D. D.
1. Of Faith.
2. Of Healing. Thrice did Christ commend " greatfaith," and in eachcase
outside the fold of Israel. In this case the wonder is not that the woman had
greatfaith, but that she had faith at all. Her faith was greatbecause —
I. (1) it would stand trial.(2) It was a wrestling faith. She heard the repulse, yet
is neither daunted nor disheartened. She will not take His No. She will even
resistHis arguments.(3)It was victorious. Just now Jesus seemedto deny the
smallestboon; now He opens His treasures, andbids her help herself.
II. Learn from this that when God delays a boon, He does not necessarilydeny
it.

(J. H. Burn, B. D.)Under this story there is the touch of nature which binds us
all together. Let us learn from it —
1. Perseverance. Few things can be reachedby a single stride. All successis
the outcome of previous patience;the finest pictures result from
multitudinous touches of the brush. Let. us keepour faces to the light, and the
persevering desire shall at length be gratified.
2. Faith. This is a far larger thing than canbe clothed in any form, and the
most tenacious professiondoes not imply that we have that vivid apprehension
of the living God which makes us really trust in and reston Him. Have you
faith as well as a creed? Are you daily trusting in the living God amidst all
your wants, and sorrows, andsins?
3. Toleration. We are often inclined to look with insular exclusiveness orhalf-
disdainful curiosity on such non-Christians as we come in contactwith. Let us
remember that Christ took the children's bread and castit to dogs. With such
an example before us, we dare not disclaim any as too degradedto share with
us the " one flock and one shepherd."
(Harry Jones, M. A.)Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat, etc. — The woman's
remark is admirable and delightful. It is full indeed of true theologyand real
philosophy. She apprehended clearly(1)that it was right that our Lord's
personalministry should be devoted to the Jews;(2)that He bore a benignant
relation to the Gentiles — that He was not a sectarianSaviour;(3) that it
would not in the leastinterfere with His ministry in relation to the Jews, to
put forth by the way His blessedenergy in behalf of such suppliant Gentiles as
herself. She was not asking Him to forsake Palestine, orthe Jews.
(J. Morison, D. D.)
A woman's master-stroke
Luther.
Was not this a master-stroke? She snares Christin His own words.

(Luther.)
An incident like this
DeanPlumptre gives the following story from the Talmud. "There was a
famine in the land, and stores ofcorn were placed under the care of Rabbi
Jehudah the Holy, to be distributed only to those who were skilled in the
knowledge ofthe law. And, behold, a man came, Jonathan, the son of Amram,
and clamorouslyaskedfor his portion. The Rabbi askedhim whether he knew
the condition, and had fulfilled it, and then the suppliant changedhis tone and
said, 'Nay, but feed me as a dog is fed, who eats of the crumbs of the feast,'
and the Rabbi hearkenedto his words, and gave him of the corn."
Asking for crumbs
Laurence Justinian. first Patriarch of Venice, resembled this womanin the
prayer he offered when at the point of death. "I dare not ask for a seatamong
the happy spirits who behold the Holy Trinity. Nevertheless,Thy creature
asks forsome portion of the crumbs of Thy most holy table. It shall be more
than enough for me, O, how much mere than enough! If Thou wilt not refuse
some little place to this Thy poor servant beneath the feet of the leastof Thine
elect."
The, coasts ofTyre and Sidon
Harry Jones, M. A.
This narrative records a visit of Jesus to a regionwhich lay beyond the
borders of the Jewishland. It did not lie at any greatdistance;it was within a
day's ride of Capernaum, and it could be seenfrom hill-tops just behind
Nazareth; yet it was an alien country, and that notable strip of the
Mediterraneanshore on which Tyre and Sidon were situated had never
belongedto the Jewishpeople. The coastofTyre and Sidon was fringed by an

almost continuous line of buildings; quays, warehouses, and private residences
dotted the whole shore-line, and it was therefore no retired spot, but one
which swarmed with a large and busy population, with ships sailing on the
face of the waters, and the fishermen plying their trade within sight of the
shore. The scene was very unlike those which were most associatedwith our
Lord's presence. He was here surrounded by abundant tokens ofvigorous
maritime and naval life. Insteadof shepherds, sowers, cornfields, scribes, and
Pharisees,there were warehouses,docks,ship-building yards, and sailors,
amongstwhich He moved when He departed into the coasts ofTyre and
Sidon.
(Harry Jones, M. A.)
Spread of truth to foreign lands
J. Wells.
Captain Cook found in the South Seas some uninhabited islands, waving with
the fruits and flowers peculiarto Europe. No human hand had planted the
seeds in that soil. How, then, were they there? A boy in one of our valleys is
amusing himself with seeds. A few of them fall from his hand into the tiny
stream at his cottage door:they are carried down to the river, which floats
them out to sea. Theyare drifted about for thousands of miles, and at last cast
upon the shore of a South Sea island. A bird picks them up, and flies to its
nest; but, scaredby a hawk, lets them drop. They are coveredwith the leaves
of the foresttill spring calls them forth. By and by the wind shakes outthe
ripe seed, and carries it abroad. Again it falls into the kindly bosomof the
earth, and againspring draws it forth. Thus, we may suppose, the deserted
island is soonclothedwith an Europeanharvest. And thus the seedof God's
Word is often scattered, we cannottell how.
(J. Wells.)
Grievously vexed with a devil

Bishop Gregg.
(demoniacalpossession):— It is agreedon by all soberinterpreters of
Scripture that, at this period of the world, God permitted evil spirits to take
possessionof, and to afflict, individuals to an extent that He did not before
and has not since permitted;(1) to show to all the power and malignity of
Satan; and(2) to exhibit the compassionate kindness ofthe Saviour, and His
powerto relieve those thus oppressedOften may we, in a spiritual sense, see
such a thing nowadays — a believing, godly parent, having an unbelieving,
ungodly child, whose heartis held and governed by a wickedspirit. Often,
when there is life in the parent's soul, there is death in the child's; light in the
parent's understanding, but darkness and ignorance in the child's; love in the
parent's heart, but hatred and enmity in the child's. What a painful and
afflicting sight to a parent's eyes. And the case maybe often reversed!
(Bishop Gregg.)
Silence
W. Denton., J. Morison, D. D.
Silence is not refusal. The reasons forChrist's silence at this time were:
1. In order that by exercising her faith He might strengthenand deepen it.
2. That He might manifest it to others, and so give her as an example to those
who stoodby, as well as to future generations.
3. That He might not offer an additional stumbling-block to the Jews, to
whom the calling-in of the Gentiles was an abomination.
(W. Denton.)Notbecause He was unwilling to speak, but because there are
occasions onwhich silence is more eloquent and stirring to the thought than
speech. Notinfrequently silence is golden, while speechis "silvern;" and this
was one such occasion.
(J. Morison, D. D.)

The lostsheep of the house of Israel
J. Morison, D. D.
It was necessarythat there should be some limits to our Lord's personal
ministry; and it was wise that these limits should be fixed at the circumference
of the circle of Israel. To have spreadout His ministry farther, during the
brief period of His terrestrial career, would simply have been to have thinned
out and weakenedHis influence. What might have been gained extensively
would have been lost intensively. It was of primary moment that He should
make sure of a foothold, on which He might plant His moral machinery for
moving the world. That foothold He did secure in the house of Israel, the
household of Israel, the family of Israel; for the whole nation was but a
developed family circle.
(J. Morison, D. D.)
Moralpersistence
T. Manton.
To sink under the burden argueth weakness,but it is strength of faith to
wrestle through it. We read of Pherecides, a Grecian, in a naval fight between
his nation and Xerxes, that he held a boat in which the Persians were fighting,
first with his right arm; when that was cut off, with his left; when that was cut
off, with his teeth; and would not let go his holdfast but with his life.
(T. Manton.)
The use of delay
J. Wells.
Some old writer thus quaintly explains the case. "Christ's love is wise. There
is an art in His strange delays, which make us love-sick. We cheapenwhatis

easilygot, and under-rate anything that is at our elbow; but delays heighten
and raise the market value of Christ's blessings. He wishes to make our faith
stronger, and His trials are for the triumph of our faith. He did as we do when
we hold toys dangling before our children, that we may make them desire and
enjoy them more. He acts as we do with musicians at the door; for when they
please us, we do not give them their penny at once, that we may hear their
music longer."
(J. Wells.)
The kindness of refusals
J. Wells.
, the mother of , prayed that her godless boy might not go to Rome, for she
fearedthat Rome would be his ruin. Goddid not grant that request, because
He had something better in store for her. Augustine went to Rome, and was
convertedthere.
(J. Wells.)
Stern truths
Bishop Gregg.
This was the most cutting of all — telling her in plain terms that she had no
more right to get what she asked, than the dogs have to getthe children's
bread; and also intimating very plainly that she was no better than a dog. Still
she was not discouraged:even this did not put her off. If she had not possessed
greatfaith, how would she have acted? Justas many at the presentday do
when they hear a plain sermon (as they call it); when they hear in plain words
what the Bible says of human nature; they don't like that; they can't be so
very bad as all that; they don't approve of what that preachersays at all, and
so they go to some other place where they will hear more palatable language
about the kindness of man — his goodnature, generosity, noblemindedness,

and so forth; but they who are of the truth will not listen to this, for they know
it to be a lie, and the children of the truth can take no pleasure in a lie. People
think it is very bad to hear themselves called" great sinners; " they think very
strangelyof a man if he tells them they are poor, wretched, miserable, blind,
and naked;but, I suppose, if they heard the term " dog" applied to them as
Christ applied it to this woman here, they would be up in arms at once, openly
scoutat so unwarrantable an affront, and take goodcare never to go near that
preacheragain. So did not this woman; she had faith — strong faith; she
acknowledgesthe aptness of the illustration, and humbly accepts Christ's
estimate of her as the right one.
(Bishop Gregg.)
The dogs
J. Morison, D. D.
There was some reasonlying at the base of the designation. The heathens
around were, in the mass, exceedinglyunclean and ferocious:barking too,
incessantly, at the true God and true godliness. Butour Lord, in this case,
refers not to the wild, fierce, filthy dogs, belonging to nobody, that prowl
about Oriental cities; but to little pet dogs, in which children are interested,
and with which they play. Mostprobably there might be one or more of them,
within sight, in the company of some children.
(J. Morison, D. D.)
Greatthoughts of Christ
C. H. Spurgeon.
The Syro-Phoenicianwomangained comfort in her misery by thinking great
thoughts of Christ. The Masterhad talkedabout the children's bread. "Now,"
argued she, "since Thou art the Masterof the table of grace, Iknow that Thou
art a generous housekeeper, andthere is sure to be abundance of bread on

Thy table. There will be such an abundance for the children that there will be
crumbs to throw on the floor for the dogs, and the children will fare none the
worse because the dogs are fed." She thought Him one who kept so gooda
table that all she needed would only be a crumb in comparison. Yet remember
what she wantedwas to have the devil castout of her daughter. It was a very
greatthing to her, but she had such a high esteemof Christ, that she said, "It
is nothing for him, it is but a crumb for Christ to give." This is the royal road
to comfort. Greatthoughts of your sin alone will drive you to despair; but
greatthoughts of Christ will pilot you into the haven of peace.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
Perseverance offaith
Salter.
An unbelieving heart may have some flash of spirit and resolution, but it
wants free mettle, and will be sure to jade in a long journey. Faith will throw
in the net of prayer againand again, as long as God commands and the
promise encourageth. The greyhound hunts by sight, and when he cannot see
his game he gives over running; but the true hound by scent, he hunts over
hedge and ditch; though he sees notthe hare, he pursues all the day long.
Thus an unbelieving heart may be drawn out upon some visible probabilities
and sensible hopes of a coming mercy to pray and exercise a little faith, but
when these are out of sight, his heart fails him; but faith keeps the scentof the
promise, and gives not over the chase.
(Salter.)
Faith gives prevalency to prayer
Gurnall.
In the severalprecedents of praying saints upon Scripture record you may see
how the spirit of prayer ebbed and flowed, fell and rose, as their faith was up

and dawn .... This made the woman of Canaanso invincibly importunate; let
Christ frown and chide, deny and rebuke her, she yet makes her approaches
nearer and nearer, gathering arguments from His very denials, as if a soldier
should shoothis enemy's bullets back upon him again;and Christ tells us
what kept up her spirit undaunted — "O woman, greatis thy faith."
(Gurnall.)
Children's bread given to dogs
C. H. Spurgeon.
1. When her case was come to such a point, she heard of the Lord Jesus;and
what she heard she actedupon. They told her that He was a great Healerof
the sick, and able to castout devils. She was not content with that information,
but she set to work at once to try its value.
2. This womanwas most desperatelyresolved. She had made up her mind, I
believe, that she would never go back to the place from whence she came till
she had receivedthe blessing.
3. I may not leave this picture without observing that this woman
triumphantly endured a trial very common among seeking souls. Here is a
woman who conqueredChrist; let us go by her rule and we will conquer
Christ too by His own grace.
I. In the first place, observe that SHE ADMITS THE ACCUSATION
BROUGHT AGAINST HER. JESUS calledher a dog, and she meekly said,
"Truth. Lord." Neverplay into the devil's hands by excusing sinners in their
sins. The woman in this case, if it had been a sound way of getting comfort,
would have argued, ".No, Lord, I am not a dog; I may not be all I ought to be,
but I am not a dog at any rate; I am a human being. Thou speakesttoo
sharply; goodMaster, do not be unjust." Instead of that she admits the whole.
This showedthat she was in a right state of mind, since she admitted in its
blackest, heaviestmeaning whateverthe Saviour might choose to sayagainst
her. By night, the glow-wormis bright like a star, and rotten touchwood

glistens like molten gold; by the light of day the glow-wormis a miserable
insect, and the rotten woodis decay, and nothing more. So with us; until the
light comes into us we count ourselves good, but when heaven's light shines
our heart is discoveredto be rottenness, corruption, and decay. Do not
whisper in the mourner's ear that it is not so, and do not delude yourself into
the belief that it is not so.
II. But notice, in the secondplace, SEE ADHERES TO CHRIST
NOTWITHSTANDING. Didyou notice the force of what she said? "Truth,
Lord, yet the dogs eatthe crumbs that fall from" — where? "Fromtheir
Master's table."
III. Furthermore, the woman's greatmaster weapon, the needle gun which
she used in her battle, was this, SHE HAD LEARNED THE ART OF
GETTING COMFORTOUT OF HER MISERIES. Jesus calledher a dog.
"Yes," saidshe, "but then dogs get the crumbs." She could see a silver lining
to the black cloud. If I deservedanything there would be the less room for
mercy, for something would be due to me as a matter of justice, but as I am a
sheermass of undeservingness, there is room for the Lord to revealthe
aboundings of His grace. There is no room for a man to be generous amongst
yonder splendid mansions in Belgravia. Suppose a man had thousands of
pounds in his pocket, and desiredto give it away in charity, he would be
terribly hampered amid princely palaces.If he were to knock atthe doors of
those greathouses, and say he wanted an opportunity of being charitable,
powdered footmen would slam the door in his face, and tell him to be gone
with his impudence. But come along with me; let us wander down the mews,
all among the dunghills, and get awayinto back alleys, where crowds of
raggedchildren are playing amid filth and squalor, where all the people are
miserably poor, and where cholera is festering. Now, sir, down with your
money-bags;here is plenty of room for your charity; now you may put both
your hands into your pocket, and not fear that anybody will refuse you. You
may spend your money right and left now with ease and satisfaction. When
the Godof mercy comes down to distribute mercy, He cannot give it to those
who do not want it; but you need forgiveness, foryou are full of sin, and you
are just the person likely to receive it. "Ah!" saith one, "I am so sick at heart;
I cannot believe, I cannotpray." If I saw the doctor's brougham driving along

at a greatrate through the streets, I should be sure that he was not coming to
my house, for I do not require him; but if I had to guess where he was going, I
should conclude that he was hastening to some sick or dying person. The Lord
Jesus is the Physicianof souls. Do try now, thus to find hope in the very
hopelessness ofthy condition, in whatever aspectthat hopelessness maycome
to thee. The Bible says that thou art dead in sin, conclude then that there is
space for Jesus to come, since He is the Resurrectionand the Life. Your ruin
is your argument for mercy; your poverty is your plea for heavenly alms; and
your need is your motive for heavenly goodness. Go as you are, and let your
miseries plead for you.
IV. Let me, in the fourth place, notice THE WAY IN WHICH THE WOMAN
GAINED COMFORT. SHE THOUGHT GREAT THOUGHTS OF CHRIST.
It was a very greatthing to her — but she had a high esteemof Christ. She
said, "It is nothing to Him — it is but a crumb for Christ to give."
V. And so you see, in the lastplace, she WON THE VICTORY. She had, first
of all, overcome herself. She had conquered in another fight before she
wrestledwith the Saviour — and that with her own soul.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
The little dogs
C. H. Spurgeon.
I. THE MOUTH OF FAITH CAN NEVER BE CLOSED.
1. It cannotbe closedon accountof the closedearand mouth of Christ.
2. Notby the conduct of the disciples.
3. Notby exclusive doctrine which appeared to confine the blessing to a
favoured few.
4. Notby a sense ofadmitted unworthiness.
5. -Not by the darkestand most depressing influences.

II. FAITH NEVER DISPUTES WITHTHE LORD.
1. Faith assents to all the Lord says — "Truth, Lord."
2. It worships.
3. She did not suggestthatany alterationshould be made for her.
III. FAITH ARGUES.
1. She argued from her hopeful position — "I am a dog, but Thou hast come
all the way to Sidon, — I am under Thy table."
2. Her next plea was her encouraging relationship — "Master's table."
3. She pleads her associationwith the children.
4. She pleads the abundance of the provision
5. She lookedat things from Christ's point of view.
IV. FAITH WINS HER SUIT.
1. Her faith won a commendation for itself.
2. She gained her desire.This womanis a lessonto all who imagine themselves
outside the pale of salvation; an example to all whose efforts after salvation
have been apparently repulsed; a lessonto every intercessor.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
Our Lord had a very quick eye for spying faith
C. H. Spurgeon
If the jewelwas lying in the mire His eye caughtits glitter, if there was a
choice earof wheat among the thorns He failed not to perceive it. Faith has a
strong attractionfor the Lord Jesus;at the sight of it "the king is held in the
galleries" andcries "thou hastravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with
one chain of thy neck." The Lord Jesus was charmedwith the fair jewelof

this woman's faith, and watching it and delighting in it He resolvedto turn it
round and set it in other lights, that the various facets of this priceless
diamond might eachone flash its brilliance and delight His soul. Therefore He
tried her faith by His silence, and by His discouraging replies that He might
see its strength; but He was all the while delighting in it, and secretly
sustaining it, and when He had sufficiently tried it, He brought it forth as
gold, and set His own royal mark upon it in these memorable words, "O
woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt."
(C. H. Spurgeon)
The elements of prevailing prayer
J. B. Jeter, D. D.
1. Sincerity.
2. Humility.
3. Importunity.
4. Faith.
(J. B. Jeter, D. D.)
The greatnessofa woman's faith
B. J. Hoadley
1. It was exercisedby a woman.
2. It was a mother's faith.
3. It had an aim.
4. It disregardedapparent partiality.
5. It was not discouragedby apparent delay.

6. It was devoid of selfishness.
7. It gatheredstrength from its exercise.
8. It won.
(B. J. Hoadley).
The trial and triumph of faith
S. Rutherford.
Thee parts of the miracle are —
I. THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS WROUGHT.
II. THE PARTIES ON WHOM.
III. THE IMPULSIVE CAUSE.
IV. The miracle itself, wrought by the woman's faith: in which we have —
1. Christ's heightening of her faith.
2. The granting of her desire.
3. The measure of Christ's bounty — "As thou wilt."
4. The healing of her daughter.
(S. Rutherford.)
"She crieth after us
1. Christ's love is liberal, but yet it must be sued.
2. Christ's love is wise. He holdeth us knocking till our desire be love-sick for
Him.

3. His love must not only lead the heart, but also draw. Violence in love is most
taking.
Christ looking beyond His temporary limits
S. Rutherford.
Christ doth but draw aside a lap of the curtain of separation, and look
through to one believing heathen: the King openeth one little window, and
holdeth out His face, in one glimpse, to the woman of Canaan.
(S. Rutherford.)
Grace working on unpromising material
S. Rutherford.
Christ, then, canmake and frame a fair heavenout of an ugly hell and out of
the knottiesttimber He can make vessels ofmercy, for service in the high
palace of glory.
(S. Rutherford.)
Prayer strengthenedby adversity
S. Rutherford.
Also, the prayers of the saints in prosperity are but summer prayers, slow,
lazy, and alas!too formal. In trouble, they rain out prayers, or castthem out
in co-natural violence, as a fountain doth castout waters.
(S. Rutherford.)

COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(23) He answeredher not a word.—Two alternative views present themselves
as to our Lord’s actionin this matter. That which has found favour with
nearly all ancient and most modern interpreters assumes that from the first
He had purposed to comply with her request, and spoke as He did only to test
and manifest her faith. Men have been unwilling to recognise the possibility of
a change of purpose in the human nature of our Lord which they,
unconsciouslyheretical, confusedwith the divine, and have preferred to fall
back on the supposition of a simulated harshness. The truer and more
reverential course, I venture to think, is to acceptthe impression which, apart
from any à priori theory, the facts seemnaturally to make, and to see, in what
passed, the prevailing power of prayer working on the sympathy of Christ,
and leading Him to pass beyond the ordinary limits of His appointed work.
On this assumption, it is our work to trace, with all reverence, the successive
stages ofthe process. And first, even the silence is significant, and implies a
conflict. It would have been easyto dismiss her with a word. But the
tenderness which He felt towards this sufferer, as towards others, forbade that
course, and yet the sense ofthe normal limitation of His work forbade the
other. Silence was the natural outcome of the equilibrium of these conflicting
motives.
Send her away;for she crieth after us.—The disciples were clearlyunable to
enter into either of the two feelings which were thus contending for the
mastery. Their words, as interpreted by our Lord’s answer, were, in some
sense, a plea in favour of the woman. They wished Him to grant what she
askedfor, and so to dismiss her. And yet we feelthat their words were far
harsher than their Master’s silence. Theywantedonly to be rid of her
presence, whichhad followedthem from the streets into the house, to be freed
from the loud eagercries whichvexed them.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
15:21-28 The dark corners of the country, the most remote, shall share
Christ's influences; afterwards the ends of the earth shall see his salvation.
The distress and trouble of her family brought a womanto Christ; and though
it is need that drives us to Christ, yet we shall not therefore be driven from
him. She did not limit Christ to any particular instance of mercy, but mercy,
mercy, is what she beggedfor: she pleads not merit, but depends upon mercy.
It is the duty of parents to pray for their children, and to be earnestin prayer
for them, especiallyfor their souls. Have you a son, a daughter, grievously
vexed with a proud devil, an unclean devil, a malicious devil, led captive by
him at his will? this is a case more deplorable than that of bodily possession,
and you must bring them by faith and prayer to Christ, who alone is able to
heal them. Many methods of Christ's providence, especiallyof his grace, in
dealing with his people, which are dark and perplexing, may be explained by
this story, which teaches that there may be love in Christ's heart while there
are frowns in his face;and it encouragesus, though he seems readyto slayus,
yet to trust in him. Those whomChrist intends most to honour, he humbles to
feel their own unworthiness. A proud, unhumbled heart would not have borne
this; but she turned it into an argument to support her request. The state of
this woman is an emblem of the state of a sinner, deeply consciousofthe
misery of his soul. The leastof Christ is precious to a believer, even the very
crumbs of the Breadof life. Of all graces, faithhonours Christ most; therefore
of all gracesChrist honours faith most. He cured her daughter. He spake, and
it was done. From hence let such as seek help from the Lord, and receive no
gracious answer, learnto turn even their unworthiness and discouragements
into pleas for mercy.
Barnes'Notes on the Bible
But he answeredher not a word - This was done to testher faith, and that
there might be exhibited to the apostles anexample of the effectof persevering
supplication.
The result shows that it was not unwillingness to aid her, or neglectof her. It
was proper that the strength of her faith should be fully tried.

Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary
23. But he answeredher not a word. And his disciples came and besoughthim,
saying, Send her away;for she crieth after us—(Also see on [1310]Mr7:26.)
Matthew Poole's Commentary
Ver. 22,23. Mark saith, A certain woman, whose young daughter had an
unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: the woman was a
Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besoughthim that he would cast
forth the devil out of her daughter. But Jesus saidunto her, Let the children
first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread and castit unto
the dogs, Matthew 7:25-27. Thoughthe woman appears to have been a pagan,
yet living so near Galilee, she had doubtless heard of Christ, both what he had
done in casting out devils, and also that he was lookedupon as the Son of
David, and usually called by that name by those who went to him for any
cures;she therefore gives him that title. Others think her to have been more
speciallyenlightened, and to have calledhim the Sonof David, not as a usual
compellationgiven him, but as believing him to have been the true Messias
promised to the Jews:nor is that impossible, for though the gospelat this time
had not shined out upon any considerable number of the heathen, yet God in
all times had his number amongstthem; and this woman living so near to the
Jews, andso near to Galilee, where our Saviour hitherto had most conversed
and preached, it is not improbable that she might have receivedthe grace as
well as the sound of the gospel, so Godmight have kindled in her heart a true
faith in the Messias. Our Saviour’s commendation of her faith in the following
discourse makeththis very probable. Matthew saith that
he answeredher not a word. Mark saith that he said to her, Let the children
first be filled, & c. To the observing reader this will appear no contradiction.
For by Mark it should appear, that she first came to our Saviour into the
house, into which he went that he might be private, and there fell at his feet.
Here Christ answeredher not a word, took no notice of her at all. But it
appeareth by Matthew that Christ soonleft the home, and she followedafter

him upon the way. The disciples said, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Then it was that our Savioursaid to her,
Let the children first be filled; his disciples first interposing, saying,
Send her away;for she crieth after us. How many of the papists think that this
text patronizes their invocation of saints departed I cannottell, for these
disciples were alive, and we do not read that she spake to any of them to
intercede for her. It is certain they did move Christ on her behalf.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
But he answeredher not a word,.... Notthat he did not hear her, or that he
despisedeither her person or petition, or that he was not moved with it; but to
continue her importunity, and try her faith, and make it manifest: for like
reasons the Lord does not always, and immediately, answerthe requests of his
people. This giving her no answer, eitherthat he would, or would not help her,
carried in it a tacit repulse of her, and a denial of assistance to her; and it
seems as if she did for a while desistfrom her application to him, and betook
herself to his disciples to plead with him for her:
and his disciples came; to the house where he was;who, it seems by this, had
been elsewhere;
and besoughthim, saying, send her away; not in any shape, with any sort of
answer, without curing her daughter, or without a promise of a cure; no, they
desired she might be dismissed, with a grant of her request, to her entire
satisfaction, as appears from Christ's answer:the reasonthey give is,
for she crieth after us; not only because she was troublesome to them, was
importunate with them, and would take no denial from them: she followed
them whereverthey went; there was no getting rid of her: but also, because
her case was so moving, was delivered in such an affecting manner, and her
cries were piercing, that they could not bear them; and therefore entreathim,
that he would relieve, and dismiss her.

Geneva Study Bible
{5} But he answeredher not a word. And his disciples came and besought
him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
(5) In that Christ sometimes shuts his ears, as it were, to the prayers of his
saints, he does it for his glory, and our profit.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Meyer's NT Commentary
Matthew 15:23. At first a silent indication, and then an express intimation of
His disinclination to favour her.
ἀπόλυσοναὐτήν] send her away, that is, with her requestgranted. Bengelsays
well: “Sic solebatJesus dimittere.”
Thus they beggedJesus;very frequently in the New Testament(in Matthew,
only on this occasion;in Mark, only in Matthew 7:26; in Luke and John, very
often; in Paul, only in Php 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 2
Thessalonians 2:1), and contrary to classicalusage, thoughaccording to the
LXX. (= ‫ש‬ָׁ‫א‬ ַ‫,ל‬ see Schleusner, Thes. II. p. 529). ἐρωτάω is used in the sense of
to beg, to request. It is not so with regard to ἐπερωτάω. See note on Matthew
16:1.
ὅτι κράζει, κ.τ.λ.]so importunate is she.
Expositor's Greek Testament
Matthew 15:23. ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἀπ.: a new style of behaviour on the part of Jesus.
The rôle of indifference would costHim an effort.—ἠρώτων(ουν W. and
H[93] as if contractedfrom ἐρωτέω), besought;in classics the verb means to
inquire. In N. T. the two sensesare combined after analogyof ‫ש‬ָׁ‫א‬ ַ‫.ל‬ The
disciples were probably surprised at their Master’s unusual behaviour; a

reasonfor it would not occurto them. They change places with the Master
here, the larger-heartedappearing by comparisonthe narrow-hearted.—
ἀπόλυσον, get rid of her by granting her request.—ὅτι κράζει:they were
moved not so much by pity as by dread of a sensation. There was far more
sympathy (though hidden) in Christ’s heart than in theirs. Deepnatures are
often misjudged, and shallow men praised at their expense.
[93] Westcottand Hort.
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges
23. answeredher not a word] Jesus, by this refusal, tries the woman’s faith,
that he may purify and deepen it. Her requestmust be won by earnestprayer,
“lestthe light winning should make light the prize.”
Observe that Christ first refuses by silence, then by express words.
Send her away]By granting what she asks, by yielding, like the unjust judge,
to her importunity.
Bengel's Gnomen
Matthew 15:23. Δὲ, but) It was fitting that this declaration, and as it were
protestationof the unworthiness of the heathen, should precede the
declarationof individual worthiness for which it prepared the way: nor did
our Lord grant help so much to the prayers of the Canaanitessalone, as to
those of the Canaanitessand the disciples together.—οὐκ ἀπεκρὶθη—λόγον,
answerednot—a word) Thus the LXX. in Isaiah 36:21;1 Chronicles 21:12.—
ἀπόλυσον, dismiss) An instance of metonymy of the consequentfor the
antecedent:i.e. Help as you are wont, cf. Matthew 15:24;for our Lord was not
wont to dismiss those who called upon Him for aid without according it.—
κράζει, cries out) We may suppose that the disciples feared the judgment of

men, and made their petition to our Lord, both for their own sake, lesther
crying out should produce annoyance, and for the sake ofthe woman herself.
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 23. - Answered her not a word. The womanmade no specific request;
she had not brought the sufferer with her, and entreatedChrist to exorcise the
evil influence; she did not urge him to go to her house, and by his gracious
presence work a cure. Simply she tells her affliction, and lets the woefultale
plead for itself. But there was no response. The Mercifulis obdurate; the
Physicianwithholds his aid; in the face of misery, to the voice of entreaty, the
Lord is silent. It is the discipline of love; he acts as though he hears not, that
he may bring forth perseveranceand faith. Send her away. There is some
doubt concerning the feeling of the apostles in thus addressing Christ. Did
they wish him to grant her virtual petition or not? On the one hand, it is urged
that they were thoroughly annoyed at her importunity. They had sought for
quiet' and privacy, and now this woman was bringing a crowdaround them,
and occasioning the very notoriety which they wished to avoid. Their Jewish
prejudices, too, were arousedby this appealfrom a Canaanite;they could not
endure the idea that favour should be extended to this Gentile of an abhorred
race;hence they desire Christ to dismiss her at once, give her a decided
rejection. On the other hand, the answerof Christ to their request leads to
another explanation, as if he understood them to be asking him to grant her
prayer. And this is undoubtedly what they did want, though they did not
presume to prescribe the manner or to beg for a miracle. They range
themselves on the woman's side, not from any genuine compassion, but from
mere selfishness. The ground of their appeal is, She crieth after us. The appeal
had been first made in the open street, and the Canaanite had followed them,
as they moved, continuing her piteous cry, and thus attracting attention to
them and defeating their hope of retirement and rest. So they, for their own
peace and comfort, ask Christ to grant the prayer of this obstinate suppliant:
"Give her what she wants, and have done with her."
Vincent's Word Studies
Send her away

With her request granted; for, as Bengelexquisitely remarks, "Thus Christ
was accustomedto send away."
PRECEPT AUSTIN RESOURCES
The Savior’s Silence BY SPURGEON
“But He answeredher not a word.”
Matthew 15:23
THE diary of a physician, one would think, must necessarilybe deeply
interesting. What a variety of casesmust come under the doctor’s observation
in the course of one year! And some of these must be very strange cases
indeed. The details of their cures, if one could understand them, and if the
doctor would only translate his hard Latin terms, might be of the greatest
interest.
But you need not wish to read them, for you have here, in this Gospel
according to Matthew, the diary of the greatestofall Physicians–Jesus
Christ–who healed all manner of diseasesand who met with cases ofthe most
peculiar and eccentric kind. Our gracious Masteralways walkedthe hospital,
for the whole world was that to Him and wherever He went, His supreme
business here below was by touch, or look, or word to bestow healing on the
soul and body. His cures were gratis–this was something to be admired, but
He also journeyed to His patients! It is generous when the physician treats
freely those who came crowding to his door, but our Master–the Beloved
Physician–traveledto the utmost end of His all-embracing circuit that He
might meet and bless all who dwelt therein. There were some who lived just
over the edge and verge–justbeyond the people to whom He was specially
sent–andwhen He touched the borders of Tyre and Sidon, the Syro-
Phoenicianwoman came and sharedin the healing reservedfor the Jews!This
is greatcomfort for some of us. Howeversick we may be, it is Jesus Christ’s

[Another Sermon by Mr. Spurgeonupon the same text is #2841,Volume 49–
PRAYER–ITS DISCOURAGEMENTSAND ENCOURAGEMENTS–
read/downloadthe entire sermon free of charge at .] greatoffice to heal–itis
Hishonor to lay hold of the sorelywounded and helpless and restore health to
them. And if by reasonof infirmity we cannotcome to Him, He is ready to
come to us! And if we will not come by reasonof impenitence, such is the force
of His love that He comes unasked. Oh, Jesus Christ, Master, able to heal a
soul impotent or willing, and to work fresh cures by Your amazing power,
come to this greatcrowd–farmightier than ever gatheredround Bethesda’s
porch–and let Your healing Presence remainwith us tonight!
Let us now come closelyto the case before us. It is quite familiar to most of us.
It was that of a poor woman whose daughter was plaguedand who had come
to ask Christ to healher. In a few pathetic words she uttered her passionate
desire. Our Lord was usually ready to answerat once–His generous heart
overflowedwith sympathy and was eagerto gratify the longing soul–but on
this occasion, “He answeredhernot a word.” He went on with His preaching
and other works and this needy, distractedwoman was apparently ignored–
“He answeredher not a word.” That is our topic for tonight.
We shall first, then, have a word to say on, The silence of the Savior. Then we
shall notice in the secondplace, thatThough He was silent, He was not unkind.
Though the answerwas delayed, this goodwoman was not discouraged, and
not denied. Let us think, then, on–
1. THE SAVIOR’S SILENCE. Generally, our Lord was like the father in
the parable, eagerlyon the look-outfor the returning sinner, but here
He seems distant, reserved–andwhen appealedto, silent! Usually the
tear was waiting to weepin sympathy with those that wept, but now His
eyes are strangely dry and His soul seemednot to be stirred by the
mother’s earnestentreaty. Generally, there was no need to ask–He looks
upon distress and like the GoodSamaritan is moved with pity and
hastens to help! But here He is sought with tears, entreatedwith piteous
perseverance,yet “He answeredher not a word.”
This is more remarkable as we remind ourselves that this womanhad a
distinct sense ofneed. There is no vagueness orcloud as to her desire. She
utters most precisely the yearning of her heart. She knew what she longedfor,
and that intensely, and yet–yet she had no immediate answer!Is not this the
case with many of you? You need a Savior, have cried to Him for months.
That little room can witness the prayers and tears. And since no answerhas
come, you have said, “It is because I do not feelmy need enough.” But that
may not be the real reasonat all. Repentance is necessary, but much which is

calledby that name is not true repentance. Terrors of conscienceare not
repentance–thoughthey may lead to it. And though you may never have been
filled with alarm, yet if you are sorry for sin, hate sin and would be rid of it,
root and branch, your repentance is genuine. The thing to be enquired of is
not quantity but quality. Foreven deep repentance is not an absolute essential
to salvation–
“All the fitness He requires,
Is to feel your need of Him.”
Your repentance may be true and your sense ofneed, deep, and yet you may
have to wait, and wait, and still wait before His peace floods your soul.
Besides this, this poor woman knew where to come for help. She lookedatthe
right door. She askedfor“mercy,mercy.” This was her one plea! And if we
come to God with any other, we know not who we are seeking, andto whom
we are speaking. This woman was deeply humbled with a sense of
unworthiness, but she turned even that into an argument for the Savior’s pity,
for the mercy of God. I know there are some who fear that because they have
not heard, “Your sins are forgiven you,” that they have not come to Christ
aright. No! This woman came aright and yet for the present she is kept
without a word. If we come to Christ at all, we do come aright. I have often
said, “There is no true coming which canbe wrong.” “No man can come unto
Me, except the Father which has sent Me draw him.” So if God draws, He
cannot draw the wrong way. Looking for the mercy of Christ, trusting the
merits of His sacrificialdeath, then you have come and come aright to the
door of mercy! And yet you may for a time not have a word to comfort you.
Yet again, this woman had some clearidea of our Lord’s Character. She calls
Him, “Lord.” Her first appealis,“Have mercy.” Her second, “Help me.” But
in both it is to the Lord she appeals. She had some idea of His Deity, His
Omnipotence, even more than some of His disciples. Nor need this surprise us.
A deep sense of need often reveals to us Christ’s All-Sufficiency. And yet with
all this insight into our Lord, “He answeredher not a word.” So you may
know the Master, sit at the foot of His Cross and view the flowing of the
precious blood. Your eyes may be familiar with His marred visage, your faith
may have beheld Him exalted on high, and you may have no doubt as to the
might of His Deity, the sympathy of His Manhood and yet though saved, may
have no joy of salvation! Doubtless you shall never see death, but as yet you
have no exhilaration of life.
This woman, too, had a humble but determined faith. Our Lord admired and
extolled this, for He said, “Oh, woman, greatis your faith!” She had faith

before her wishes were granted–andwe may have faith that saves and yet
have no sweetassurance. There are, I believe, multitudes who have trusted
Christ, who are describedby the Prophet Isaiahas, “walking in darkness, and
seeing no light.” Many there are who, believing, have eternal life, but have not
yet enteredinto the peace and joy that are its fruits. They are saved. They
have their title-deeds, but they do not read them clearly. Heaven is theirs, but
their eyesightis imperfect and so, “the mansion in the skies” is still in the land
of far distances. Christmay have heard you in His heart, without having
answeredyou in your ear! He may have filed your prayer in Heaven, but for
some reasonHe may permit you for a time to struggle without comfort and
without light.
Yet once again, notwithstanding all this, she was a soul Christ meant to bless.
There was never a question in Hisheart whether He would heal her daughter.
He had ordained to give her what she sought–hadnever for an instant meant
to deny it! It had always beenstored for her on high. He willed once and for
all that she should go awayin peace. And so, wearisome nights may have been
appointed for you, strong crying and tears–but keepon, for if God has given
you genuine faith, He must give you eternal salvationunless He breaks His
promises–whichHe cannever do! He must save them who come unto Him
through Jesus Christ! Your business is with His command and when you have
obeyed, and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, then, even if you weepin the
dark, your tears will be for your spiritual strengthening!
This was my own case for nearly five years. If ever a souldid pray with
anguish, I know I did. I could never rest. God had put the desire after His son
into my heart, and I could never rest satisfieduntil I had heard the Father
whisper, “You are Mine.” Some drops of mercy fell, but the next day they
were all dried up. Sometimes I seized hold of a promise, but it appeared to
melt awayin my hands. Though but a child I turned over His Word, seeking
for something to suit my case, but nothing would come until God’s appointed
day had struck–andthen the darkness vanished and light came and I rejoiced
in Jesus and the light which only He cangive! Many who are ordained unto
eternal life, are yet held back, as John Bunyan was, for many a day and even
years in doubt and perplexity and trouble! “He answeredher not a word.” In
the secondplace we see that–
II. THOUGH THE SAVIOR WAS SILENT, HE WAS NOT UNKIND. He
had goodreasons forrefusing to give her a word. Here is one. It is His delight
to put faith to the test. Greatkings have always had exploits performed before
themfor their pleasure. And in order to prove faith’s mighty power, the Lord
God even sends it upon strange errands. He delights to see the daring it can

display when relying on His power. He said to it when but a stripling, “Go and
cut off the giant’s head!” And faith did it. He said, “Go and conquer the city
and destroy it, and rush rejoicing over the ruined walls.” And faith did it.
Again He said, “Go, and for My sake enterthe burning fiery furnace”–and
faith did it and came out unscathed. “Go to the lions' den,” said the king–and
faith went and shut the lions' mouths! And our Lord, finding faith incarnate
in this poor woman, puts it to the test. Her faith now has to struggle with the
King, Himself! Be not alarmed! Jesus said, “It is not right to take the
children’s bread and castit to the dogs.” And she answered, “Truth, Lord: yet
the dogs eatof the crumbs which fall from their Master’s table.” And so the
King tests faith and puts the crown upon its head as He answers, “Oh, woman,
greatis your faith!” So with some of you–seeking Jesus, but not yet finding
Him. He knows your faith but He delays comfort to let men see whatthat faith
will do! And when that is done, He will disperse the clouds and fill your soul
with rejoicing!I have no doubt the Saviordid this, not for His pleasure, but
for her profit. It is goodfor a man to bear the yoke in the youth of his faith.
The Spartans would never have been a nation of conquerors if they had not
been trained in the schoolofhardness in their childhood. They had to smart,
struggle and sometimes feelthe pangs of hunger, that in the day of battle they
should never retreatfrom the strongestfoe. So we may have sore temptations
to meet before reaching Heaven and He is hardening us. As the florist takes
the plants from the hothouse into the open air to harden them, so the Lord
removes us from the light and warmth of His loving Countenance and
hardens us so that frosts shall not wither us if they come, by-and-by.
The Savior, too, may have had an eye to the onlookers.Towardsus who this
day are the onlookers upon the fine exhibition of this woman’s faith, surely He
had a gracious purpose. Surely He did it that there might be a well of comfort
and instruction to troubled souls in ages past, in this age, and in ages yet to
come!Who knows? This woman was kept for a time in suspense, for your
comfort, poor woman, for you, young man, with your poor despairing soul.
“There,” He seems to say, “in this one case I will setan example to all who do
not at once getcomfort, that they may see that their faith shall yet prevail. If
they still believe and continue to plead until I come, then shall the answerbe
peace.” Jesus was notunkind, even in His silence. The last point for our
reverent study is this–
III. THOUGH THE ANSWER WAS DELAYED, THIS WOMAN WAS NOT
DISCOURAGED NOR DENIED.
When she could not geta word, she did not go away and sulk, as some
professedpenitents do, but gathered more boldness. She appears to have come

nearer to the Lord, for we read in the 25 th verse, “then she came and
worshippedHim.” As if standing in the outer circle, she now pushed through
the crowdand came nearer–but not irreverently–shecame to worship. Herein
she reads us all a lesson. If we have had no answerto our pleading, do not give
up, but go nearerto Christ! Make it more solemnly the resolve of your soul
that you have realdealings with Him. Some persons rest satisfiedwith saying
a number of phrases beginning one way, and ending with, “Amen.” I do not
like to rise from my knees until I have had assureddealings with the Master.
There are fifty words to the air, but it is the one word with the Masterwhich
effects our soul’s purpose! Lay hold upon the Cross. Put your fingers by faith
into the print of the nails. Thrust your hand in His side and realize that He is
really there! And this shall be your way of obtaining true comfort. Norwas
this all. When she thus came nearer, she cried more earnestly. The disciples
said, “Sendher away, for she cries after us."Buther cry came to Him with a
plaintive pathos in her words. She wept. She cried such a cry as a mother
wails out over her dying child! It seemedto hold in it these words, "I must
have this blessing!Give it to me or I die, You Son of David! I am not one who
speaks with the lips, only–my heart cries to You! Hear a woman’s heart that
breaks unless You speak the comfortable words to her.”
Ah, cold prayers will never open the gates ofHeaven–youmust go and knock,
and knock, and knock, and knock againif you would make swing open the
celestialportals!You must use the golden knockernotwith a languid tap, but
with the loud stroke of one who must getentrance, for the cold streetof the
everlasting storm is already falling and if shut out, there will be “weeping and
wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Remember how powerfully the Savior,
Himself, exhorted to this in His parable of the importunate friend who needed
bread for his friend who came to him after a journey, and who never rested
until he securedit from his neighbor, though he roused him out of bed at
midnight to obtain it! Homely is the picture, but notable is the meaning and
lessonof it. You must knock, and knock, and knock, and redouble your
blows–takeHeavenby storm–for as our Lord declared, “The Kingdom of
Heaven suffers violence,” so be numbered with the violent who “take it by
force.” The longeryou are made to wait, the more earnestly must you pray–
and your prayers will yet prevail!
But I want us particularly to notice that the longer she prayed, the shorter
became the prayer. You may generallymeasure the worth of prayer by this
rule–the longer the worse, the shorterthe better. She began, “Have mercy on
me, O Lord, You Son of David. My daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.”
That is a goodprayer, but the next is shorter. “Lord, help me!” It is just those

prayers that win the day! It would be well if we remembered to let our words
be few when we come before the MostHigh. When we getintensely and
solemnly earnestbefore God, we generally have more thoughts than words,
more intensity than sentences. Some maysay, “I cannot pray at all,” but if
God has given you desire for His mercy, you can surely pray, “Lord, help
me!” That is not too long for memory or for time. “Lord, help me!” You can
pray that before going to work in the morning, pray it at night, howeverlate
you may return. Some say the Lord’s prayer, but I beg you not to do so if
unconverted. How can you say, “Our Father,” unless you are saved and
belong to the family of God? What right have you to callHim, “Father,”
unless you have passedfrom death unto life? Use it when the Spirit of
adoption is yours, but not until then! This is an infinitely better prayer for
you, “Lord, help me!” It makes no professionbut of helplessness.It confesses,
“I cannot help myself. I am most unworthy and most needy. Lord, help me to
repent! Break my heart for me. Help me to believe! To keepme from sin. To
serve You and to be like Jesus Christ Himself.” I cannotsuggesta prayer
shorter or more full of meaning.
It was not, however, the prayer, but her faith that captured the heart and
commanded the blessing of the Lord! Shewouldnot let go her hold of Him and
she would not take, “No,”evenout of His ownmouth! She knew He must be
true. Now, Sinner, Christ has said, “He that believes on Me is not
condemned.” If you believe in Christ you are not condemned. And though the
delays to your prayers may seem to sayyou are condemned, believe it is
seeming only, and that He must and will keepHis promise to save every sinner
that trusts Him! Do not let even your consciencefill you with fear. Would to
God you would say, “I will believe that Jesus Christ died for me. I will cast
myself upon Him. I am black–Ibelieve that He will washme. I am foul and
evil, but I will believe in Him to create me anew. I have nothing, but I take
Christ to be my All-in-All. Here, tonight, I trust Him, just as I am. I trust Him
to bring me where He is–to dwell with Him forever.”
If God enables you to do this, depend upon it, your eternal life is sure! God
help you thus to pray and believe, and before long you shall go your way and,
“according to your faith, so shall it be done unto you.” The Lord dismiss you
with His blessing for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
"The Woman Who Wouldn't Be Put Off"
Matthew 15:21-28

Theme: The Syro-Phoenicianwomanexemplifies the sort of persistent faith
that the Lord delights to respond to.
(Delivered Sunday, April 29, 2007 at Bethany Bible Church. Unless otherwise
noted, all Scripture references are takenfrom The Holy Bible, New King
James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
Somewhere, in a house along the coastalregions ofancientPhoenicia, a
woman bitterly wept in frantic helplessness forher little girl.
How this terrifying circumstance came to be is something we're not told. But
it was probably not an uncommon thing to see in a land characterizedby a
long history of paganismand idolatry. The woman's young daughter was
under the powerof a demon. She wasn'tmerely "demon-possessed";but, as
the Bible tells us, she was "severely" or"cruelly" demon-possessed. Some vile
spiritual force had takenruthless dominion over her.
The Bible tells us of other such demonic afflictions;and the stories they tell
give us a chilling picture of what this little girl's suffering may have been like.
We're told of one man who was so plagued by an unclean spirit that it drove
him awayfrom the societyofother men; causing him to live as a maniac
among the tombs. Those who soughtto restrain him and "tame" him found
him so strong and uncontrollable that he broke the bonds and shacklesin
pieces. At night, he howledin the mountains and among the tombs like a mad
animal; crying out hideously, and cutting himself with stones (Mark 5:2-5).
And we're told of another man who had a sonwho was possessedof a spirit
from childhood—a spirit that made the boy unable to speak. The man would
watchhelplessly as this unclean spirit would occasionally, unexpectedly seize
his son, throw him to the ground, cause him to foam at the mouth, make him
gnashhis teeth, and suddenly force his body to become rigid (Mark 9:17-18)—
and sometimes eventhrow the boy into fire or casthim into the waterin order
to destroy him (vv. 22).
It may be that this poor woman watchedas her daughter suffered in some of
these horrifying ways—orperhaps in ways that were best kept unmentioned
to us. Who can imagine what torture it would have been for this poor mother?
And what could she do? Where could she go? How could she hope to sether
daughter free from something so beyond human help as this?
* * * * * * * * * *
But somehow, in all of this, she heard news that gave her hope. Rumors had
begun to be spread around that Jesus—the miracle-working prophetfrom
Nazareth—wasin a house not far away. The rumors, as it turned out, where
true. Mark, in his Gospel, tells us that Jesus had indeed gone to the regions of

Tyre and Sidon; and that He had entered a house, wanting no one to know it.
But, as Mark tells us, "He could not be hidden" (Mark 7:24).
This woman had heard the fame concerning Him that "went throughout all
Syria"; and of how "they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted
with various diseasesand torments, and those who were demon-possessed,
epileptics, and paralytics; and He healedthem" (Matthew 4:24). And as she
heard these stories, perhaps a convictionbegan to grow in her that this Man
was the promised JewishMessiah, the long-awaited"SonofDavid".
At first, she hesitatedto go to Him. After all, she was no Jew. She was a
despisedGentile. She didn't have any right to expectanything from Him. But
even so, she knew she must go to Him, There was no other option. No matter
what it took, she needed to leave her precious suffering daughter behind, find
Jesus, and beg Him have mercy on them.
That's when we come to our passage—andto the story of how this woman
proved herselfto be one of the greatestand most encouraging examples of
faith in the Bible.
Then Jesus wentout from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a woman of Canaancame from that region and cried out to Him,
saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Sonof David! My daughter is severely
demon-possessed.”ButHe answeredher not a word. And His disciples came
and urged Him, saying, “Sendher away, for she cries out after us.” But He
answeredand said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheepof the house of
Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He
answeredand said, “It is not goodto take the children’s bread and throw it to
the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the
crumbs which fall from their masters’table.” Then Jesus answeredand said
to her, “O woman, greatis your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her
daughter was healed from that very hour (Matthew 15:21-28).
* * * * * * * * * *
It's no coincidence that this story occurs where it does in Matthew's Gospel. It
follows immediately and deliberately after the story of Jesus'confrontation
with the scribes and Pharisees concerning Jewishrules of “purity” and
“cleanness”. Jesushad affirmed the principle that moral impurity before God
does not come as a result of what is on the outside, but rather from what is on
the inside. And then, He demonstratedthis principle in action, by doing
something that was unthinkable to the scribes and Pharisees:He showed
divine mercy to an unclean “heathen” woman.

I believe that one reasonthis story is so important is because it displays
something about Jesus. It demonstrates His willingness and readiness to show
mercy toward any needy person who cries out to Him. It demonstrates that
He extends His mercy even to those who are the most “unclean” and
“unworthy”. How grateful eachone of us should be that He does!
But another reasonthis story is important is because ofwhat it shows us
about this woman's faith. It seemedthat, in this story, Jesus keptputting her
off. It seemedthat He wouldn't answerher prayers and pleas and appeals. But
after she proved herself to be persistedin her faith in Him—after she proved
that she knew He could do what she asked, andwould not be 'put off'—He
changedHis manner towardher. He smiled upon her and said, “O woman,
greatis your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” It was as if He suddenly
stopped denying her; and openedall the treasures of heavento her.
He did something that should capture the attention of all of us who pray in
His name: He praisedher faith and gave her what she asked. He, as it were,
has pointed her out to us as if to say, “Look at this woman! Learn from her!
She did it right!”
* * * * * * * * * *
I suspectthat there is someone here this morning who desperatelyneeds the
encouragementofthis woman's example. I suspectthat there is someone here
who has a deep need that they have been presenting to the Lord; but who feels
as if the Lord is not listening—as if the Lord is putting them off. I suspectthat
such a person is getting tired and frustrated with asking;and is beginning to
feel like giving up. And I wonder if this woman's story may not tell you
something of what the Lord is seeking to do in all of it.
In prayer, it is our privilege to tell God what we desire from Him. But in the
process, He does something even greaterthan we're asking. He brings us—in
the process ofour asking—to the place where He truly has possessionofour
heart. He doesn't answerour prayers right away; because He first wants our
hearts to be yielded to Him, and wants to getus to the place where we're
crying out to Him in deep dependency.
As I have learned to see it, prayer is 'that form of communication with God by
which we getHim where He wants us to be' —that is, to the place where we're
looking to Him, leaning on Him, trusting in Him, confessing Him to be who He
truly is, and yielding ourselves completelyto Him.
And when the Lord has us where He wants us—that is, in that place of deep,
refined, complete faith in Him—then He is delighted to answerour needs and
our prayers in a far greaterway that we could ever have imagined. That's

why I believe this woman's story is so important. It exemplifies the sort of
persistentfaith that the Lord delights to respond to.
* * * * * * * * * *
Let's look at her example a little more closely. And let's begin by considering .
. .
1. THE QUALITIES OF FAITH SHE POSSESSED.
First, I notice that she clearly exhibited faith in Jesus. Jesus Himself was the
objectof her faith. Look at the things she believed about Him.
She calledHim “Lord” three times in this passage. To callHim “Lord” can, of
course, meanthat she simply spoke with respectto Him; as if to call Him
“Sir”. But clearly, the context shows that she was regarding Him in a much
higher waythan that. She had heard the stories about Him, and was coming
to Him for a miracle; and so, calling Him “Lord” was her way of
recognizing—to some degree—His divine authority. Personally, I can't
remember a story in the Bible in which someone calledJesus “Lord” so often,
in so few verses, than this woman did.
Second, she—a Gentile—calledHim something remarkable. She called Him
“Sonof David”. And in calling Him this, she was recognizing Him as the long-
awaitedJewishMessiah—theKing who had been promised long ago by God
through the prophets to be born of the lineage of King David. What a
remarkable thing for her to do! Not even the scribes and Pharisees were
willing to recognize Him in this way! She even fell before Him and
“worshiped” Him—bowing herself before Him in humble homage and
adoration(v. 25).
And third, she had faith in Him to do something that no one else coulddo—
that is, to castout a demon from her daughter. She had heard the stories
about how He had done this for others;and she knew that He had the power
to do the same for her daughter. It may have been that she was uncertain He
would do this for her, since she was a Gentile. But she was certainthat He
could if He was willing to do so. She was so certain, in fact, that she left her
daughter to go and beg Him to healher. She was even willing to 'importune'
herself—to humble herselfbeyond the bounds of propriety—in beseeching
Him to do this.
And what's more, we cansee in all of these expressions offaith in Christ that
her motives were of the highest order. She was motivated by love for her
daughter—suchgreatlove, in fact, that the healing of her daughter was an act
of mercy to herself. In asking Jesus to heal her daughter, she said, “Have

mercy on me . . .” (v. 22);“Lord, help me!” (v. 25). Mercyto her daughter
was, as far as she was concerned, mercy shownto her!
* * * * * * * * * *
Now;stop and considerthat thing that you have been seeking fromHim. It's
not beyond the powerof Jesus Christto meet that need. He cando whatever
needs to be done, and He can do it at anytime. But could it be that, before He
gives you what you desire, He first wants you to give Him what He desires?
Could it be that, first, He wants you to think rightly about Him?
Do you ever come to the heavenly Father in an irreverent and thoughtless
manner—expecting that you have a right to have your prayers answered? I'm
afraid that, all to often, we all do. We fail to think rightly about the majesty of
the One in whose name we bring our request. Do you recognize Jesus as your
Lord and Master? Do you confess Him to be the Christ—the One upon whose
shoulders the government of this world will soonrest? Do you bow to His
omnipotence? Do you worship Him as you come to Him? And do you check
your own motives—to be sure that what you are asking is something that
matches His own desires and will?—to be sure that you are motivated by the
self-sacrificing love that motivated Him to die on the cross foryou?
One of the greatlessons thatthis woman has to teachus is through the quality
and characteristicsoffaith that she exhibited. May we be the kind of
petitioner she was when she approachedJesus with her need. We have a
greaterchance of hearing Him say, “Let it be to you as you desire”, if we do
so.
* * * * * * * * * *
A secondway that she can teachus is through . . .
2. THE CHALLENGES TO FAITH SHE FACED.
She left her daughter and her home, and traveled some distance in order to
ask Jesus to show her this actof mercy. But there were certain challenges that
might have stood in the way of her doing so.
One of the ways she faced a challenge to her faith was through the limitations
of who she was. Praise Godthat, in the body of Christ, “[t]here is neither Jew
nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female”.
Rather, we are all “one in Christ Jesus”(Galatians 3:28). But in the culture of
this woman's time, those differences stoodas a humanly impenetrable barrier;
and those barriers could have causedher to hesitate to come to Jesus.
First of all, she was a woman—andthat, culturally, was something that she
would have recognizedas a challenge to her being able to ask the Lord Jesus

for the healing of her daughter. Perhaps you remember the time that Jesus
spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well. She was more than a little
surprised that He would even speak to her—let alone ask her for a drink
(John 4:9). Even the disciples were a little surprised to see Him talking with a
woman (v. 27).
Second, she was a Gentile. She was, as Mark tells us in his Gospel, from the
regions of Syria and Phoenicia (Mark 7:28). And even more specifically, she
was from the regions of the Phoeniciancities of Tyre and Sidon; and the
people of that regionhad a notorious history in the mind of the Jewishpeople.
Jezebel—the wife of King Ahab who had introduced the worship of the vile
Phoeniciangod Baalto the people of Israel, resulting in God's severe
judgment upon His covenant people—wasthe daughter of “Ethbaal, king of
the Sidonians” (1 Kings 16:31). And the greatprophets of the Old
Testament—Jeremiah(Jer. 27:1-11), Ezekiel(Ezek. 26:3-21;28:1-10), Joel
(Joel3:4-6), and Amos (Amos 1:9)—all prophesied strongly againstthe cities
of Tyre and Sidon. The people of Israelwould not have been inclined to even
enter their region, let alone expectthat God would extend His mercies to
anyone from that region.
And third, she was a Canaanite. She was a descendantof the fourth son of
Ham—the sonwho was under a curse of servitude (Genesis 9:18-27). She
would have been a descendantof the people group that the Israelites had
driven out of the land at the command of God. Her people were a despised
people in the eyes of God's covenantpeople; and her culture was considereda
very paganistic, uncleanculture.
How then, could she expectto receive anything from the Lord Jesus Christ—
the Sonof David; the JewishMessiah—whenfacedwith the barriers of who
she herselfwas?
And what's more, she also experiencedchallenges—onthe basis of who she
was—fromthe Lord Jesus Himself. He had sentHis disciples out earlierto
preach the goodnews of the kingdom; telling them, “Do not go into the way of
the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the
lost sheepof the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:5-6). And Jesus, in our passage
this morning, seems to draw a thick, dark “underscore” beneaththese
cultural barriers, and bring attention to them in a shocking way. When she
sought Him, He seemedto put her off; saying, “I was not sent except to the
lost sheepof the house of Israel” (v. 24). And when she besoughtHim, He said,
“It is not goodto take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs” (v.
26).

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