Matthew 15: True and False Faith (4)
Pray Psalm 29.1, 2.
Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Sing Psalm 29.1, 2.
Toulon: I Greet Thee Who My Sure Redeemer Art
Give praise to God, you children of the earth!
Tell of His strength, proclaim His glorious worth!
Give to the LORD the glory due His Name!
Worship in holiness; His grace proclaim!
Read Matthew 15.1-28; meditate on verses 21-28.
What does it mean to “cry out” to Jesus? What does it reveal about the one crying? Should we cry out like this?
Prepare.
1. What was so “great” about this woman’s faith?
2. What was this woman seeking from Jesus?
Meditate.
The disciples must have wondered to themselves, “What are we doing here in this Gentile region?” (v. 21) They needed to understand what Matthew has been telling us since the genealogy in chapter 1, that Gentiles are to be incorporated into the family of God. So, naturally, Jesus set the stage for this next lesson on Gentile turf.
Matthew specifically tells us that she was “a woman of Canaan”—that is, a Canaanite. Israel had taken the land of the Canaanites. Now Jesus would give this Canaanite the land of promise forever (cf. Is. 54.1ff). The woman pled with Jesus to deliver her daughter from a demon (v. 22). In approaching Jesus, she acknowledged Him as Lord and David’s Son, and she worshiped Him (v. 25).
Jesus shows us that true faith entails persistence—a lesson He frequently taught His disciples (cf. Matt. 7.7 ff). He was not making the woman “earn” her request; rather, He was teaching her to trust Him even more, as we see her request intensifying with each subsequent step (vv. 24-27). Jesus builds faith in us by not answering our prayers immediately, but by drawing out more of true faith from us. He leads us to focus, summon up our reserves of resolve, and keep knocking, seeking, and asking.
In her mind, the woman deserved only the “crumbs” of Jesus’ kindness, and that not for herself. As her faith grew, so did her humility and sense of unworthiness, as well as her hope. Finally, Jesus commended the woman for her “great” faith, and granted her request. (v. 28) The healing was instantaneous, though the supplication was prolonged.
Meanwhile, the disciples…yeah. They didn’t see any faith in this woman. They were irritated by her, not least, of course, because she was a Canaanite (v. 23). So they came to Jesus with a “prayer request” as well: “Send her away…” Not much faith there, eh? No doubt as to whom they were thinking about. But that’s precisely why Jesus brought them to Tyre and Sidon, to teach them about true faith, so they could increase in it, and would be ready for their assignment of making all the nations disciples (Matt. 28.18-20). With Jesus, school’s always open, class is always in session. Let’s make sure we’re paying attention, and that we learn as much as we can about true faith.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is severely demon-possessed” (Matt. 15.22).
With that request she got Jesus’ Name and title correct.
And her need clearly stated.
No response yet from Jesus.
“Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’” (Matt. 15.25).
With this request she got her position correct; and her desperation expressed.
Then in response to Jesus’ statement about bread and dogs she said:
“Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table” (Matt. 15.27).
And by this climactic statement, spoken forthrightly and wisely, she got her heart correct.
And she got her long-desired request fully answered.
“Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour” (Matt. 15.28).
This situation reminds us of Jesus’ dealings with yet another Gentile, the centurion of Matthew 8.5-13.
In praise for his faith Jesus said: “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.”
And his servant was healed that same hour.
Multiple blessings occurred: first, for those whose requests were answered; but secondly, Jesus was trying to get an important message across to His disciples about the inclusiveness of the Kingdom of God. This is a Word that God has been putting forth continuously: “Indeed,” He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth” (Is. 49.6).
Sadly, the disciples were a slow learning lot. Thus, Peter got a personal message on topic. In his own words to other believers: “And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common’” (Acts 11.7-11). God thereby assured Peter it was safe for him to minister to the Gentiles. And the response from Peter’s listeners clarified the truth: “Then God has granted to the Gentiles repentance to life” (Acts 11.18). Yes!
I wonder. Do we still need to learn this lesson?
Are there people we think are beyond God’s care?
People that probably shouldn’t be included, well, just because?
Do we find ourselves feeling prejudicially perverse against anyone?
If so, we too, need to embrace this lesson learned from the Canaanite woman and the centurion.
And Peter’s tutorial from God.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3.23).
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6.23).
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us” (Rom. 5.8). Jew and Gentile and everybody else. All kinds. All everywhere.
Let’s understand that correctly—like the Canaanite woman, gladly taking the crumbs.
Reflect.
1. None of us is worthy of the Gospel and the love of God. Why is that? Why is it important to remember that?
2. Prejudice can be a stumbling block and a barrier to the Gospel. How can we recognize it in ourselves? How should we deal with it?
3. How can you pray for Christian of other nations and ethnicities?
For it was for this reason that He postponed giving a reply: that the woman might cry aloud with this word. Thereby He would show her to be worthy of a thousand crowns. For it was not because He did not want to give her the gift that He delayed but because He sought and took care beforehand to reveal her faith. Theodore of Mopsuestia (350-428), Fragment 83
Pray Psalm 29.3-11.
Praise the Lord for His sovereign power and might. Commit your day into His care, to follow in obedience however He leads.
Sing Psalm 29.3-11.
Toulon: I Greet Thee Who My Sure Redeemer Art
Over the waters, over thunder’s roll,
God’s voice creation’s mighty pow’rs controls!
Cedars collapse at His majestic Word;
nations are shaken by our mighty LORD!
God speaks and lightning streaks across the sky;
by His decree He shakes the desert dry.
Speak, LORD, and life to beasts and men is giv’n.
Forests dissolve, and glory rings in heav’n.
Sovereign, the LORD sat o’er the raging flood;
sovereign forever rules our gracious God!
God will His people bless with strength and peace:
LORD, may Your holy Word to us increase!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast continues our readings from the book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. Our Crosfigell teaching letter begins a new series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column considers questions all church leaders must address. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
