Faith That Works Miracles

Matthew 15:21-28

Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to 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 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.

This account is also found in the gospel according to Mark (Mark 7:24-30) with more detailed information in some areas.

Chapter 15 of Matthew begins with the tension between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders as Jesus challenges their teachings. Following that, Jesus continued traveling away from the Jewish dominated cities and reached the outskirts of the Israelite territory. Jesus went thirty to fifty miles north to the region of Tyre and Sidon (modern day Lebanon). These were the two main Phoenician cities just north of Mouth Carmel on the coast. The Phoenicans were better known in the Old Testament as Canaanites. This territory was predominantly occupied by the Gentiles who did not follow Israel’s religion. They were not Jews. They did not worship Jehovah. They were pagan worshippers. These people were a remnant of those chased out of the Promised Land by the Israelites several centuries ago. Although these Canaanites were Gentiles, yet they were in enough proximity, to have some knowledge about the religion and God of Israel.

Mark 7:24,25 - From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden.

Jesus goes to the region of Tyre and Sidon and entered a house. He didn’t want anyone to know that He was there. But the fact remains, He could not be hidden. The woman heard about it and came looking for him. Matthew describes her as a Canaanite woman. Mark describes her as the “Syrophoenician” woman, based on the region where she was from.

1. Firstly, a woman – who had no rights to come out in public and authoritative demand a healing

2. Secondly, a gentile – who were treated as inferior as Jews

3. Thirdly, a Canaanite – treated as an enemy by the Jews

Most importantly, the woman knew all this but still comes seeking Jesus.

Matthew 15:22 - And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

She approached Jesus because she had a need. Her daughter was severely demon-possessed and she wanted her deliverance. We can safely assume that she would have sought help from every source possible – the physicians of her times, the religious pagan priests… But all were futile. Nobody could deliver her daughter.

She probably would have heard about Jesus. This Gentile district borders Galilee and she would have heard about Jesus and his miracles.

Mark 1:27 - All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.

Mark 1:32-34a - That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed, and the whole town gathered at the door. And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons.

Matthew 8:16 - When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,

She would have heard that Jesus could heal all the demon-possessed. This must have built her faith. So she must have taken the boldness to approach Jesus for her daughter.

She cries out, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

The second title that she addresses Jesus with – Son of David. This is the one that is very amusing. This was meant to be the title of the Messiah. How does this Gentile woman know this title? She would have probably been aware of the Jewish hopes of the Messiah. She would have heard the people saying that the son of David, called Jesus, drove out demons. She trusts that this Jesus is that Messiah, the Son of David. To this trust, she attached her hope of her daughter’s deliverance. This is the strange contradiction to the Jewish religious leaders who refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah. She pleads with Him for mercy. You can imagine the cry of a desperate mother for her suffering daughter!