If Jesus Did Not Say A Word

If JESUS did not say a Word

Prayer

Text: Matthew 15:21-28 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Greeting

Purpose: Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Focus: Matthew 15:22-23 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

Introduction: Chapter fifteen begins in the city of Gennesaret where JESUS had healed many that were sick. After the festive event, scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came quarreling with JESUS over a violation of the law, but JESUS rebuke them by reminding them that they have been ignoring their violation of the law without remorse (Explain briefly). JESUS and his disciples left and proceeded to the border or coast of Tyre and Sidon where they had an interesting encounter with a Syrophoenician woman. What is strange about this encounter is the fact that Syrophoenicians and Jews did not associate with each other nor honor one another. But, here we see a genital woman submitting herself and honoring a Jew, the Jews promise MESSIAH, when she referred to JESUS as LORD, and as the Son of David. Understand, recognizing JESUS as LORD place a Jew over her life without consideration for herself; and as the Son of David is a statement of announcing royalty. Why would a woman who normally will not have a relationship with Jews make JESUS LORD over her life. Because she has been hurt badly by her daughter who was grievously or unmercifully control by the devil (Briefly explain). The situation had to be serious since she was willing to violate all the rules in their society to obtain salvation for her problem. No longer were big mama and Dr. Phil counseling any good. No longer did racism and hate block her from help because of pride and bigotry. No longer had money had the value to purchase her problem away. No longer was prestige and popularity important enough to make her ashamed to ask for help. No longer could drugs, alcohol, sex, or the television had the ability to blind you from the fact your child is a tool of the devil, mama and daddy can not take two steps without fighting, and baby sister just rob you for crack money knowing she is pregnant with her fifth child. She needed, and we need, something or someone greater that can solve her problem; and that was GOD. She needed Him right there and right now; and we need Him right here and right now.

Now, why did she believe that JESUS would help her? Well, she had to hear the testimony of those who have encounter JESUS and how they were healed by his preaching.

Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

She had to know there is power in the Word of GOD, and she wanted to experience it and believe it also.

Romans 10:14-17 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.