Seek The Person, Not The Formula

2. Jesus will not hide from a person in need who truly seeks Him.

Jesus left Israel after telling the religious leaders that they were defiled; but He didn’t hide from this woman who was in need.

Jesus is always available to the broken and needy who call Him.

This woman falls at Jesus’ feet in worship; because she knew Jesus was her daughter’s only hope.

Remember the religious leaders, who had studied scripture all of their lives, simply condemned Jesus over ceremonial washings and would not give Him the respect He deserves.

The religious leaders accused Jesus of being unclean; but here, this woman has a daughter who has an unclean spirit.

So, this pagan half breed, Canaanite woman seeks Jesus and worships Him, as she asked Him to heal her daughter.

In Jesus’ day, a good Jewish man would have no dealings with a half breed Gentile; nor would a man publicly associate with a woman; but this woman seeks Jesus anyway!

II. The test of faith.

Read Mark 7:27-30

Giving bread to little dogs must have seemed like a harsh rebuke to this needy mother; but, it was meant as a lesson for her.

In this same narrative, 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." NKJV

Henry Ironside said, “As Son of David He had come to minister to Israel and reign eventually as King on the throne of David.”

“As such, for the present, a Gentile woman had no claim upon Him; and so He answered her not a word.” (H.A. Ironside)

God’s plan was to go to the Jews first then to the Gentiles.

Paul said in Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. NKJV

God so loved the whole world; but, the original plan was to go to the household of Israel first and then to the Gentiles.

John 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

John 1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. NKJV

This woman calls Jesus Lord. (Greek, “kyrios”: master, owner)

Imagine the desperation of this woman had for her daughter who was severely demon possessed. The Syro-Phoenicians were known for the worst kinds of idolatry and satanic acts.

People can open themselves to demonic influence and power by practicing drug use or other kinds of idolatry and satanic acts.

Somehow this girl had been possessed and this mom is desperate

The Jews considered Gentiles to be dogs. In the original language, dogs can mean a literal dog, contempt or abasement.

The feeling towards the Gentiles from Jewish people continued even after the Resurrection of Christ.

In Acts 22, Paul was arrested for preaching Christ and said…

Acts 22:19 So I said, 'Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You.