Sermon: "Even The Dogs Qualify” The Syrophoenician Woman’s Persistent Faith

Sermon: “Even The Dogs Qualify” The Syrophoenician Woman’s Persistent Faith

Text: Mark 7:24-30 “Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn’t keep it a secret. Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter.

Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.” “Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.”

Introduction: The Syrophoenician Woman’s Persistent Faith causes her to receive crumbs of Grace! This woman was discouraged from coming to Jesus because of her womanhood, her aloneness and her timing. Many things hindered people from coming to Jesus. If they get pass their emotional baggage, self -doubt and unworthiness, they must deal with religious leaders like the Scribes and Pharisees who blocked access to God's kingdom, the money changers in the temple who turned a place of worship into a marketplace, Diotrephes who rejected others and sought to be first, and Satan who actively impeded Paul's mission to the Thessalonians. Additionally, societal barriers, physical crowds, and personal feelings of unworthiness become obstacles to individuals seeking Jesus. One of the most serious sins we can commit is to hinder another person from encountering God. It’s a sin so serious in magnitude that Jesus once flipped over tables in the temple when he saw it happening and Apostle Paul smote a sorcerer with blindness for three months for the same reason.

Additionally, some people felt unworthy or were prevented by their own pride and preoccupation with other things, while others simply rejected the opportunity God offered. The Scripture gives four times during the ministry of Jesus that He sought to retreat. Jesus withdrew into the wilderness after he was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Jesus went apart to the mountain to pray before selecting His disciples. Now in this text, Jesus seeks a moment to grieve after the death of John the Baptist. This unusual story occurs during a season of grief and weariness as Jesus chose to leave Judea and enter the country of Phoenicia. This region was conquered by the Romans. It was in this country Jesus sought retirement and rest for himself and disciples, but this rest was broken by the coming of the Syrophoenician woman seeking Jesus on behalf of her demon possessed daughter. Jesus could not be hid because of his fame and his approachableness by those who were in distress. This woman had already dealt with many hindrances and probably expected opposition.

We find that every time Jesus sought a place of rest, the people found him. So, this Canaanite, Greek speaking, Syrophoenician woman found Jesus as soon as he entered her homeland. This woman has a pitiful case. We are not told how long she has been plagued, the Syrophoenician woman has a little daughter who was grievously vexed by a demon. She heard of the presence of Jesus in those parts, came and besought him to cast forth the demon out of her daughter. Jesus did not answer her. Then the disciples intervened and asked him to send her away, but he answered that he was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

The woman personally renews her petition and begs for help, but Jesus tells her that it is not right or the proper order to give the children’s bread to the dogs. She answered that she would be satisfied with the crumbs, and this brought forth from the Savior the highest commendation of her faith.

Many Jews considered all gentiles nothing more than dogs. They really felt as if they alone qualified to receive the blessings of God. Yet Jesus encounter this Syrophoenician woman seeking healing for her daughter, who was possessed by an unclean spirit. Initially, Jesus responds to her request with a metaphor about not taking the children's bread and giving it to the dogs. The woman, however, cleverly responds that even dogs eat the crumbs from the table. Impressed by her faith, Jesus grants her request, and she returns home to find her daughter healed. In the text, the word “dog” Jesus uses means puppy or house dog or pet. There are some lessons revealed in this woman act of faith: First, she did not allow her insecurities, personal problems or her inconvenient timing to stop her from coming to Jesus. Second, everything she had heard cause her to believe Jesus was the Son of David, the coming Messiah with unlimited power. Third, She chose to worship Jesus even though her request was delayed. Fourthly, She accepted God’s plan of making the Jews a priority, but she believed God could bless all His children. Finally, when all else failed, she threw herself on the mercy of God. Her great faith, great humility and persistent importunity won the day.