Introduction

Welcome, dear friends and family in Christ, to another blessed Sunday. It is wonderful to see each of you here, in this sacred space, joining together as we continue to grow in our understanding and love of God's Word. Today, we are going to turn our hearts and minds towards a particularly poignant passage of Scripture, a passage that reveals the beauty of God's holiness, the power of humility, and the transformative nature of faith.

Our passage today comes from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 15, verses 21 through 28. Let us read together:

"Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.' Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, 'Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.' He answered, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.' The woman came and knelt before him. 'Lord, help me!' she said. He replied, 'It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.' 'Yes it is, Lord,' she said. 'Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.' Then Jesus said to her, 'Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.' And her daughter was healed at that moment."

Harshness in His Holiness

In the Gospel of Matthew, we encounter a Jesus who seems, at first glance, to be uncharacteristically harsh. He is approached by a desperate Canaanite woman, pleading for mercy for her demon-possessed daughter. Yet, Jesus initially ignores her pleas. He even goes so far as to compare her to a dog, an animal considered unclean in Jewish culture. This is a side of Jesus that may be difficult for us to reconcile with our understanding of Him as a loving, compassionate Savior.

Holiness: It's crucial to remember that Jesus is not only the embodiment of love and compassion, but also of holiness. His holiness is absolute, perfect, and uncompromising. It's a holiness that sets Him apart from all creation, a holiness that cannot tolerate sin or impurity. This is the same holiness that drove Him to cleanse the temple, that compelled Him to rebuke the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, and that led Him to the cross to atone for our sins.

Here we see this holiness at play: He initially ignores her not out of cruelty or indifference, but because of His mission to the lost sheep of Israel. As a Canaanite, she was considered an outsider, a non-Israelite. Yet, her persistent faith and humility eventually moved Jesus to grant her request. This shows us that while His holiness is uncompromising, it is not unapproachable.

The cultural context: The Canaanites were often seen as enemies of the Israelites in the Old Testament. They were a different race, practiced a different religion, and lived in a different land. The Israelites were warned not to intermingle with them, for fear of being led astray from their faith in God. So, when Jesus, a Jewish rabbi, is approached by a Canaanite woman, it would have been shocking to His disciples and to those observing.

The nature of Jesus's mission: Jesus was sent first and foremost to the lost sheep of Israel. His primary mission was to the Jewish people, to call them back to God, to fulfill the prophecies, and to establish the new covenant. This is why He initially tells the Canaanite woman that He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. It wasn't a dismissal of her or her needs, but a reaffirmation of His mission.

The woman's persistence: Despite being ignored and then seemingly rebuked, she doesn't give up. She continues to plead with Jesus, showing her faith in Him and her desperation for her daughter's healing. This persistence is a testament to her faith and it's this faith that Jesus ultimately commends.

Jesus's response: After the woman's display of faith and humility, Jesus grants her request and heals her daughter. This shows us that while Jesus's holiness is perfect and uncompromising, it's not unapproachable or unyielding. It's a holiness that invites us to come with faith and humility, a holiness that responds to our needs and our cries for mercy.

Hope in Her Humility

As we continue to examine this passage, we find ourselves drawn to the Canaanite woman's humility ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO