seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Matthew 15:21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 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.”
23 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.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Two issues stick out in these verses. The first is the whining of the disciples. The second is the race of the woman.First of all, the disciples were whining about her. She was insisting on seeing Jesus. She would not take "no" for an answer. The disciples tried to keep some away from Jesus. Remember.... they were herding the children away from Him when He said, "Let the children come to me". She was on the verge of driving the disciples to lose their Christian attitude.
The woman is a Canaanite. The Canaanites were supposed to be gone. Most of them were gone. The Israelites had to kill them to take over the "land of milk and honey" which became Israel. She was the result of plunder. Women and children were taken as slaves. The Canaanites were supposed to be wiped out.... but King Saul wanted plunder. That's how David became the replacement king. Saul didn't listen to orders from God.... so, God replaced him with David. David's army had no problem killing all the non-Israelites. This woman from Canaan was plunder...... and Jesus knew that.
Jesus was sent to save the Israelites only.... but He healed this woman's daughter.... because of the faith this woman portrayed. She knew Jesus's healing talents were not only good for the Israelites. She knew He was capable of saving her daughter.... and she knew she could get Him to do it.... if she was persistent.
The blessings in verses 26 & 27 seem to be limited. Like Jesus was only capable of healing the Israelites and saving this woman's daughter would take something away from the Israelites. Like if He healed her daughter, He couldn't turn right around and heal an Israelite. His healing couldn't be used up. Jesus is the Son of God, and He has unlimited power. This Canaanite knew that.... and even some of our modern-day priests and preachers still think racism is ok.
Jesus healed the Canaanite woman's daughter because the Canaanite woman Believed.
Race didn't stop Jesus.
