“Faith in the Messiah”
(Matthew 15:21-28)
Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]
Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD
First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida
November 17, 2019
The Passage
Matthew 15:21-28
21 When Jesus left there, he withdrew to the area of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came and kept crying out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely tormented by a demon.”
23 Jesus did not say a word to her. His disciples approached him and urged him, “Send her away because she’s crying out after us.”
24 He replied, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
25 But she came, knelt before him, and said, “Lord, help me!”
26 He answered, “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.” And from that moment her daughter was healed.
Introductory Comments:
Can you ever remember witnessing your parents getting something special and then they tell you not to touch it or ask for it because it’s not for you? Perhaps they baked a big chocolate cake and you were let down because they baked it for the neighbor. Or, perhaps you see a new bicycle out in the garage and you find out that it’s for your brother instead of for you. Sometimes there’s something great available for someone, but sometimes that someone is not you.
Well, today we’re going to hear about a woman who was actually told by Jesus that something was not for her. We’re going to see how she responded to Jesus and how Jesus eventually responded to her.
Before we get into our passage let’s pray together and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us.
(prayer)
We’re continuing our series in the Gospel of Matthew and we’ve learned that Jesus is doing a lot of things that are out of the ordinary. He’s offending and surprising people, many times even His own disciples.
In today’s passage we learn that He and His disciples left the region of Galilee and went up to the region of Tyre and Sidon. It was slightly northwest of the Sea of Galilee and the city of Capernaum where most of Jesus’ ministry takes place. I have a map to show you. [show map slide] This is near modern-day Syria and Lebanon.
It’s important to understand the significance of this location because this is the region that was home to the ancient enemies of Israel, the Canaanites. The Canaanites were the ones that Israel had battled thousands of years ago, going all the way back to Joshua and the Israelites’ entrance into the Promised Land. Understanding this is crucial to understanding this passage.
As we understand this passage, we will seek to grasp four behaviors or actions: two from this Canaanite woman and two from Jesus. They all start with the letter “r,” so you can try and guess what they are ahead of time if you want.
First, . . .
I. The woman’s recognition (vv. 21-22) [on screen]
This Canaanite woman recognized who Jesus was. Let’s look at the passage. Look at verses 21 and 22.
21 When Jesus left there, he withdrew to the area of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came and kept crying out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely tormented by a demon.”
This woman is of Canaanite decent and she is from the region of Tyre and Sidon. This place was mostly a Gentile, or non-Jewish, region.
Jesus was Jewish and those who believed Jesus to be the Messiah believed Him to be the Messiah for the Jewish people. Not everyone believed that Jesus was the Anointed One, but for those who did, they believed He was the Anointed One for the Jewish people only.
This woman had no business hanging out with Jewish people, be they the Messiah or not. She was Canaanite. The Canaanites and the Israelites didn’t go to Cracker Barrel together, they didn’t share a taxi, they didn’t marry one another, they didn’t play on the same softball team, they wanted nothing to do with each other. They were ancient enemies.
Yet, this lady cries out and keeps crying out after Jesus, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David!”
She not only recognized that Jesus could help her, but she cried out after Him using this very Jewish name to describe the Messiah, the “Son of David.”
She recognized that Jesus is special, she recognized that He can help her daughter, and she recognized that He was the promised ancestor of King David of Israel.
Let me ask you something, church: do you recognize Jesus the Messiah? Do you know who He is? Have you learned of Him in the Scriptures? Have you seen His fulfillment of prophecy? Do you know He can heal you? Do you know He can save you from your sin? Do you recognize Him as the Son of David and the Son of God? Do you know Jesus?
This Canaanite woman recognized Jesus.
Second, we see . . .
II. Jesus’ reluctance (vv. 23-24) [on screen]
This is a very strange yet powerful moment in the progression of this story.
You see, even at the time of Jesus, the term “Canaanite” was not used much to refer to people from that region. Many people would have described this woman as a “Phoenician.” However, Matthew wanted his Jewish readers to understand the significance of this interaction between this woman and Jesus.
Let’s see what happens next in the interaction. Look at verses 23 and 24.
23 Jesus did not say a word to her. His disciples approached him and urged him, “Send her away because she’s crying out after us.”
24 He replied, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
This woman continued to cry out after Jesus to the point that the disciples felt like something needed to be done.
They asked Jesus to send her away. We’re not sure if they wanted Him to grant her request and then send her away, or simply to send her away, but nevertheless, they ask Him to send her away.
Jesus’ reply would have been very understandable for the Jewish people who were present, yet, it’s also perplexing for those of us who have seen the compassion of Jesus in other places.
You see, it seems that Jesus may have been up to something here. It seems like perhaps He was teaching the disciples, the woman, and all of us that His power is much greater than we can imagine, and His redemptive reach is far greater than we can conceive.
Jesus says that He cannot help the woman because He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel, meaning, He was sent as the Messiah for the Jewish people.
This was the understanding and expectation for all of the Jewish people regarding their Messiah. Yet, Jesus had already done some work among Gentile people including healing the centurion’s servant in Matthew 8.
So, what’s going on? Why is Jesus reluctant to heal this woman’s daughter?
Well, let’s keep going.
Look now at . . .
III. The woman’s resilience (vv. 25-27) [on screen]
This woman would not take no for an answer. She was resilient!
Look at verse 25.
25 But she came, knelt before him, and said, “Lord, help me!”
This was her daughter we’re talking about! She’s not giving up! She wants Jesus to bring healing and rescue for her daughter!
Listen how Jesus responds. Look at verse 26.
26 He answered, “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
What? Some of you are thinking, “Did Jesus just call her a dog?” Well, yes, He did. However, there’s a context here that’s important for us to understand.
You see, Jesus was sent as the Jewish Messiah for the Jewish people. Everyone knew that. Even the woman knew this. Remember, she referred to Jesus as the Son of David, a very Jewish description of the Messiah.
Jesus is not calling her a dog in the sense that He’s trying to tear her down, but to make the point that the precious gift He has brought is for the children of Israel not for others. This was the common thought in that day and Jesus is pressing into that thought.
However, everyone is about to learn an important lesson about the measure of God’s grace and the effect of Jesus’ power.
Look at what the woman says in verse 27.
27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
What great faith and determination from this Canaanite woman! She does not give up believing that Jesus can help her! She does not lose hope and trust in Jesus!
She knew she didn’t deserve God’s grace. She knew she didn’t deserve the blessings of the Messiah. She was not even Jewish! But, she also knew that the power of Jesus was so great that even the leftover crumbs were miraculous enough to set her daughter free from spiritual bondage!
Oh, that we might have faith that God can work miracles in our lives, even though we don’t deserve it!
We must believe that we are undeserving and we must believe that Jesus can do anything!
We must be resilient in our pursuit of Jesus and His healing grace!
Let’s see how Jesus responded. Our last section is . . .
IV. Jesus’ redemption (v. 28) [on screen]
Look at verse 28.
28 Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.” And from that moment her daughter was healed.
Jesus did not condemn the woman because she wasn’t Jewish, He didn’t talk any longer about children and dogs, Jesus said, “Your faith is great! Let is be done for you as you want.”
From that moment on the woman’s daughter was healed! Jesus redeemed that little girl back from the power of darkness! She was no longer tormented by those demons!
Notice the connection between the woman’s request and Jesus’ redemption: it was faith. Because the woman had great faith she experienced the power of Jesus.
In this miracle it is revealed that the miraculous redeeming power of the Son of David is available for all the sons of men. Jesus’ redemption is not just for the children of Israel, but for everyone.
Jesus gave us hints and glimpses of the wide-reaching power of His redemption in the Gospels, not just among the Jewish people, but all people. We see this truth displayed widely and brilliantly in the book of Acts and the New Testament letters of the apostles.
The redemption of Jesus is widely available for all and it’s obtained through faith.
Concluding Thoughts:
In the previous passage Jesus had just finished condemning the false religion of the Pharisees and religious leaders. Now, He commends this Gentile Canaanite woman’s faith. The difference is that this woman trusted in Jesus. Here’s what it all boils down to: if you want to be made right with God, you must come through faith in Jesus.
That takes us to our bottom line for today’s sermon:
Bottom Line: Faith in Jesus leads to redemption through Jesus. [on screen]
(repeat)
Many of the Jewish people would miss out on the grace of God because they would reject Jesus. Similarly, many Gentiles throughout the following centuries follow would come to God through faith in Jesus the Messiah.
Let us be moved by God’s Word. Challenge yourself this week in the following ways:
Weekly Challenge: [on screen]
- Demonstrate resilient faith this week. [on screen]
The woman was desperate and persistent. Are you desperately and persistently seeking Jesus?
Do you believe in Jesus to the degree that you will doggedly pursue Jesus and His ways?
- Experience redemption this week. [on screen]
Have you experienced the redemption of Jesus?
There may be something from which you need redemption this week. Be redeemed through Jesus!
You might say . . .
. . . I’m addicted . . . be redeemed!
. . . I need healing . . . be redeemed!
. . . I’m hurt from abuse . . . be redeemed!
. . . I just don’t like people who aren’t like me . . . be redeemed!
. . . I don’t desire to spend time in God’s Word . . . be redeemed!
. . . I don’t want to pray . . . be redeemed!
. . . I’m fearful of rejection because of my faith . . . be redeemed!
. . . I don’t care enough to share the Gospel with others . . . be redeemed!
. . . I don’t love other people . . . be redeemed!
. . . I don’t live generously . . . be redeemed!
. . . I can’t control my temper . . . be redeemed!
. . . I don’t think I’m worth anything . . . be redeemed!
. . . I don’t feel like serving the church . . . be redeemed!
. . . I don’t know how to be patient with others . . . be redeemed!
. . . I don’t love my neighbors . . . be redeemed!
. . . I’m not a good mother or father . . . be redeemed!
. . . I have no joy . . . be redeemed!
. . . I live in fear . . . be redeemed!
. . . I want more stuff rather than more God . . . be redeemed!
Look to Jesus, church! Be redeemed! There is nothing outside the reach and power of the miraculous redemption of Jesus the Messiah!
Put this passage to work in your life this week.
Closing:
Jesus changes everything. Look to Him!
The truth of the matter is when it comes to our standing before God, because of our ugly sin, we are much worse than dogs. However, God in His grace, through Jesus, can make us His children.
Have you become a child of God? Are you living as a child of God?
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
Invitation Song – Just As I Am
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