Jesus’ Miracle for the Canaanite Woman

Matthew chapter 15, I'll read verses 21 through 28. 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 suffering terribly from demon possession. 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 asked. He replied, It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs. Yes, Lord, she said, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table.

And Jesus answered, Woman, you have great faith. Your request is granted. And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Well, as Aaron was speaking, I realized that I'm without my three precious girls today.

My dear wife, Clara, who is still down in Kentucky. And just to give you a little update there, her father is going to see a specialist in Louisville Wednesday.

And we should find out something about how they're going to try to at least help his aneurysm. I think I'm not familiar with the procedures. And then my dear Tracy is with our Natalie, and she is home.

And I'm very grateful for all the prayers from all you dear saints. Continue to pray for Natalie and my father-in-law down in Kentucky.

Well, if you haven't, if you closed up your Bible, please open it again to Matthew 15. That is the text we're going to speak of today.

Matthew chapter 15. And we have before us in this passage that Pastor Aaron just read for us, a truly remarkable account of amazing grace, demonstrating itself by amazing faith.

The inspired writers of the scriptures have recorded only two occasions where the Lord Jesus Christ was amazed or astonished. Mark 6, where Jesus was amazed at the lack of faith of the people in his own hometown of Nazareth.

And then in Matthew 8, Jesus was astonished. He was amazed at the great faith displayed by the centurion. A Roman soldier.

A Gentile of all people. Well, here in Matthew 15, we have another great example of great faith. Amazing faith.

Coming from another very unexpected source. A Canaanite woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon. Born in Syria, Phenicia.

As Mark informs us in chapter 7 of his gospel. A native of a heathen nation. A Gentile living in a heathen place.

The region of Tyre and of Sidon. Now, if we learn nothing else this morning. Or this afternoon. Let us learn this. It is grace.

Not place. Which makes people believers. We may live in a God-fearing household. We may have godly parents. We may have a godly spouse. And yet, remain godless ourselves.

Remember Lot's wife. Then again, we may live in atheistic surroundings. Or in the midst of dark idolatry. Like the young girl in Naaman's household.

And yet, be a faithful witness. For the Lord God. The woman we'll be looking at this afternoon. Lived in an idolatrous pagan land. Indeed, she herself was, by the standards of that day.

A pagan. A Gentile. But here we see the grace of God. Beginning to be poured out upon the Gentiles. Though the fullness of time. Had not yet arrived.

When that wall of partition. That barrier. Between Jew and Gentile. Would be torn down. Though that time had not yet come. That time had not yet come for Christ to reveal himself.

To the whole world. Here in our text. We see a shadow. A glimpse. Of that mercy. Which would eventually extend. To people from every tribe.

And every language. And every people. And nation. Though this woman. Was a Gentile. By birth.

Excluded. From citizenship. In Israel. And a foreigner. To the covenants. Of the promise. She was no stranger. To the Christos. To the Messiah. The Christ.

Of the covenants. She came to him. In verse 22. Crying out. To him. She addresses him. As Lord. Son of David. Acknowledging him.

As the promised Messiah. Of the seed of David. David's son. As well as David's Lord. And more importantly. Her Lord. As well.

This Gentile woman. Knows. She is convinced. That Jesus Christ. Is Savior. And Lord. As Savior.

Having mercy. And compassion. Upon. Those who earnestly. Seek it. And as Lord. Having the power. To accomplish. That which. Earnest.

Seekers. Desire. She cried out. To him. In verse 22. She keeps. On crying. Out to his. His disciples. Verse 23.

She keeps. On crying. Out constantly. Or again. And again. As the tense. Of the verb. In the Greek. Implies. Continuous action. In the present tense. Have mercy.

On me. She cries. She doesn't. Plead merit. But she pleads. Mercy. She pleads. For her daughter. My daughter.

Is suffering. Terribly. From demon. Possession. But she says. Have mercy. On me. The Canaanite woman. Consideres. Her daughter's problem.

To be very much. Her own problem. Her need of mercy. Is very great. Her daughter. Is demon. Possessed. Parents.

Do you realize. That your children. Come into this world. Possessed. By an evil spirit. Of unbelief. Every one. Of our children. Who is not born again.

Of the spirit of God. Who is not possessed. By God. The Holy Spirit. Is of their father. The devil. And is possessed. By Satan.

And his evil spirit. Parents. Be much. Much. In prayer. For your children. And may this dear. Canaanite woman. Be an example.

For each one of us. To follow. An example. For us all. The Canaanite's daughter. Was possessed. By a demon. Under the power.

Of Satan. Greatly. Afflicted. By her daughter's condition. Desiring mercy. She comes. Crying out. She comes. Begging. As Mark says. In his account.

Pleading. With the Lord. Jesus. Have mercy. On me. But Jesus. Did not answer. A word. Verse 23.

He remained. Silent. So as disciples. Verse 23. Came. And urged him. Send her away. But Jesus.

Did not answer. A word. So as disciples. Again. His disciples. Came. And urged him. To send her away.

And as I was. Thinking on this. I wonder. How many times. In my Christian life. And you may. Apply this to yourself. How many times. In my Christian life. Have I doubted.

The reality. And the sincerity. Of one of the Lord. God's. Dear saints. And have in essence. Myself. Sent them away. For various reasons.

God have mercy on me. And change me. Well thank God. That the master. Is not like his servants. Peter. James. John. Dennis. Hoskins.

May say. Of the afflicted soul. Send her away. But such words. Never came. From the lips. Of our Lord. Jesus Christ. To those.

Who earnestly. Seek him. Our Lord. Rejects. The request. Of his disciples. He does not. Send her away. But he does not.

Reject. The woman's request. Though for a time. It seems. As if he has. Brothers and sisters. Jesus may sometimes. Keep us waiting.

As he did this woman. But he will never. Never. Send. Genuine. Heartfelt. Seekers away. Empty handed. Those who keep on.

Crying out. After him. He may not answer. For a time. He may speak to us. Through his word. And through his messengers.

That which. Appears to be. Very discouraging. For a time. But he who keeps. Coming to him. Genuinely. Seeking mercy. Will not.

Be driven away. The key. Is to. Keep coming. Regardless of duty. Or excuse me. Regardless of delay. Or discouragement.

Now here was a woman. Who obviously. Had some knowledge. Of the Old Testament. She knew of a coming. Lord and Messiah. Who was to be. The son of David. She seemed to be aware.

Of the fact. That salvation. Was of the Jews. Aware that the Lord. Had chosen Jacob. To be his own.

Israel. To be his treasured. Possession. Now this is all. The more reason. That the words. Of verse 24. Should have been. Very discouraging. To her.

It almost seems. As though. The Lord Jesus Christ. Is doing. What his disciples. Have said. Have asked him to do. And that's send her away. Jesus says.

That his mission. In coming. To the elect. Is. Excuse me. Jesus says. That his mission. In coming. To this earth. Is to gather. The elect. His sheep. Who at this point.

In time. With few exceptions. Were from the nation. Of Israel. The Jews. Hence. Jews. Jesus says. I was sent. Only. To the lost.

Sheep. Of Israel. Here are the words. Of Psalm 78. 70. And 71. God chose. David. His servant. And took him. From the sheep pens.

From tending. The sheep. He brought him. To be the shepherd. Of his people. Jacob. Of Israel. His inheritance. So now. The son of David. Has come.

And he too. Like David himself. Has been made a shepherd. Of his people. Israel. Fulfilling the words. Of the prophets. For example. The prophet. Ezekiel.

Said. This is what the sovereign. Lord says. I myself. Will search. For my sheep. And look after them. Now.

Is the time. The great shepherd. Word has come. To save a particular people. He has been sent. To the lost. Sheep. Of Israel. Back in chapter 10.

Right after the Lord. Jesus. Calls the 12 disciples. The word of God. Said. These 12. These 12. Jesus sent out. With the following directions.

Do not go among the Gentiles. Or any. Or enter any town. Of the Samaritans. Go rather. To the lost sheep. Of Israel.

These lost sheep. Were predominantly. They were for the most part. From within. The nation. Of Israel. Israelites. According to the flesh. The Jews. Jews.

There was a time coming. As Jesus said. In Matthew 21. Verse 43. There was a time coming. When he would take the kingdom. From them.

And give it. To a people. Who would produce. Its fruit. But as our Lord speaks. Here in our text. That time. Has not yet arrived.

The doctrine of God's. Sovereign. Unconditional. Election. Of particular people. Has been. And will continue. To be a stumbling block. To many people.

Even to those. Who accept it. As a truth. They see. That it is. Biblical truth. A very clear teaching. In the scriptures. They see that.

He will have mercy. On whom he will have mercy. He will harden. Whom he will have. Whom he wants to harden. According. As he has chosen us. In him. Before the foundation. Of the world.

Seeing these things. To be irrefutable. They begin to reason. To themselves. Saying something like. Well then. If I'm not one of the elect. And it sure doesn't appear. That I am.

Then there's no hope for me. So they go away. They go away sad. They will not come. That they may have life. But here in verse 25.

Getting back to our text. Is the response. Of a true. Seeker. Of mercy. The response. Of one. Who may or may not. Realize her election.

But she certainly. Realize. And she makes known. Her need. Instead of going away. She comes. She comes. And she kneels. Before the Lord Jesus.

Worship him. Worshiping him. And saying. Lord. Help me. Help me. She doesn't argue. With Jesus. She doesn't dispute. His clear.

Definite statement. Regarding election. In verse 24. Again. She may or may not. Be certain. Of her election. But she is certain. That she must be helped.

She is. In need of mercy. Her daughter. Is indeed. Lost. Possessed. By a demon. A roaring lion.

Who desires. To devour her. For all. Eternity. Surely. We would think. Jesus. Will now. Grant her request.

But instead. His reply. Is more discouraging. Than ever. Verse 26. He replied. It is not right. To take the children's bread.

And toss it. To their dogs. Jesus. Compares. The woman. To a dog. By children. Jesus. Means.

God's chosen people. The lost sheep. Of Israel. Verse 24. The adopted children. Of God. By dogs. He means. The heathen. Those people. Of the nations.

Who in the past. God let go. Their own way. And I might add. That the behavior. Of men and women. Who are left. To go. Their own way. Left.

To their own lust. Their behavior. Much resembles. The behavior. Of dogs. Dogs. Are those. Outside. The household.

Of God. In this case. Indicating. All those. Outside. The household. Of the nation. Israel. Listen to the words. Of Revelation. 22. Blessed. Are those. Who wash.

Their robes. That they may have. The right. To the tree. Of life. And may go. Through the gates. Into the city. Outside. Are the dogs. Those. Who practice. Magic arts.

The sexually. Immoral. The murderers. The idolaters. And everyone. Who loves. And practices. Falsehood. Now this is an example. Of the term dogs.

Referring to all those. Outside. Of the Israel of God. The children's bread. Of verse 26. Is all the blessings. Which were to be expected.

In Christ. To the family. Of Abraham. The lost sheep. Of Israel. Jesus says. It would not be proper. To give Israel's blessings. The blessings. That belong. To the children.

To those. Who are outside. The dogs. Brothers and sisters. Almost unbelievably. Jesus Christ. God come in the flesh. Compares this grieving.

Begging woman. To a dog. Why? Why? Why has Jesus delayed. So long. In giving.

This poor woman. The help she so desperately needed. Why has she spoke. Why has. The Lord spoken. Such discouraging words. Well I believe.

There are at least. Two reasons. And both of them. Have to do. With the fact. Or with the truth. That the Lord God waits. The Lord God waits. Not because. He's reluctant.

To give. But that we might be. Prepared to receive. Quoting William Hendrickson. Jesus delayed. In answering her request. In order to test her faith.

That is. To refine it. As silver is refined. And purified. He wanted to give her faith. An opportunity. For more glorious expression. He aimed to strengthen it.

By means. The very answer. He was given her. In verses 24 and 26. For she would now. Begin to realize. Far better. Than if he had immediately. Healed her daughter.

What an extraordinary. Blessing. She was receiving. Now not only. Are all the best commentators. In agreement with this. But more importantly. Scripture is. Isaiah says.

In Isaiah 48. 10. I have refined you. Though not as silver. I have tested you. In the furnace. Of affliction. Or Peter writes.

For a little while. You may have to suffer grief. In all kinds of trials. These have come. So that your faith. Which is greater. Has greater worth. Than gold. Which perishes.

Even though refined. By fire. May be proved. Genuine. And may result. In praise. Glory. And honor. When Jesus Christ. Is revealed. First Peter 1.

Six and seven. The Lord tests. To prove. The genuineness. Of faith. Faith. And I might add. That faith. That has not been tested.

Cannot be trusted. Or as the old. Puritan. Baptist. Thomas Wilcox said. Untried faith. Is uncertain faith. Secondly.

The second reason. Jesus has delayed. So long. And has spoken. Such serious words. Is. The Lord. Saves. And crowns. The humble.

The sacrifice. He desires. Is a broken. And a contrite heart. Those whom. He intends. To honor.

He first humbles. And brings low. He brings them. To an awareness. Of the wretched state. Before them. They are made aware. Of their unworthiness.

And their helplessness. You and I. You and me. Every one of us. Must. Must. Be made.

To see ourselves. As helpless. And hopeless. Apart from the mercies. Of Christ. We must be made. To see ourselves.

As dogs. Not worthy. Of the least. Of God's mercy. And truth. Indeed. His bread of life. We must.

Like the Canaanite woman. Be brought low. Brought to our knees. Before him. Brought to the point. Where we keep crying out. Lord. Have mercy on me.

Lord. Help me. What about you? Have you been brought.

To this point? To the point. Of crying out. After him. No matter what. What? Well. I'm afraid. That the reaction. Of many. And I don't mean many.

In this audience. But many people. Who profess. The name of Christ. I'm afraid. That their reaction. To the circumstances. Before us. In Matthew 15. Would be to say. Something like.

What kind of Jesus. What kind of comforter. Is this Jesus? Jesus. I come to him. With a great pressing knee. To cry out. After him. Plead with him.

And he answers. Not a word. I seek help. From his followers. And keep crying out. After him. And he says. He was only sent.

To the elect. I fall down. Before him. Kneel. And plead for him. To help me. And he calls me. A dog. A proud.

Unhumbled heart. Would not accept. Such treatment. But a humble. Believing heart. That loves Christ. Accepts. Whatever he says. Is right. And true.

And does not rail. Against it. Saying. Even as old Eli said. He is the Lord. Let him do what is good. In his eyes. We've got a contrasting.

Example right here. In the 15th chapter. Of Matthew. In verse 7. Jesus calls. The scribes. And Pharisees. The teachers. Of the law. Hypocrites. Notice what their reaction was.

In verse 12. Then the disciples. Came to him. And asked. Do you know. That the Pharisees. Were offended. When they heard this. They were offended.

In verse 26. Of our text. Jesus calls. The Canaanite woman. A dog. Notice her response. In verse 27. Yes Lord.

She said. But even the dogs. Eat the crumbs. That fall. From their master's table. The self-righteous. Are offended. The humble.

Reply. Yes Lord. Of a truth. You are right. In saying. I am but a dog. I don't deny that. I don't deny that. But even the dogs.

Eat the crumbs. That fall from their master's. Table. Maybe she was aware. Of the Gentile dogs. Of the past.

Who had graciously. Received. Crumbs. From their master's table. Naaman. The Syrian. Naomi. The Moabitess.

And the. The woman. Of Zarephath. Of this same. Sidon. To name a few. These were outsiders. Who were blessed. Of God.

And adopted. Into his eternal household. Well. She may or may not. Have known about him. We don't know that. In any case. She was clearly. Aware. And acknowledged.

Agreement. With Jesus's statement. Regarding herself. And the Jews. Yes Lord. Or it is true Lord. The Jews. Are your children. And I. Am but a dog.

A heathen. An outsider. I don't deserve. The children's bread. I'm not asking. For a full loaf of bread. But only a few crumbs. Of mercy. For myself.

And my daughter. Her humility. And her great. Sense of need. Made her glad. To receive crumbs. From the table.

Those who are aware. That they deserve nothing. Aware. That they are unworthy. Will be thankful. For the very least. Of favors.

Favors. Favors shown them. Even. The dogs. Eat the crumbs. That fall from their master's table. Did you notice.

The possessive adjective there. The dogs eat the crumbs. From. Their. Master's. Table. Yes. She was. But a dog. But she was.

His dog. She owned him. To be. Her master. She would rather be a dog. In the house of the Lord.

Than to. She would rather be a dog. In the house of the Lord. Her master. Than to dwell. In the tents. Of the wicked. She'd rather. She'd rather spend one day. With him. Than a thousand. Elsewhere.

Now at the beginning. I said that we had here. In this account. Of the Canaanite woman. An example. Of great faith. Now that wasn't my. Assessment.

That was the Lord God himself. The Lord. Deemed it so. Verse 28. Then Jesus answered. Woman. You. Have.

Great. Faith. Your request. Is granted. And her daughter. Was healed. From that very hour. It's her faith.

That the Lord Jesus. Commends. Though she certainly. Displayed. Several. Graces. In this encounter. With the Lord. Wisdom. Humility.

Meekness. Patience. Perseverance. But these are all. A result. Of her great faith. The foundational grace.

It is by grace. That we believe. Or we have faith. Acts 18. 27. For by grace. Are you saved. Through faith. And this. Not of yourself. Ephesians 2.

Amazingly. Then our Lord. Praises the recipient. Of his grace. He praises the very people. That receive his grace. His gift. Praising them. For exercising.

The very gift. That God himself. Had given them. It's surely true. As O. Augustine said. That God crowns his gifts. Not our merits.

Faith. Is. A gift of God. Yet God praises. And. Rewards. Are displaying it. As the Canaanite did. Amazing grace.

Amazing love. How can it be? Great is the Lord. And most worthy. Do we praise. His greatness. No one can fathom. His ways. Are not. Our ways.

He will do. What is right. In his eyes. Listen to words. Of. Matthew. Henry. I think this is really good. The greatness.

Of faith. Consists. Much. In a. Resolute. Steadfast. Adherence. To Jesus Christ. As an all sufficient. Savior. Even. In the face.

Of discouragements. To love him. And trust him. As a friend. Even when he seems. To come forth. As an enemy. This. Is great faith.

Well. Brothers and sisters. There's a whole lot. In this passage. To discourage. The Canaanite woman. She had every reason. Humanly speaking. To assume. That the Lord Jesus Christ.

Was her enemy. Let's quickly. Review this amazing account. She comes to Jesus. The friend of sinners. And she cries out. To him. Lord. Son of David.

Have mercy. On me. Jesus. Did not. Answer. A word. Now we can all. Relate to that. Can't we? We can all. Each one of us.

Can relate to that. She keeps on. Crying out. And seeks. The assistance. Of his disciples. They say. Send her away. And Jesus answers.

I was only sent. To the lost sheep. Of Israel. How discouraging. Is Jesus' reply. To some. To be reminded.

Of God's unconditional election. Is indeed. A stumbling block. To many. Pressing them down. To depression. And inactivity. Then finally.

Jesus calls. Calls her. A dog. Surely. He is her enemy. Well. There sure is much here. To discourage. However. Faith. Shines.

Brightest. In the midst. Of discouragement. And an adversity. It comes forth. As gold. And silver. From the refinery. And the result is.

Your request. Is granted. Let it be done. As you desire. The Canaanite woman's request. Was granted.

Because of her. Unswerving. God. Given. Perseverance. Persevering. Faith. In the Lord. Jesus Christ. Whom she confessed.

As her. Lord. And master. And Messiah. And she clung. To that confession. In spite of Jesus. Jesus's initial silence.

Toward her. His seeming. Never real. Coldness. Toward her. And even. His words. Of approach. Reproach. To her.

She clung. To him. In the midst. Of it all. With great. Persevering. Faith. Much like. Old Jacob. Who would not. Let the Lord. Go. Who wrestled.

With him. Until the Lord. Blessed him. Which is what. The Lord. Finally did. Let's not soon.

Forget. The Canaanite woman. She's a very. Excellent. Example. To us all. Mom and dad's. Especially. Need to remember her. We parents.

Can do many. Good things. For our children. But we cannot. Cast out. The evil. Demon. Of unbelief. The evil spirit.

That is at work. In them. As the Lord. Jesus said. In Mark. 9. 29. You know. Mark. With the. With the man. Who says. I believe. Lord help my unbelief. His son is. His son is.

And possessed. By a spirit. The Lord. Says. Speaking of the boy. With an evil spirit. This kind. Can come out. Only. By prayer. This kind.

Can come out. Only. By prayer. We can give our children. Instructions. In the way to go. We can give them. An example. To follow. But we cannot. We cannot. Give them. Give them. A will.

To choose. The way of Christ. We cannot. Give them. A mind. And a heart. That loves God. There is one thing. However. We must do.

We must. Pray. This kind. Can only. Come out. By prayer. Pray. Pray for all of our children.

Pray for sons. Who like the prodigal. Are living wildly. In the world. Pray for daughters. Who have set their. Affections. On things below. And love pleasure.

More than God. Pray for sons. And daughters. Who attend church. Regularly. And appear. Clean. Clean. On the outside. Pray that they'll be. Clean. Clean.

Clean. Clean. On the inside. As well. Pray that their hearts. Will be cleansed. And keep. On. Praying. For them. Even when it appears.

As though the evil spirit. Of unbelief. Has been cast out. You cannot. See their hearts. Keep. On. Praying. For them. Satan. Desires.

To sift them. As wheat. Pray. That their faith. Will not fail. Keep praying. Pray again. And again. Be beggars. For their souls.

Our children. May obstinately. Close their ears. To our instruction. We've all dealt with it. They may not listen. When we speak to them. Of the things of God. They may try.

Through their actions. And their words. To discourage us. From speaking to them. Though they may do. Many things. To prevent us. From speaking to them.

About God. They cannot. Prevent. Us. From speaking to God. About them. Brothers and sisters. Our children.

Can be a great. Source. Of grief to us. Bringing much. Tribulation. Into our lives. But just. Perhaps. Just. Maybe.

Our souls. Would not. Be so empty. Of comfort. Regarding our children. If our mouths. Were not so empty.

Of prayer. For our children. Let's try it. And see. Let's you and I. Follow the example. Of the Canaanite. Also. And plead. For our children.

Let's you and I. Go often. To our Lord. Begging. For mercy. Let it not. Be said. Of any parent. Here this afternoon. That you have not.

Because you ask not. Fathers and mothers. Diligently. Faithfully. Pray. For the souls. Of your children. No matter. How hopeless.

The situation looks. Cry out. To the Lord. And keep crying out. Remember. This Canaanite woman. Pray for your children.

From infancy. Plead. For their eternal souls. And don't. Give. Up. Don't. Stop.

Praying. Until they. Stop. Breathing. Let's pray. Father. Work in the hearts. Of each of us. Parents.

Here this afternoon. Give us all. A portion. Of the Canaanites. Great. Faith. And perseverance. Cause us.

To cry out. To you. And to keep. Crying out. To you. For our children's. Souls. Keep us. From discouragement. As well. Make us.

Persistent. Beggars. At your throne. Of grace. Let us. Never take. Our children's. Eternal. Destiny. For granted. And never let them.

Do so either. Father. Thank you. For this. Wonderful. Wonderful. Example. You've given us. Please. Help us.

To follow it. We ask it. In Jesus. Precious. And. Blessed name. Amen. Please. Please.