Great Faith
Matthew 15:21-28 (ESV)
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman
And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Study Guide Questions:
Observations
What was the woman’s specific request, and how did she address Jesus when she first cried out to him?
How did Jesus initially respond to the woman’s plea, and what was the reaction of his disciples?
What two reasons did Jesus give for seemingly rejecting her request before he ultimately commended her faith?
What was the woman’s final response to being called a “dog,” and what did she say about the “crumbs” from the master’s table?
Interpretation
Jesus’s silence and his statement about being sent only to Israel could be perceived as harsh. What might have been his purpose in responding this way instead of immediately granting her request?
The woman accepted the metaphor of being a dog. What does her humble agreement, followed by her statement about the crumbs, reveal about her understanding of God’s mercy and her own standing before him?
Jesus declared that the woman had "great faith." Based on her words and actions in this encounter, what are the specific components that made her faith "great" in his eyes?
Life Applications
What is a situation in your life right now that feels desperate or hopeless? How can this situation be an opportunity to move from trying to control the outcome to expressing dependent trust in God’s sovereignty?
Silence from God does not equal refusal. Sometimes it is intended to invite a deeper pursuit from God. When have you experienced God’s silence in response to a repeated prayer? How did you respond, and what did that season reveal about whether you were seeking the Provider or just his provision?
Is there a prayer you have stopped bringing to God because the answer has been delayed?