WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.679 Our scripture reading this morning is from Matthew chapter 15, verses 21 through 28. 00:00:09.640 --> 00:00:10.740 ! Matthew writes, 00:00:10.740 --> 00:00:15.800 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 00:00:16.699 --> 00:00:21.019 ! And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, 00:00:21.740 --> 00:00:24.420 Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David. 00:00:25.060 --> 00:00:27.580 My daughter is severely oppressed by a demon. 00:00:27.579 --> 00:00:31.379 But he did not answer her a word. 00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:35.379 And his disciples came and begged him, saying, 00:00:35.539 --> 00:00:38.200 Send her away, for she is crying out after us. 00:00:38.879 --> 00:00:42.640 And he answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:47.359 But she came and knelt before him, saying, Lord, help me. 00:00:48.519 --> 00:00:52.399 And he answered, It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. 00:00:52.399 --> 00:00:59.299 She said, Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table. 00:00:59.299 --> 00:01:05.079 Then Jesus answered her, O woman, great is your faith. 00:01:06.039 --> 00:01:09.659 Be it done for you as you desire. 00:01:10.099 --> 00:01:12.939 And her daughter was healed instantly. 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:15.459 This is the reading of God's word. 00:01:15.459 --> 00:01:21.819 We are starting a new series for the next several weeks on encounters with Jesus. 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:25.000 And this morning we're looking at an encounter with Jesus. 00:01:25.139 --> 00:01:28.439 It's always been one of my favorite stories in the Gospels. 00:01:28.699 --> 00:01:35.639 In this encounter, the woman shows such great humility that I've always been just kind of blown away by it. 00:01:35.640 --> 00:01:41.900 But as I studied in this passage, there's so much more here than just humility, 00:01:41.900 --> 00:01:47.599 but even a way that helps us to see how we should pray. 00:01:49.640 --> 00:01:53.420 I didn't set out to preach another sermon on prayer. 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:57.680 If you've been here when I've preached a few times, it feels like I'm preaching a lot of sermons on prayer. 00:01:58.019 --> 00:01:59.180 That was not my intention. 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:03.000 But I do believe the Lord is preparing St. Seas for a season of prayer. 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:05.420 As we talk with Corey in the session. 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:11.159 So maybe the Lord has a word for us today about growing in our prayer lives. 00:02:11.340 --> 00:02:17.759 Especially as we're talking about this woman of great faith that Jesus talks about. 00:02:17.939 --> 00:02:22.080 So, yeah, I called the sermon title An Unlikely Woman of Faith. 00:02:22.180 --> 00:02:27.900 But that was a lot shorter than An Unlikely Woman of Faith who is great in prayer and has a lot to teach us. 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:30.420 That was too long, so I shortened it there. 00:02:30.419 --> 00:02:37.780 But as we look at the context of this passage, we see in verse 21, it says, 00:02:38.099 --> 00:02:42.919 Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 00:02:43.239 --> 00:02:49.679 So this is an area north of where Jesus had been in Capernaum. 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:53.979 It's about a four to six day journey, roughly 30 to 50 miles. 00:02:53.979 --> 00:02:58.519 And it's in the modern day Lebanon, if you're wondering. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:05.479 It's also in the land of Phoenicia, which if you know anything about the Phoenicians, they had great cultural impact. 00:03:05.699 --> 00:03:08.159 They're the ones that gave us the first alphabet. 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:17.299 They were seafaring people with lots of trade, luxury goods like the cedars of Lebanon and a lot of other great things. 00:03:17.300 --> 00:03:22.920 So this was a very big cultural impact for this place. 00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:28.300 And Jesus and his disciples actually go up there to get away from the crowds. 00:03:28.700 --> 00:03:31.340 He's going up there to be alone with his disciples. 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:40.300 And Mark actually says in the parallel passage in Mark chapter 7 that he didn't want anyone to know that he was there. 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:44.260 He was actually in some ways trying to hide. 00:03:44.340 --> 00:03:46.060 It says he couldn't stay hidden. 00:03:46.060 --> 00:03:53.520 So Jesus and his disciples are withdrawing maybe to get a little rest and respite from all the crowds that had been following them, 00:03:53.640 --> 00:03:55.620 all the people wanting Jesus's attention. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:58.240 And they go up to this land. 00:03:58.840 --> 00:04:04.800 And sure enough, there is yet another disruption as he's trying to withdraw. 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:08.500 And the disciples are a little frustrated as we're about to see. 00:04:09.159 --> 00:04:10.900 But in verse 22, it says, 00:04:11.020 --> 00:04:15.960 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started crying to him. 00:04:16.060 --> 00:04:20.860 Now, Mark calls this lady a Gentile from Syrophoenicia. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:26.620 Matthew, though, is actually writing to a Jewish audience. 00:04:27.019 --> 00:04:30.519 And so he spells out she's a Canaanite woman. 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:39.500 This would have been a significant fact to a Jewish audience because the Canaanites were the ancient enemies of Israel, 00:04:39.620 --> 00:04:44.060 the ones that the Lord told them to drive out of the inhabited land of Canaan. 00:04:44.579 --> 00:04:48.299 And they were enemies from then on out. 00:04:48.300 --> 00:04:57.379 So the unlikely part, this is a woman who would be seen as traditionally an enemy of the Jews. 00:04:57.379 --> 00:05:02.240 Not only is she a Canaanite, and that makes her unlikely, 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:09.459 but just the fact that she's a woman makes it unlikely that someone like Jesus would have interactions with her. 00:05:09.719 --> 00:05:13.180 Now, when I say someone like Jesus, you've got to remember that at this point, 00:05:13.259 --> 00:05:14.819 when Jesus is in his ministry, 00:05:15.319 --> 00:05:18.579 there are some, like the Jewish religious leaders, 00:05:18.579 --> 00:05:21.120 they see Jesus as a troublemaker. 00:05:21.819 --> 00:05:27.180 You've got others that are just interested in all the miracles that he's doing and want the benefits of him. 00:05:27.259 --> 00:05:33.419 But you also have some people who think he is the Messiah that is going to come in power and might 00:05:33.419 --> 00:05:35.599 and overthrow the Roman government. 00:05:36.139 --> 00:05:38.019 And therefore, they want to make him king. 00:05:38.479 --> 00:05:40.699 All those things are happening so that, 00:05:40.979 --> 00:05:46.279 at the very least, you can say Jesus is a very important Jewish rabbi in their eyes. 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:55.159 And so it's really unlikely that Jesus would be having this conversation or interaction with a Canaanite woman. 00:05:55.599 --> 00:05:59.079 One way to think about it, as I think about unlikely interactions, 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:02.039 you know, a lot of times we think about Mother Teresa 00:06:02.039 --> 00:06:05.939 and the way that she gave her life to the poorest of the poor in India. 00:06:06.379 --> 00:06:08.079 And that is obviously very great. 00:06:08.159 --> 00:06:13.039 But in some ways, we kind of expect that from her being who she was. 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:17.840 But what this would be more like would be more like Queen Margaret from the 11th century, 00:06:17.840 --> 00:06:24.620 who as a queen was having interactions like physical and personal interactions with the poor. 00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:26.360 That would have been unheard of. 00:06:26.420 --> 00:06:28.200 We, to this day, still talk about that. 00:06:28.260 --> 00:06:30.220 If you go to the castle, you might hear about that. 00:06:31.879 --> 00:06:32.820 Very unlikely. 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:35.379 That's more like what this would have been like for Jesus. 00:06:35.700 --> 00:06:37.220 Some are wanting to make him a king. 00:06:37.420 --> 00:06:40.040 Others see him as the miracle worker. 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:42.920 But it would have been a very unlikely interaction. 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:45.800 One of the last people you think that Jesus would encounter. 00:06:46.700 --> 00:06:51.840 Now, we see that she comes out to him and it says that she was crying. 00:06:53.640 --> 00:06:56.780 This passage, one of the emphasis that it has, 00:06:57.200 --> 00:07:02.900 is that there is like this relentless, continual crying out that she's having. 00:07:02.960 --> 00:07:04.040 In a loud voice. 00:07:04.640 --> 00:07:06.120 And she won't stop. 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:08.420 She is being persistent. 00:07:08.420 --> 00:07:13.060 And one of the things that she says, she starts out, she's crying out, 00:07:13.280 --> 00:07:17.280 Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David. 00:07:18.020 --> 00:07:24.560 Now, her address to Jesus here as Lord, it really could just be kind of a term of respect. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:25.860 That's possible. 00:07:26.400 --> 00:07:29.740 But she says, O Lord, Son of David. 00:07:31.100 --> 00:07:37.160 This Canaanite woman is recognizing that Jesus is the Messiah. 00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:41.480 This is a title that would have been given to the Messiah. 00:07:41.700 --> 00:07:43.540 She understands who he is. 00:07:43.960 --> 00:07:48.360 And so, we would say she comes to him really with theological accuracy. 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:51.880 Recognizing exactly who he is. 00:07:52.600 --> 00:07:57.020 And maybe she thinks that by crying out to him and recognizing, 00:07:57.260 --> 00:08:00.260 I know who you are with theological accuracy. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:02.720 Maybe she will be heard. 00:08:02.860 --> 00:08:04.340 Maybe he will help her. 00:08:04.339 --> 00:08:08.579 We kind of do this, don't we, when it comes to prayer. 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:14.599 Like, we might not say it, but we instinctively think that if we use the right words, 00:08:14.679 --> 00:08:15.859 then maybe God will hear us. 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:20.779 And if he's not answering our prayers, maybe we just need to ask in a different way. 00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:24.219 Maybe I wasn't precise enough in my theology. 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:26.639 And I think this is a good lesson for us. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:30.099 She comes to him with precise theology. 00:08:31.479 --> 00:08:32.500 She's heard of him. 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:38.259 Mark chapter 3 and Luke chapter 6. 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:38.740 There it is. 00:08:39.460 --> 00:08:45.720 In those two passages, it lets us know that there were people from Tyree who had come to listen to Jesus. 00:08:45.860 --> 00:08:48.100 To maybe even be healed by Jesus. 00:08:48.419 --> 00:08:50.679 So, he has a reputation even there. 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:54.759 So, she knows who he is and what he can do. 00:08:55.719 --> 00:08:58.859 She has hope that he will do that for her. 00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:00.739 And so, she seeks him out. 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:06.039 And just remember, it's like he's trying not to be found, right? 00:09:06.959 --> 00:09:09.419 The disciples, at least, feel this way. 00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:14.599 Because, as you see, they try to get her to stop. 00:09:14.740 --> 00:09:16.839 They're like, Lord, please tell her to stop. 00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:18.700 It says, they begged him. 00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:27.340 My wife has informed me that I have what some might call selective listening. 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:33.620 This is like we'd be driving in the van and one of the kids is just asking a question. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:35.420 And they keep asking the question. 00:09:35.899 --> 00:09:37.180 And they keep asking the question. 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:41.180 And I was obviously focusing on driving, keeping my family safe or whatever. 00:09:41.700 --> 00:09:44.540 I was probably thinking about who's going to win Wimbledon today or something like that. 00:09:44.539 --> 00:09:48.679 But she's like, will you please answer him? 00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:50.939 And it kind of gets my attention. 00:09:51.439 --> 00:09:52.879 And that's what we see here. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:56.319 Except, Jesus isn't practicing selective listening. 00:09:57.019 --> 00:09:59.480 He's very intentional and thoughtful in everything. 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:03.459 But the disciples are saying, will you please make her stop? 00:10:04.039 --> 00:10:04.939 I was thinking about this. 00:10:04.959 --> 00:10:06.779 It's almost like if you have a teenager. 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:08.899 And you're like trying to get their attention. 00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:10.279 Hey, Henry, hey. 00:10:10.579 --> 00:10:13.539 And they're like, oh, please don't call me out in public, right? 00:10:13.539 --> 00:10:18.699 It's like they're embarrassed that she is crying out to him. 00:10:18.980 --> 00:10:20.059 They're like, annoyed? 00:10:20.539 --> 00:10:22.779 Please get her to stop. 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:26.379 But that was how much her persistence was. 00:10:27.299 --> 00:10:29.079 But look what it says in verse 23. 00:10:30.339 --> 00:10:33.299 But he did not answer her a word. 00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:40.000 That's odd, isn't it? 00:10:41.459 --> 00:10:42.019 Silence. 00:10:42.019 --> 00:10:43.840 Not a word. 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:55.480 Jesus, who doesn't practice selective listening, who is very intentional and thoughtful in everything that he does. 00:10:55.980 --> 00:11:00.019 When he is silent, we need to be asking the question, okay, what is he up to? 00:11:01.460 --> 00:11:02.600 What's going on here? 00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:05.740 What do you do when the Lord is silent? 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:08.620 This is a fundamental question about prayer. 00:11:09.180 --> 00:11:10.180 We've all felt it. 00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:14.600 Maybe there's a broken relationship or a problem at work. 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:18.240 Maybe there's a sickness or a disease in the family. 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:21.639 Maybe there are financial problems, job situation. 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:26.100 And the Lord doesn't seem to be answering our prayer. 00:11:26.100 --> 00:11:28.560 Why are you not listening, Lord? 00:11:28.560 --> 00:11:30.779 Are you even there? 00:11:31.860 --> 00:11:35.379 Our thoughts that we have in our heads and our hearts even. 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:42.740 But when it seems that the Lord is silent, our first response should be, what is God up to? 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:44.980 What is he wanting me to learn? 00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:47.200 What am I not yet getting? 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:52.620 Maybe we expect to be heard because of our theological accuracy. 00:11:55.580 --> 00:11:59.440 Paul Miller, in his great book, A Praying Life, highly recommend this book. 00:11:59.800 --> 00:12:06.200 He addresses this passage in his book and is addressing the Lord's silence. 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:08.060 And he says this, he says, 00:12:08.420 --> 00:12:11.460 During the silence is when relationship is formed. 00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:16.800 If the Lord answered right away, we'd never grow because we'd stop pursuing. 00:12:17.780 --> 00:12:23.259 If he always answered right away, we would treat Jesus like a magic prayer machine. 00:12:24.660 --> 00:12:26.320 And that has been my experience. 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:30.720 That if the Lord answers right away, I soon forget. 00:12:31.540 --> 00:12:33.460 I soon forget that he even answered. 00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:38.000 There might be a quick moment of praise or maybe it lasts for a little season. 00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:42.080 But then I'm right back again to going my own way. 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:43.360 Thinking my own things. 00:12:43.540 --> 00:12:45.200 Trying to do things in my own way. 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:52.060 But if it seems that the Lord is silent, it just means that you have to keep going. 00:12:52.300 --> 00:12:54.000 The story is not over yet. 00:12:54.680 --> 00:12:56.160 The Lord is up to something. 00:12:57.340 --> 00:13:01.080 So let's keep reading this story and see what the Lord is up to. 00:13:02.400 --> 00:13:03.320 Verse 24. 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:06.080 So the disciples are wanting him to send her away. 00:13:06.280 --> 00:13:07.580 She's crying out after us. 00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:08.680 They're frustrated. 00:13:09.180 --> 00:13:11.000 They were probably expecting a respite. 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:15.420 You know, we've been there before where we're expecting to get a holiday or a rest. 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:18.540 And someone or something won't leave us alone. 00:13:18.540 --> 00:13:20.300 And we get frustrated like the disciples. 00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:23.000 But Jesus is very thoughtful and intentional. 00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:24.160 And he says in verse 24. 00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:25.860 He answered, 00:13:26.220 --> 00:13:29.460 I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:32.360 Well, that seems odd too. 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:33.659 First he's silent. 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:41.120 And then when he speaks, it seems like he's putting an extra barrier in the way between he and the woman. 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:45.419 He says, you recognize that I'm the Jewish Messiah. 00:13:45.659 --> 00:13:47.440 My responsibility is to the Jews. 00:13:47.580 --> 00:13:48.539 They are my priority. 00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:50.339 Why would Jesus say this? 00:13:51.659 --> 00:14:01.159 I mean, if you think about Jesus' ministry, he did make it clear on a couple of occasions like this one that his first priority and strategy was to the house of Israel. 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:02.779 I was sent to the Jews first. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:07.480 He even in Matthew chapter 10 sends the disciples, not to the Gentiles. 00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:10.079 He says, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:13.940 So we do know that was a little bit of the strategy of what's going on. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:22.060 But when you look at Jesus' ministry, he's already by this point healed the centurion servant who was a Gentile, Matthew chapter 8. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:26.720 He healed a demon-possessed man who was a Gentile, also in Matthew chapter 8. 00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:32.500 And in John chapter 4, early in his ministry, he preaches the gospel to the Samaritans. 00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:39.899 After the Samaritan woman at the well, he meets her, she goes back and starts telling of who Jesus is and what he's told her. 00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:44.019 And they come out to him, and then they start believing because of Jesus' word. 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:46.120 And we see many people are saved. 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:53.220 They believed in Samaria, who actually Samaritans might have at this time been worse enemies than a Canaanite woman would have been. 00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:56.759 So why is Jesus saying this to her at this point? 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:58.940 What is Jesus up to? 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:02.139 Well, after he says this to her, look at her response. 00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:02.919 Verse 25. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:08.720 But she came and knelt before him, saying, Lord, help me. 00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:12.179 She came and knelt before him. 00:15:12.179 --> 00:15:16.299 So this word knelt is a word that's commonly used for worship. 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:22.860 In fact, every time this word is used in the King James Version, it's translated as worshiped. 00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:30.659 So it's like her first response to hearing this obstacle is to worship him. 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:32.559 And she comes to him. 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.480 She falls down. 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:37.199 The word literally means to like kiss the hand or like kissing the ring. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:42.379 She bows down, implying that it's worship. 00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:44.559 And she says, Lord, help me. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:48.000 She drops any formality. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:52.639 She's simply desperate for her little girl to get help. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:54.759 J.C. 00:15:54.859 --> 00:15:59.519 Ryle comments on the little girl and says, 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:11.379 Man, isn't that a good word? 00:16:12.980 --> 00:16:15.899 So thankful for my praying mom and her praying mom. 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:19.899 Where there's a praying mother, there's always hope. 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:23.759 Because here she's crying out to Jesus in desperation. 00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:28.179 Desperation is an element of prayer that we need to be okay with. 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:30.240 We don't like feeling desperate. 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:33.620 But that is such a big ingredient in prayer. 00:16:34.939 --> 00:16:39.240 We have to understand just how dependent we are on the Lord. 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:43.639 Jesus said in John chapter 15 that apart from me, you can do nothing. 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:45.680 And then he goes on to say, 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:48.259 If you abide in me and my words abide in you, 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:51.039 ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:54.060 We are completely dependent on the Lord. 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:57.879 And as we are connected to him in utter dependence, 00:16:58.639 --> 00:16:59.720 we have prayers answered. 00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:04.200 We have to be okay with dependence. 00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:08.600 And even crying out to Jesus in desperation. 00:17:10.580 --> 00:17:13.920 So in verse 26 then, we see Jesus' response. 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:16.799 She says, Lord, help me. 00:17:18.340 --> 00:17:19.220 And he answered, 00:17:19.840 --> 00:17:24.140 It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:27.180 Third time. 00:17:27.360 --> 00:17:28.279 He's silent. 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.240 He creates one barrier, it seems. 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:32.840 And now a third time? 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:41.720 In her desperation, Jesus still doesn't give in to her request. 00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:46.180 He seems to put yet another obstacle in the way. 00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:49.600 Now, this is actually a controversial passage. 00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:53.460 They're like, is Jesus insulting her, calling her a dog? 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:57.600 Because in the ancient Near East, dogs were scavengers. 00:17:57.600 --> 00:18:01.220 It was one of the biggest insults to call someone a dog. 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:06.100 The Jews often referred to Gentiles as dogs. 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:10.640 The word here, though, is very curious. 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:12.160 And I kind of hinted at this earlier. 00:18:13.140 --> 00:18:15.900 Jesus uses a word here that means puppy. 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:18.140 Little dog. 00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:26.759 And she's showing that she has a context for a little dog that would actually even be at the house, 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:28.160 sitting at the table. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.980 It was kind of interesting. 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:31.379 I did not know this. 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:35.480 I knew that dogs or scavengers back then were not usually pets. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.220 But they could be. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:38.460 There were actually, in this area of Phoenicia, 00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:41.500 they have found, uncovered a dog cemetery, 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:44.740 where they were like organized burial places for dogs. 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:47.519 There was probably, they think, for some kind of pagan worship. 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:55.700 But they also have, in that Greco-Roman time, some households might have dogs as pets. 00:18:56.339 --> 00:18:58.500 But they have a, she has a context for this. 00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:05.119 And he says that you don't take the children's bread and throw it to the puppies, 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:09.299 meaning like you don't prepare this meal and then just give it to the dogs. 00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:10.660 You feed the children first. 00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:16.840 And her response, instead of getting offended, instead of being frustrated, 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:19.740 she says, yes, Lord. 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:28.040 Yet even the dogs, the little puppies, eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table. 00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:34.340 One of the things that could be going on, some commentators say that Jesus could be. 00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:38.140 It's like he might be even looking over at her head to the disciples 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:41.660 and saying his statement about, 00:19:42.040 --> 00:19:45.160 it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs, 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:47.600 as if that's like a Jewish mindset, 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:51.420 that he's kind of like reminding them, this is what you think. 00:19:52.080 --> 00:19:54.320 But I'm about to interact with this woman in a different way. 00:19:55.360 --> 00:20:00.160 It could be that some have suggested this is actually a short parable that Jesus is giving 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:03.380 because of some of the phrasing that he used. 00:20:03.380 --> 00:20:08.760 But whatever is going on here, the humility that she shows, 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:13.760 in verse 28 she says, 00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:17.180 or verse 27, sorry, 00:20:17.340 --> 00:20:22.180 yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table. 00:20:22.580 --> 00:20:24.520 She didn't try to refute the dog comment. 00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:29.720 Even though she's a woman that might have been called like a puppy, 00:20:30.040 --> 00:20:31.420 she doesn't worry about that. 00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:34.500 She responds with both humility and wisdom here. 00:20:36.340 --> 00:20:38.000 She shows her humility. 00:20:38.300 --> 00:20:38.980 I'm unworthy. 00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:42.860 But even unworthy people 00:20:42.860 --> 00:20:48.100 can take what falls from the master's table. 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:52.920 She's demonstrating the very thing that Jesus has said in the Sermon on the Mount, 00:20:53.100 --> 00:20:54.620 blessed are the poor in spirit. 00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:57.620 She doesn't have a sense of entitlement. 00:20:57.619 --> 00:21:01.859 She doesn't have a sense of frustration or anger. 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:04.959 She's simply crying out to him in humility. 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:10.139 Now, we often don't even approach God like this. 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:14.239 And in our society, it's kind of interesting how many times, 00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:20.379 it's like we're putting Jesus on trial as if like we're doing him a favor by following him. 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:23.220 We're doing you a favor by coming to church. 00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:27.060 We're doing you a favor by doing what you say in your word. 00:21:27.820 --> 00:21:36.660 When really, we need to understand that we are unworthy to have a relationship with the creator and sustainer of the universe. 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:40.080 Yet, he reached out to us. 00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:41.779 He pursued us. 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:51.000 The creator and sustainer of the universe sent his only son to come live the life that we could not live 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:53.640 and die the death that we deserve to die 00:21:53.640 --> 00:21:58.460 so that through him we could have a relationship with the heavenly father. 00:21:58.460 --> 00:22:03.180 This woman demonstrates that true humility that says, 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:06.900 I may be a dog, but you see me. 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:10.940 This wisdom that she shows. 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:16.940 But even when there's a dog in the house, the dog will be fed the crumbs that fall from the table. 00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:22.500 She's saying, I'm not asking you to take food away from the children. 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:26.559 Crumbs from your table is enough to satisfy. 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:32.259 Crumbs from your table will completely change our lives. 00:22:33.139 --> 00:22:37.440 Crumbs from your table is what my heart is desiring at this moment. 00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:45.659 Even the dogs get to feed from the crumbs that are from your table. 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:48.500 Do we approach the Lord like this? 00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:53.639 Like better are crumbs from your table than anything that the world can offer? 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:59.980 And his response to her is, 00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:03.599 Oh woman, great is your faith. 00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:10.159 There are only two times in the Gospels that Jesus commends someone for having great faith. 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:13.679 And both of those times, Gentiles. 00:23:14.179 --> 00:23:16.799 People who were far off and not a part of the covenant. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:22.839 People who had little knowledge of what God has done and who he is. 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:26.379 Jesus even says to his disciples that they are, 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:28.119 Oh ye of little faith. 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:30.980 They're the ones that are closest to him. 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:34.619 This woman who doesn't know very much. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:38.299 She just knows a little, but she trusts deeply. 00:23:38.879 --> 00:23:42.379 She gets something that even the disciples don't yet get. 00:23:43.679 --> 00:23:45.039 Her great faith. 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:48.519 One of the things is number one, she just simply trusted. 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:53.119 She didn't have a lot of knowledge, but that didn't stop her. 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:57.359 She's never seen Jesus do a miracle from all we would know. 00:23:59.059 --> 00:24:01.799 But she heard the testimony of others. 00:24:02.660 --> 00:24:04.180 I've heard with my ears. 00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:06.559 And I believe. 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:09.480 That's what faith does. 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:15.099 Based on what she knew, she chose to believe. 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:17.099 She chose to trust. 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:20.900 She chose to even hope and to persevere. 00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:24.620 Even with perceived obstacles and barriers. 00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:25.880 She trusted. 00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:26.839 She hoped. 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:27.740 She persevered. 00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:31.940 R.C. Sproul writes about this. 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:35.779 And it's as if Jesus is speaking to her. 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.079 And he says, 00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:39.179 You've trusted me when I did not answer you. 00:24:39.939 --> 00:24:42.740 You've trusted me when I didn't include you. 00:24:43.399 --> 00:24:46.419 You've trusted me when I didn't exalt you. 00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:49.059 How great is your faith? 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.699 She showed great humility. 00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:55.439 That's a part of faith. 00:24:56.139 --> 00:24:57.699 Even though she's unworthy. 00:24:58.359 --> 00:24:59.460 A historic enemy. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:02.839 She knew who Jesus was from what she'd heard. 00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:06.199 And she trusted in his character to do what she asked. 00:25:07.679 --> 00:25:10.839 Tim Keller once said that it's not the strength of your faith, 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:13.619 but the object of your faith that actually saves you. 00:25:14.439 --> 00:25:20.240 Strong faith in a weak branch is fatally inferior to weak faith in a strong branch. 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.500 She believed in Jesus. 00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:26.819 She trusted in his ability to come through for her. 00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:31.919 And she had the great humility to pursue and to trust. 00:25:32.439 --> 00:25:33.539 And she was persistent. 00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:38.500 Here we see a picture that's like Jacob in Genesis chapter 18, 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:40.939 where he's wrestling with the angel of the Lord and says, 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:43.539 I'm not letting you go until you bless me. 00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:49.059 Jesus is actually, maybe some commentators say, 00:25:49.179 --> 00:25:53.919 strengthening her faith by allowing her to wrestle with him. 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:58.860 Oh Lord, son of David, have mercy on me. 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.019 Silence. 00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:04.539 Then he says, I came only to the lost sheep of Israel. 00:26:04.900 --> 00:26:06.120 Lord, help me. 00:26:06.800 --> 00:26:10.100 It's not right to take bread from the children and throw it at the dogs. 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:15.380 Yet, Lord, even the dogs get to eat crumbs from the master's table. 00:26:15.380 --> 00:26:19.680 And he says, great is your faith. 00:26:20.340 --> 00:26:24.260 Like Jacob wrestling with the Lord, I will not let you go until you bless me. 00:26:24.340 --> 00:26:28.800 That persistence understands what Paul said in Romans 8, 32, 00:26:29.340 --> 00:26:33.180 that he who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, 00:26:33.540 --> 00:26:37.220 how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 00:26:38.020 --> 00:26:39.780 You didn't spare your own son. 00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:42.360 Why would you spare other things that I need, Lord? 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:45.979 And it trusts and it persists. 00:26:47.659 --> 00:26:49.919 He took care of our greatest problem. 00:26:50.219 --> 00:26:53.039 Will he not take care of everything that we need? 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:57.719 What would Jesus say about our faith? 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:05.939 And one question is, is there anything that you've been asking the Lord for for years? 00:27:07.179 --> 00:27:08.579 And you're tempted to stop. 00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:12.000 Many of us probably do. 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:15.240 Where it's almost like, why am I even praying this? 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:21.259 I've been praying the same thing over and over for years and years and years. 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:26.220 The woman persisted and he said, great is your faith. 00:27:27.419 --> 00:27:30.559 Do we trust him enough to keep going? 00:27:31.399 --> 00:27:35.319 Do we trust in his character to persevere, 00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:38.179 even when it seems that the Lord is silent? 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:41.980 Perseverance in prayer changes us. 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:44.240 And that's a big part of it. 00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:47.919 But the Lord wants us to persist. 00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:52.799 In fact, he gives a parable in Luke 18 about persisting in prayer. 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:56.879 Samuel Rutherford, the great Scottish minister, said this. 00:27:56.879 --> 00:28:00.839 He said, fervor is a heavenly ingredient in prayer. 00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:05.379 An arrow drawn with full strength has a speedier issue. 00:28:06.419 --> 00:28:09.839 In other words, persist wholeheartedly. 00:28:10.459 --> 00:28:11.639 Don't give up. 00:28:12.359 --> 00:28:16.659 It may seem that the Lord is silent, but we're not at the end of the story yet. 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:21.099 When it seems like we can't hear from him, that he's not answering, 00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:24.339 we need to be asking the question, Lord, what are you up to? 00:28:24.439 --> 00:28:25.599 What do you want me to learn? 00:28:25.599 --> 00:28:30.939 I will come back tomorrow and I will pray again for this. 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:33.240 I will keep pursuing you. 00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:39.039 We don't have to make prayer about finding the proper words. 00:28:39.679 --> 00:28:41.879 We can't manipulate God to give us what we want. 00:28:43.379 --> 00:28:47.439 But he tells us to approach him in desperation and persistence. 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:50.679 And that will test our faith, 00:28:50.679 --> 00:28:54.879 but it will test us to make us strong, purified like gold. 00:28:55.599 --> 00:28:57.059 Trust him. 00:28:57.679 --> 00:28:59.500 Keep crying out to him. 00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:02.619 Find your hope in him, 00:29:02.919 --> 00:29:09.699 knowing that even crumbs from his table is better than anything this world has to offer us. 00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.599 Let's pray. 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:23.439 Father, we thank you that we have this story to instruct us, Lord, 00:29:23.439 --> 00:29:28.119 that we can learn from this woman who was desperate to see her daughter healed. 00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:34.459 And it might seem that she's pestering Jesus. 00:29:35.459 --> 00:29:36.599 She didn't care. 00:29:37.219 --> 00:29:38.359 And it honored him. 00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:40.259 He said, 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:41.619 great is your faith. 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:44.819 May we learn from this. 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:46.379 May we keep going, 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:49.159 knowing that if it feels like you're silent, 00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:51.059 we're just not at the end of the story yet. 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:56.119 That you have a plan that is better than what we could have ever come up with. 00:29:57.079 --> 00:30:01.859 That all that you do is for our good and for your glory. 00:30:02.479 --> 00:30:04.319 Give us the faith to trust. 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:10.200 Christ, this unlikely woman of great faith has a lot to teach us. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:12.399 And may we persist in prayer as she did. 00:30:12.639 --> 00:30:14.319 Be as desperate in prayer as she was. 00:30:14.399 --> 00:30:17.460 And have the humility to say, 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:19.339 I trust you with whatever you decide, Lord. 00:30:20.899 --> 00:30:22.519 Help us to grow in prayer. 00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:24.319 Help us to grow in faith. 00:30:25.179 --> 00:30:27.539 And we pray all these things in Jesus' name. 00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:28.720 Amen.