Matthew 15:22-28 NLT “A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.”
23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.”
24 Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.”
25 But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!”
26 Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”
27 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.”
28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.”
We have a Gentile woman who believes in Jesus to heal. She addresses Him as Lord and the Son of David. In fact, she pleads like the blind men who got their sight, shouting to get Jesus’ attention. As I read this passage, a thought enters my spirit that many professing Christians are just like this Gentile woman. Is this woman considered God’s chosen people even though she acknowledges and believes in Jesus as the Son of God? There are many professing Christians who believe in Jesus to save them, but could they be like this Gentile woman as far as Jesus is concerned?
This Gentile woman believes in Jesus as Lord and the Son of David who has great power to heal and deliver her daughter. In verse 23-24, Jesus ignores her and tells her she is not His people. But how does this woman respond? Does she get offended? No, she does not get offended but she worships Him and kept pleading to Him. Now we do not know if this was only the first attempt but scripture says she pleaded again which could imply multiple times.
How did Jesus respond after she worshipped and pleaded to Him multiple times? Jesus basically called her a dog! Was that her last strength of patience? Did she lash out at Jesus as many Christians may do? No, she, in fact, humbled herself even further and admitted she is a dog. With that last test, Jesus commended her as having great faith and healed her daughter. Her great faith was her ability to withstand a great test of offense.
We can see from this story, many of God’s people may not be getting their breakthroughs of healing, deliverance, and restoration because they cannot pass their tests in offense. If you live or have offense, you cannot receive your requests or have your prayers answered.
What is a gentile? A gentile is a person who is not of God’s people. They can also be considered heathen or pagan. From the Old Testament perspective, they were born not in Israel. They are a foreigner. Therefore, in today’s application, a gentile is a spiritual foreigner, or perhaps we can even say a person not born of God. Just like the gentile, a person not born of God can still believe in God and possess great faith to believe in the miracles, and there are many such people in the Christian churches. But yet, the gospel has gone to the gentiles for them to believe and become God’s people but are they now born of God or like the gentile woman, as the Bible says a woman born in Syria which is of the flesh but can still believe in miracles?
So, who are you compared to the Gentile woman? Do you even have great faith like her? She can be persistent when ignored and show great faith when called a dog!
Comment:
And the great faith is not to be offended when called a dog 🐕
Too many here have been more offended and were not even called a 🐶
Senior Pastor Steve Kim