Jesus loves indiscriminately

 JESUS LOVES INDISCRIMINATELY

“Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”

MATTHEW 15.28

Based on MATTHEW 15.21–28

Matthew sets the stage for Jesus’ exchange with this Canaanite woman, following a rather frustrating exchange between Jesus and the teachers of the law, who were stuck on ceremonial purity laws and were missing the main point: that it was an inner heart of faith in God that rendered one acceptable before Him, not an outward claim of religiosity or nationality.

Jesus shakes the dust off His feet, so to speak, and leaves Israelite territory for a jaunt into Gentile lands, heading on a forty-mile journey northwest toward the Mediterranean coast in the region of Tyre and Sidon, the epitome of Gentile “uncleanness.” His disciples would have been uneasy in this place, as Canaanite descendants were abhorred by the Jews. After all, these were the great-great-grandchildren of those idolatrous nations Israel was supposed to exterminate once they entered the promised land. They had likely been pushed north, out of Israelite territory, but still close enough to have enticed God’s people toward despicable idolatrous practices. Any serious law-abiding Jew would have avoided this area, yet Jesus headed straight into it.

The journey would have taken days, giving Jesus and His disciples plenty of time to talk. It’s possible that on the way to these cities, the disciples would have thought of another man of God who traveled this same route. Elijah took up residence with a Canaanite woman while eluding the wicked Israelite king during the famine in Israel. God had miraculously multiplied her flour and oil for the duration of the drought, and through Elijah’s intercession even raised her son from the dead. There was precedent for what Jesus was doing here; when Israel rejected God’s rightful reign, the Gentile nations could experience His undeserving grace in their stead.

Somewhere on this journey into foreign territory, a Canaanite woman pursues Jesus, desperately crying out for mercy: “Lord, Son of David have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Yet Jesus says nothing. He doesn’t even seem to acknowledge her.

Undeterred, the woman follows Him, continuing her pleas and annoying the disciples. Finally, they’d had enough. “Send her away,” they demand, “for she keeps crying out after us.” This woman would not give up.

Jesus turns to face her and gives her a good reason He shouldn’t honour her request. He was sent not to the Gentiles but to the lost sheep of Israel. Though this woman’s religious knowledge was limited, she surely knew that God had made a promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, not to the descendants of Canaan. She had no claim on Him.

But she falls at His feet, placing herself under His authority and lordship, asking again for His help. Still Jesus does not give in. Doesn’t she know the children’s food shouldn’t be tossed to dogs?

Notice Jesus’ willingness to engage in conversation with this woman. It seems Jesus is not rebuking her as much as testing the persistence of her faith; whether for her benefit or His disciples, we do not know. Would she turn around and leave, dejected? Would she pridefully spit on His feet, taking offence at the perceived insult? Or would she persist in her faith?

The woman humbles herself even more; she doesn’t contradict Jesus, but cleverly builds on His argument, even dogs eat the crumbs on the floor. From her very first cry (acknowledging Jesus as the rightful King of Israel) to this poignant moment at His feet, (calling on the compassion of God), this Canaanite woman shows more faith, maturity, and humility than the Pharisees and teachers of the law who Jesus had offended earlier in the chapter. This woman was desperate for her darling daughter, she was confident in Jesus’ power and reign, and she wasn’t going anywhere until she got what she pleaded for, even if she didn’t deserve it.

Jesus wastes no time, enthusiastically affirming her faith, commending her above the Pharisees and teachers of the law: “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted!” And instantly her daughter was healed. She had received what she had tenaciously pursued, but Jesus offered her much more, commending her faith above that of His own people, as He had with the Gentile centurion (Mt 8:13).

The very people Jesus had come to save were rejecting Him, yet here in Gentile territory Jesus found mature and humble faith that deeply touched Him, signalling the beginning of the expansion of His rule and kingdom’s reign over all people everywhere, the fulfilment of His promise to Abraham that through Him all nations would be blessed.

Prayer 

King Jesus, You alone reign as the Son of David on Your throne. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth and in my life as it is in heaven. Forgive me for often becoming impatient with Your timing. I don’t understand, but I want to have faith like this woman. Help me cling to what I know is true about Your love and character when I find myself frustrated with Your unresponsiveness. Grow me in my understanding of Your love for me and for those around me. 

In Jesus’s name, Amen.

If you want to read more 

1Kgs 17.7–24, Mt 8.5–13, 15.21–28, Mk 7.24–30, Jn 1.11–12