RTW 2023

“Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

Matthew 15:28

Jesus referred to His people as the lost sheep for many reasons, one of which was that they were not shepherded well, not cared for as a leader should.

• Jesus went to the region of Tyre, a Gentile region about 25 miles south of Sidon.
• The woman was called a Canaanite in Matthew, which was probably the way Jewish people referred to the people of Phoenicia.
• She was referred to as a Greek born of Syrian Phoenicia in Mark, which signified her as a Gentile, and probably distinguishing her from Libyan Phoenicians of North Africa.
• “Jesus’ statement, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,” is a metaphor that highlights the prevailing sentiment of the time…We should also note that Jesus calls her kunarion, a “pet dog,” which subtly deviates from the Jewish sentiment.” https://www.gotquestions.org/even-the-dogs-eat-the-crumbs.html
• Jesus had recently referred to people in His own hometown and to the Pharisees as people lacking faith. However, Jesus said this “Canaanite” woman had “great faith.”
• Jesus was not agreeing with the Jewish sentiment about the woman, but acknowledging her courage to come forward in the midst of what people thought of her.

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We can come to Jesus with the same faith, that no matter what is going on in our heart or in our lives, we can come to Him as we are because He is the Lord and we need Him.