SYRO-PHOENICIAN WOMAN

MATTHEW 15:2

A. "AND BEHOLD A WOMAN OF CANAAN CAME OUT OF THE SAME COASTS AND CRIED UNTO HIM SAYING, HAVE MERCY ON ME, O LORD THOU SON OF DAVID; MY DAUGHTER IS GRIEVOUSLY VEXED WITH A DEVIL"
  1. The words of our text brings our attention to an unnamed but most remarkable woman:
    1. Matthew calls her "a woman of Canaan" and Mark writes of her as "a Greek" Mark 7:26
    2. She was not an Israelite, not after the flesh
  2. A vexed daughter by the devil:
    1. Was the special burden upon the heart of that mother that brought her to Jesus
    2. Her plea reveals that she must have had considerable knowledge of the Messiah
B. THE BIBLE RECORD OF THIS SYRO-PHENICIAN WOMAN BRINGS TO OUR MIND FIVE SPECIAL HIGH POINTS
  1. Her region:
    1. The unhappy woman of heathen surroundings belonged to the coast of Tyre and Sidon whose inhabitants had been despoiled by the children of Israel and who were given over to idolatry - Ez. 28:22-26; no love was lost between the Jews and the Phenicians - but the Son of God brought blessings to their region - Like 15:4
  2. Her request; her appeal contained three specific elements:
    1. Her petition, "Have mercy upon me" - in her dire need she sensed her need for the mercy of the Lord - Ps. 106:45; 55:3
    2. Her recognition - "O Lord, Thou Son of God" - this recognition indicates clearly that she possessed some knowledge of the truth about the Messiah - Ps 76:1; Mal. 1:11
    3. Her statement - "My daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." That too shows that she knew of the work of the devil. What is so remarkable, this mother never wasted words; she unburdened herself with a few words
  3. Her repulse:
    1. He, who was the embodiment of divine mercy met her plea with silence - "H answered her not a word"
    2. This was a severe test to her faith and must have puzzled the disciples
  4. Her resoluteness:
    1. Her faith in the Son of God did not take no for an answer
    2. Though the Lord said, "I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel", though he added, "It is not meat to take the childrens' bread, and cast it to the dogs"
    3. This woman had an answer that brought deliverance to her vexed daughter
C. WHAT A LESSON FOR GOD'S PEOPLE
  1. Human needs know no barrier:
    1. The woman of Canaan knew that as a heathen she had no claim to God's mercy; but that did not remove her need of mercy
    2. We all are in need of a cleansing from sin; we are in need of deliverance from the bondage from sin; these are the incentives for prayer which God will not reject
  2. Deliverance of her daughter was the moving plea:
    1. All else was secondary - she took her own sense of pride and cast it aside; she cared little if our Lord seemed to compare her to a dog - even the dog is God's creature
    2. This, Naaman had to learn before he was cleansed from leprosy - 2 Kings 5:1-19
    3. Humility is one virtue we are in need of to persevere and be saved - Rev. 14:12; Rom. 5:1-6
  3. Her faith was so mighty:
    1. That it brought a special acknowledgment from the Lord, "O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt"
    2. "And her daughter was made whole from that very hour"
  4. Mothers in Israel:
    1. Here is food for serious thought by all of us; no other person is more interested in the well-being of their children than a mother
    2. That mother of Canaan had but one means to bring deliverance to her vexed daughter - implicit faith in God
    3. It was that persistent faith that set the daughter free
    4. Too many of us faint too soon; we give up too quickly; God knows our weakness and He gave us the experience of the woman of Canaan to profit by


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