Notes by Pastor Shana Wise from St. Augustine meeting June 2021
Matthew 15:21-28, Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
· This text amazes me because it shows a certain type of intercession and faith that a mother did for her daughter. This Canaanite woman’s daughter was possessed by a demon and suffering terribly. We could only imagine what this mother was dealing with day in and out. To see your child suffering and it feels like there is nothing you can do about it, is painful for a mother. Yet, this woman heard about Jesus going around the land healing the sick and demon-possessed and something inside made her go to where Jesus was and receive healing for her daughter. This is a true example of faith: Romans 10:13 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
· Verse 23 stated that Jesus didn’t answer her, and the disciples wanted her to go away. However, we must remember that just because Jesus doesn’t answer us right away doesn’t mean he doesn’t hear us. Jesus, being the great Teacher, will use different types of situations to teach a lesson. I believe his response to the women in verses 23-26 was intentional because he knew the attitudes of the Jews concerning the Canaanites, which was distaining (looked down upon, history of being an enemy to Israel, prejudice, etc.).
· The way Jesus responded to her in verse 24, seemed to be harsh, uncaring, and bias towards the woman, but his intentions were not that, Jesus was testing her faith using the odds and attitudes that were against her. Have you ever felt like God wasn’t concerned about you or what you are going through? Or you felt like, his response wasn’t there or not what you wanted? How did it make you feel and what did you do?
· Jesus’ response did not deter the woman because she was bent on receiving healing for her daughter. She was willing to be looked down upon, degraded, disrespected, and anything else as it related to negative responses toward her, for the sake of her daughter. This woman’s mind was made up concerning what Jesus could do and there was nothing that was going to change this fact for her. Have you ever had to press beyond all odds against you to receive from Jesus? Have you ever been pressed to the limit concerning the well-being of your child, meaning have you ever had to fight for them in a way that put you in the “hot seat” for them?
· Jesus’ response pushed the woman to change her posture in verse 25. She kneeled down before him and begged for help. Have you ever fell at Jesus’ feet in despair (begging) for a specific prayer request?
· Jesus challenged her with verse 26, He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” I called this, this final press because it forced her to respond in faith and not feelings. She replied, Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Her reply represented acknowledgment of Jesus’ lordship. The issue wasn’t about being considered “a dog”, it was about being a partaker of the master’s bread. So simple to her, yet so complicated to the disciples, because their first response to the women in verse 23, was to send her away. They felt she and her daughter were not worthy to receive from Jesus because they were not Israelites. In essence, this woman’s prayer request for daughter, and faith to believe that Jesus was the only way to achieve it, was to show the disciples that God’s healing is accessed by faith and not feelings or attitudes. The Cannonites daughter was healed through her mother’s faith alone in Jesus Christ. Jesus loves us and healing is available to those who believe.
· Finally, we as believers must address and confront any area in our life that causes us to have negative attitudes towards others because of their background or present circumstances. Jesus’ love and healing are available to ALL people, not just a chosen few. Our attitude towards God’s children must be pleasing to him. The only way to ensure this is to be led by our faith and not feelings.
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About the Author
Dr. Shana Wise is an ordained Pastor and CEO of Wise Choice Ministries (est. 2016). She is the founder of The Well Christian Women’s Network formally known as Christian Women Preachers United. Dr. Wise is the author of women’s devotional, Acts of Intercession, and The Impact of Your Election (available on Amazon). She received a Doctor of Divinity degree in 2019 from St. Thomas Christian University. Her passion is to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, equip others to apply the Word to their lives, and demonstrate the Word through the power of the Holy Spirit. She is a televangelist that appears on social media outlets and television. Shana is married to Ron Wise and is the mother of four children.
Books available on Amazon at:
Acts of Intercession
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The Impact of Your Election
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1792003307/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_vvKbFbA33J669
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