A Praying Woman!

²⁴ Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He did not want anyone to know which house He was staying in, but He could not keep it a secret. ²⁵ Right away a woman who had heard about Him came and fell at His feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil (unclean) spirit, ²⁶ and she begged Him to cast out the demon from her daughter. Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, ²⁷ Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children — My own family, the Jews. It is not right to take food from the children (Jews) and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁸ She replied, “That is true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.” ²⁹ “Good answer!” He said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” ³⁰ And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone. Mark 7:24-30 (NLT)

At Mark 7:24-30, Mark contrasts the faith of the Syrophoenician woman as a total contrast of the religious leaders discussed in Mark 7:1-23 (see parallel references at Matthew 15:1-20 and Matthew 15:21-28). Jesus left Galilee and went to the regions of Tyre and Sidon (Mark 7:24; see also Matthew 15:21). These cities were port cities on the Mediterranean Sea north of Israel in Gentile (non-Jewish) territories. Many Jews would not affiliate with the Tyre and Sidon regions because they were Israel’s enemies. However, Jesus’ ministry was for all people — first to Jews but also to Gentiles (see Matthew 10:6; Romans 1:16-17). Jesus extended His mission of grace and mercy beyond Israel to show God's love towards all people (see also Genesis 12:1-3). There is no difference between Jews and Gentiles. All people are sinners (Romans 3:23), and all people need Jesus as Savior (Matthew 1:21, 23; Matthew 12:17-21; Luke 2:10-11). Jesus came to be the Savior of the world – regardless of race, color, or creed (faith) (e.g., see Romans 3:22; Romans 10:12-13; Galatians 3:28-29; Ephesians 2:11–22; Colossians 3:11).

²¹ Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Gentile woman who lived there came to Him (Jesus), 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 is not 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 master’s table.” ²⁸ “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed. Matthew 15:21-28 (NLT)

While in Tyre and Sidon, Jesus tried to keep it a secret that He was there, but He could not (Mark 7:24). For as usual, the news of Jesus’ arrival spread fast throughout Tyre and Sidon (Mark 7:24; see also Matthew 4:24). Right away, a Gentile woman came to Jesus (Matthew 15:22). This woman’s little girl was possessed by an evil (unclean, demon) spirit and she sought out Jesus’ salvation and healing by faith (Mark 7:25). She had heard about Jesus. The concerned mother came and fell at Jesus’ feet and pleaded with Jesus to release her child from the evil’s control (Mark 7:25-26; see also Matthew 15:22-23). This Gentile woman mother cried out to Jesus by faith and pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely” (Matthew 15:22, NLT). This concerned mother was persistent because she needed a miraculous healing from Jesus (see also Luke 18:1-8). Jesus marvels at this woman’s faith. In contrast with the Jewish religious leaders in Mark 7:1-23, the woman was a Gentile – an outsider. Yet, this woman believed in Jesus and her faith in Jesus was rewarded!

The Gospel writer Mark describes the woman as Syrophoenician — a “despised Gentile!” (Mark 7:26). However, Matthew’s Gospel refers to the woman as a Canaanite or Greek. In other words, this woman was a Gentile, outside the Jewish race and a Syrian Phoenician woman. Jesus told the Syrophoenician woman, “First I should help My own family — the Jews. It is not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs” (Mark 7:27, TLB). Jesus was also Jewish. However, the concerned mother continued to worship and pleaded with Jesus again saying, “Lord, help me!” (Matthew 15:25, NLT). We cannot but admire the patience and persistence of this concerned mother. She came to Jesus seeking salvation and restoration for her daughter. The woman’s behavior indicates both reverence and desperation (Mark 7:25).

Jesus’ response to the Gentile woman has given rise to all kinds of interpretation (Mark 7:27; see also Matthew 15:26). Some commentaries have argued that Jesus was insensitive to the Gentile woman when Jesus called the woman a “dog.” Other commentaries argue that Jesus was saying that His first priority was to provide food for the children (the Jewish people) and not to allow little dogs or house pets to interrupt the family meal. In reality, Jesus was being cynical (mocking) against the Jewish views of Gentiles. The children are obviously the Jews. The Gospel writers are contrasting the Jewish religious leaders and the faith of a Gentile woman. Jesus is not a heartless, insensitive, and racist Jew! The critical point is the use of the word “dogs.” Many dogs in the first century were not domesticated animals or pets but outdoor scavengers or unclean animals like wild hogs. In Judaism, dogs were considered the most unclean animal of all because they survived by eating corpses and the garbage. It was very common for Jews to call Gentiles “dogs.”

Then, the Syrophoenician woman replied to Jesus, “That is true, Sir, but even the puppies under the table are given some scraps from the children’s plates” (Mark 7:28, TLB). The woman did not try to argue with Jesus and deny the special place of the Jewish people (John 4:22; see also Exodus 4:22). “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). Using Jesus’ choice of imagery, the Syrophoenician woman pointed out that she was willing to be considered an interruption as long as she received healing for her daughter. Ironically, many Jews lost God's physical and spiritual healing because they rejected God’s Son, Jesus. Yet, many Gentiles, whom the Jews rejected, would find God's blessing and salvation because they believed and trusted in Jesus.

Jesus commended the woman’s faith and said, “Good . . . .  You have answered well — so well that I have healed your little girl. Go on home, for the demon has left her!” (Mark 7:29). And when the woman returned home, her little girl was lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone (Mark 7:30). The Syrophoenician woman was rewarded and triumphed for her persistence, determination, and faith in Jesus! This woman’s faith was great because she persisted in asking and trusting God.

Jesus:  ⁷ “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ⁹ You parents — if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? ¹⁰ Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! ¹¹ So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.” Matthew 7:7-11 (NLT)

The Gospel writers used the Gentile woman's persistent faith as an object lesson for the world. Because of the woman’s persistent faith, Jesus praised her and healed her daughter (Mark 7:29-30; see also Matthew 15:28). Prayer is not a onetime test of God but an ongoing communication with our loving Heavenly Father and faith in Jesus (e.g. see Genesis 32:26, 29; Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 11:9-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:13-18). Jesus urged boldness and persistence in prayer (Luke 18:1-8; see also Hebrews 4:14-16). “One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up” (Luke 18:1, NLT). Always praying means keeping your requests constantly before God as we seek and trust Him day by day, believing He will answer. God may delay answering, but God will “never, never fail you nor forsake. That is why we can say without any doubt or fear, ‘The Lord is my Helper, and I am not afraid . . . ’” (Hebrews 13:5-6, TLB). God honors persistent prayer with pure motives and purposes (James 4:2-3). Even more, faith in Jesus makes miracles possible! Our lack of faith in Jesus is the only thing that robs us of God’s power in our lives.

¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

References

Disciple's Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible, 1988).

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

Life Essentials Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2011).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Loyd, Melton, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament. Due West Campus: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015.

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).