Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
A Canaanite mother from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon bowed at Jesus' feet in worship to beg His help for her daughter grievously vexed by a devil, pressing closer even after He answered her first cry not a word. Her plea rested on perfect trust in Him as Redeemer able to do all she asked, with humble earnestness that yielded all national pride and was willing to receive as a dog the crumbs from the Master's table. Christ permitted the delay and apparent refusal to test her confidence and sincerity, acting toward her as the Pharisees taught Jews to act toward the heathen while His heart was touched with pitying tenderness. Satisfied with her confidence, He commended her great faith and healed her daughter whole from that hour, not turning the humble suppliant away. Her persevering worship stands on record to prove no soul who asks in faith will be left to perish, opening the way for Gentiles to receive salvation and teaching His people today to minister with the same compassion to every needy sufferer.
Context and Worshipful Plea
After the clash with the Pharisees Jesus withdrew from Capernaum and crossed Galilee to the hill country on the borders of Phenicia, overlooking the plain with the ancient cities of Tyre and Sidon with their heathen temples, palaces, marts of trade, harbors filled with shipping, and beyond them the Mediterranean over which gospel messengers would later go, though that time had not yet come. He came hoping to find the retirement He had failed to secure at Bethsaida and to prepare His disciples for their mission, so retirement was not His only purpose. Having offended the Pharisees by laying open the hollowness of their piety and the unscripturalness of their teachings, He withdrew to avoid an outbreak of hostility and entered a house where He would have no man know it. But He could not be hid because His wise, gracious words, deeds of mercy, and Godlike character revealed a power far above priests and rulers.
The woman was a foreigner from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, a Canaanite of the old Canaanite race of that Phenician district, also described as Syrophoenician. She belonged to an unfortunate, despised people who were idolaters, hated by the Jews, and as a heathen excluded from the advantages the Jews daily enjoyed. Her coming to Jesus breaks down the barrier between Him and a woman from another people.
She came to plead for her daughter, who was grievously vexed with a devil and possessed, and she was inspired by a mother's love with the resolute purpose not to lose her only hope. Tidings of Christ's work healing all manner of diseases whether rich or poor had penetrated to that region, so hope sprang up in her heart and she resolved to appeal to Him as her only hope with perfect trust in His power. Though she had already sought help from the heathen gods and obtained no relief and was tempted to doubt what this Jewish teacher could do, she well knew Jews had no dealings with Canaanites and refused even to speak to them.
In the verse she presses closer to Christ after He answered her first cry not a word, coming to Him, bowing at His feet, and worshiping Him while urgently asking for help for her grievously afflicted child. Her earnest plea continues despite His apparent refusal, showing persistence even when His response gives no clear hope.
Tested Faith Answered
Her kneeling cry was implicit, perfect trust that Jesus as Redeemer could do all she asked, resting on full confidence in His power to grant it and making Him her only hope. Though treated as a stranger outside Israel, she discerned compassion beneath His apparent refusal and trusted His bounty still held a blessing for her. That confiding trust refreshed His spirit.
She yielded at once to His divine influence in humble, earnest supplication, with no national or religious pride, prejudice, or privilege to hold her back. As one of an unfortunate and despised race not favored with the light of God's word, she acknowledged Him as Lord and Redeemer, expressing the need of a helpless sufferer and willing even to be counted as a dog to receive crumbs from the Master's table. Her believing plea stands opposite the scribes and Pharisees, who murmured and complained in unbelief and bitterness, refused salvation freely offered them, and even sought His life. Her answered request displays His great love for suffering humanity and compassion toward those who plead for help.
Christ permitted the delay — answering her first cry not a word, appearing to neglect and repulse her, and declaring He was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel — to test her confidence, faith, and sincerity. For a time He acted toward her as the Pharisees taught the people to act toward the heathen, with the cold treatment a Jew would give her despised race, to act out before the disciples the exclusive ideas and sentiments controlling many then following Him. He knew her heart, sorrow, and determined perseverance, and His heart was touched with pitying tenderness toward her woe, longing to assure her at once that her prayer was heard and fulfilled. His apparent delay did not mean He lacked compassion or had not heard, but allowed her faith and persistence to be made manifest while teaching the disciples not to imitate a cold, heartless response or turn away people in distress.
Jesus was satisfied with her confidence, commended her great faith as not found in Israel, and granted her request. In response to her coming He healed her demon-troubled daughter whole from that hour, attending to her need and not turning the humble suppliant away. She departed acknowledging her Saviour and happy in answered prayer, showing His tenderness toward humble suppliants and His willingness to use His healing power for those who come to Him.
Mission and Present Application
Jesus went to the borders of Tyre and Sidon on purpose to perform this act of mercy and answer the afflicted woman's worshipful plea for help, and it was the only miracle He did on that journey. He made a long journey to relieve her anxious heart, proving He knows the burden of every mother's heart and sympathizes with every mother in her labors. He had withdrawn there to avoid an outbreak of hostility after offending the Pharisees by laying open the hollowness of their piety and the unscripturalness of their teachings, and having entered a house where He would have no man know it, He could not be hid because His wise, gracious words and deeds of mercy revealed a power far above priests and rulers and His Godlike character made Him the observed of all observers. A mother with a sick daughter came to Him there with an urgent appeal for aid, and He heeded her request and healed her daughter, showing Himself as the great Medical Missionary whose whole life was a representation of God. He hears the earnest plea of those who trust in Him and is ready to help them.
The encounter was deliberately arranged so the disciples could see the needs of people beyond Judea and in spiritual darkness, showing that people beyond Israel also needed and longed for His help and the light of truth. His response to her plea served as a lasting example of mercy toward those outside their own people, leading them away from Jewish exclusiveness to work for others besides their own people after He would no longer be with them. Their work must extend beyond their own people to the Gentiles, without restriction by custom or nationality, for God's blessings were meant to make His people a blessing to others and not to support pride or exclusion. His initial reception reflected the cold treatment a Jew would give her despised race, testing her faith and sincerity and teaching the disciples not to turn away people in distress with a cold, heartless response but to show compassion as He did when He granted her request and healed her daughter. This lesson prepared them for gospel work among the Gentiles after His death broke down the division between Jews and Gentiles.
Her coming in worship to ask for help is an instance of Christ working directly among people outside the acknowledged people of Israel and of His opening the way for the Gentiles to receive the gospel. It revealed that Gentiles as well as Jews could receive salvation and that people regarded as unworthy could hunger for the light of truth. It anticipates the gathering of Gentiles into God's church and the gospel's welcome among them. As one of other nations making request for a relative, she represents the great human family who knew not God or the truth but felt a soul-longing for something they had not, and as she listened to His instruction she was deeply impressed by the word of truth, so that in speaking words of hope to her as a weary, unsatisfied soul and acting for her He was speaking and acting for humanity at large, an example to be practiced from one end of the world to another.
Her case is placed on record to show the result of persevering in presenting needs to the Hearer of prayer, for her persistent plea in worship refused to be driven away until her request was granted. It proves that no soul who asks in faith for Christ's help will be left to perish, and that even the weakest struggling soul may live and find hope and sufficiency in God. His apparent delay did not mean He lacked compassion or had not heard her prayer, but He allowed her faith and persistence to be made manifest, then commended her and granted what she asked, so persevering faith in prayer is sustained by Christ and is rewarded by Him. This persistent worship belongs to the lesson for His people today to heal the sick and minister to the wants of the needy. He will do as much for the mothers of today, hearing afflicted mothers' prayers and blessing their children, and as a compassionate helper still giving comfort and help in every grief and every need to those who trust in Him.
A Canaanite mother from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon bowed at Jesus' feet in worship to beg His help for her daughter grievously vexed by a devil, pressing closer even after He answered her first cry not a word. Her plea rested on perfect trust in Him as Redeemer able to do all she asked, with humble earnestness that yielded all national pride and was willing to receive as a dog the crumbs from the Master's table. Christ permitted the delay and apparent refusal to test her confidence and sincerity, acting toward her as the Pharisees taught Jews to act toward the heathen while His heart was touched with pitying tenderness. Satisfied with her confidence, He commended her great faith and healed her daughter whole from that hour, not turning the humble suppliant away. Her persevering worship stands on record to prove no soul who asks in faith will be left to perish, opening the way for Gentiles to receive salvation and teaching His people today to minister with the same compassion to every needy sufferer.
Context and Worshipful Plea
After the clash with the Pharisees Jesus withdrew from Capernaum and crossed Galilee to the hill country on the borders of Phenicia, overlooking the plain with the ancient cities of Tyre and Sidon with their heathen temples, palaces, marts of trade, harbors filled with shipping, and beyond them the Mediterranean over which gospel messengers would later go, though that time had not yet come. He came hoping to find the retirement He had failed to secure at Bethsaida and to prepare His disciples for their mission, so retirement was not His only purpose. Having offended the Pharisees by laying open the hollowness of their piety and the unscripturalness of their teachings, He withdrew to avoid an outbreak of hostility and entered a house where He would have no man know it. But He could not be hid because His wise, gracious words, deeds of mercy, and Godlike character revealed a power far above priests and rulers.
The woman was a foreigner from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, a Canaanite of the old Canaanite race of that Phenician district, also described as Syrophoenician. She belonged to an unfortunate, despised people who were idolaters, hated by the Jews, and as a heathen excluded from the advantages the Jews daily enjoyed. Her coming to Jesus breaks down the barrier between Him and a woman from another people.
She came to plead for her daughter, who was grievously vexed with a devil and possessed, and she was inspired by a mother's love with the resolute purpose not to lose her only hope. Tidings of Christ's work healing all manner of diseases whether rich or poor had penetrated to that region, so hope sprang up in her heart and she resolved to appeal to Him as her only hope with perfect trust in His power. Though she had already sought help from the heathen gods and obtained no relief and was tempted to doubt what this Jewish teacher could do, she well knew Jews had no dealings with Canaanites and refused even to speak to them.
In the verse she presses closer to Christ after He answered her first cry not a word, coming to Him, bowing at His feet, and worshiping Him while urgently asking for help for her grievously afflicted child. Her earnest plea continues despite His apparent refusal, showing persistence even when His response gives no clear hope.
Tested Faith Answered
Her kneeling cry was implicit, perfect trust that Jesus as Redeemer could do all she asked, resting on full confidence in His power to grant it and making Him her only hope. Though treated as a stranger outside Israel, she discerned compassion beneath His apparent refusal and trusted His bounty still held a blessing for her. That confiding trust refreshed His spirit.
She yielded at once to His divine influence in humble, earnest supplication, with no national or religious pride, prejudice, or privilege to hold her back. As one of an unfortunate and despised race not favored with the light of God's word, she acknowledged Him as Lord and Redeemer, expressing the need of a helpless sufferer and willing even to be counted as a dog to receive crumbs from the Master's table. Her believing plea stands opposite the scribes and Pharisees, who murmured and complained in unbelief and bitterness, refused salvation freely offered them, and even sought His life. Her answered request displays His great love for suffering humanity and compassion toward those who plead for help.
Christ permitted the delay — answering her first cry not a word, appearing to neglect and repulse her, and declaring He was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel — to test her confidence, faith, and sincerity. For a time He acted toward her as the Pharisees taught the people to act toward the heathen, with the cold treatment a Jew would give her despised race, to act out before the disciples the exclusive ideas and sentiments controlling many then following Him. He knew her heart, sorrow, and determined perseverance, and His heart was touched with pitying tenderness toward her woe, longing to assure her at once that her prayer was heard and fulfilled. His apparent delay did not mean He lacked compassion or had not heard, but allowed her faith and persistence to be made manifest while teaching the disciples not to imitate a cold, heartless response or turn away people in distress.
Jesus was satisfied with her confidence, commended her great faith as not found in Israel, and granted her request. In response to her coming He healed her demon-troubled daughter whole from that hour, attending to her need and not turning the humble suppliant away. She departed acknowledging her Saviour and happy in answered prayer, showing His tenderness toward humble suppliants and His willingness to use His healing power for those who come to Him.
Mission and Present Application
Jesus went to the borders of Tyre and Sidon on purpose to perform this act of mercy and answer the afflicted woman's worshipful plea for help, and it was the only miracle He did on that journey. He made a long journey to relieve her anxious heart, proving He knows the burden of every mother's heart and sympathizes with every mother in her labors. He had withdrawn there to avoid an outbreak of hostility after offending the Pharisees by laying open the hollowness of their piety and the unscripturalness of their teachings, and having entered a house where He would have no man know it, He could not be hid because His wise, gracious words and deeds of mercy revealed a power far above priests and rulers and His Godlike character made Him the observed of all observers. A mother with a sick daughter came to Him there with an urgent appeal for aid, and He heeded her request and healed her daughter, showing Himself as the great Medical Missionary whose whole life was a representation of God. He hears the earnest plea of those who trust in Him and is ready to help them.
The encounter was deliberately arranged so the disciples could see the needs of people beyond Judea and in spiritual darkness, showing that people beyond Israel also needed and longed for His help and the light of truth. His response to her plea served as a lasting example of mercy toward those outside their own people, leading them away from Jewish exclusiveness to work for others besides their own people after He would no longer be with them. Their work must extend beyond their own people to the Gentiles, without restriction by custom or nationality, for God's blessings were meant to make His people a blessing to others and not to support pride or exclusion. His initial reception reflected the cold treatment a Jew would give her despised race, testing her faith and sincerity and teaching the disciples not to turn away people in distress with a cold, heartless response but to show compassion as He did when He granted her request and healed her daughter. This lesson prepared them for gospel work among the Gentiles after His death broke down the division between Jews and Gentiles.
Her coming in worship to ask for help is an instance of Christ working directly among people outside the acknowledged people of Israel and of His opening the way for the Gentiles to receive the gospel. It revealed that Gentiles as well as Jews could receive salvation and that people regarded as unworthy could hunger for the light of truth. It anticipates the gathering of Gentiles into God's church and the gospel's welcome among them. As one of other nations making request for a relative, she represents the great human family who knew not God or the truth but felt a soul-longing for something they had not, and as she listened to His instruction she was deeply impressed by the word of truth, so that in speaking words of hope to her as a weary, unsatisfied soul and acting for her He was speaking and acting for humanity at large, an example to be practiced from one end of the world to another.
Her case is placed on record to show the result of persevering in presenting needs to the Hearer of prayer, for her persistent plea in worship refused to be driven away until her request was granted. It proves that no soul who asks in faith for Christ's help will be left to perish, and that even the weakest struggling soul may live and find hope and sufficiency in God. His apparent delay did not mean He lacked compassion or had not heard her prayer, but He allowed her faith and persistence to be made manifest, then commended her and granted what she asked, so persevering faith in prayer is sustained by Christ and is rewarded by Him. This persistent worship belongs to the lesson for His people today to heal the sick and minister to the wants of the needy. He will do as much for the mothers of today, hearing afflicted mothers' prayers and blessing their children, and as a compassionate helper still giving comfort and help in every grief and every need to those who trust in Him.