The key to building extraordinary faith in life is to act boldly on that faith. The call to act boldly in faith is answered by striving daily to overcome barriers designed to keep us from accomplishing GOD’S purpose in life. Bold faith compels us to accept responsibility and to confront any form of discrimination in a spirit of humility and love. Bold faith takes initiative to do things for those who cannot act for themselves. Bold faith requires praise, which in turn makes it difficult to keep silent about the goodness of JESUS towards us.

By way of background, JESUS was at a point in HIS ministry/journey when HE needed rest. In this passage HE is seen deliberately withdrawing into the borders of Gentile country. It was only in this northern area that JESUS felt HE could find freedom from the crowds and HIS opponents.

The Syrophenician (or Canaanite) woman was a Greek-speaking, non-Jew and therefore a Gentile. She was from one of the seven nations to be driven out of the land of Canaan in the Old Testament. These seven nations were all descended from Ham, whose name means “black.” Though the Israelites broke their power, they did not eliminate them from the land. Phoenicians were noted for their invention of the alphabet, commerce, and their sea-faring abilities.

The Canaanite woman came with an urgent request. JESUS, aware of the enmity between HIS people and hers, allowed her to come, although HE appeared to be troubled by the interruption. Believing JESUS was the only source of help for her child, the mother endured JESUS’ rekindling of their ethnic boundaries. She heard that JESUS was the one with the power to help her. Before help is offered, however, she is faced with embarrassment and degradation. In spite of this, she refused to let HIM go until HE granted her request.

There are only two individuals whose faith JESUS pronounced to be “great.” The Canaanite woman in our story (Matthew 15:28) and the centurion (Matthew 8:10). They both were Gentiles.

1. JESUS’ SEARCH FOR REST (Mark 7:24)

This is the only recorded time that JESUS left Jewish territory. Ideally Tyre and Sidon were part of the realm of Israel. Under Joshua the tribe of Asher was allocated the land from Sidon to the city of Tyre (Joshua 19:28-29). Because they were not able to conquer the inhabitants of the land, they were not able to take possession of it. It is into this land that JESUS went to find rest.

In Mark the story of the Syrophenician woman is presented as a key transcending of boundaries which JESUS and HIS disciples experienced beginning in Mark 6:45—8:21. The detour through Gentile country began after JESUS’ disciples failed to go ahead of HIM to Bethesda on the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

This coastal area seemed to have been the only place HE could find rest from the crowds and HIS opponents. Jews were not likely to enter Gentile territory, so JESUS probably felt assured that HE could remain anonymous and receive some much needed rest. JESUS was not entering into alien territory because the land was actually given to HIS ancestors by GOD. Coming to that area suggests that JESUS was known by the Jews, who had settled in the area. So it must have been in the home of Jews that JESUS retreated.

2. A WOMAN’S SEARCH FOR HELP (vv.25-26)

A mother was in search of someone who could help her daughter who was possessed by a demon. Her search ended when she heard that JESUS was on the outskirts of the town where she lived. Apparently she had heard that JESUS was a miracle worker and was able to heal people from terrible diseases. Immediately she sought HIM out, and when she found HIM she would not let HIM go on HIS way until HE healed her daughter.

Because of her gender, the Syrophenician woman experienced the usual rejection and limitations imposed on females of her day. The very action of approaching JESUS, a male and a stranger, on behalf of her family was unconventional and deemed unacceptable based on JESUS and HIS disciples’ initial response to her (see Matthew 15:23). The care and protection of an honorable family was the responsibility of the father or other senior male relatives (Mark 1:29-34; 5:21-24a, 33-34). The request, coming from a “woman,” was considered shameful.

There is no mention of a father, husband, or any other male relative in this passage. The father may have been unwilling or unable to seek help for his family. This mother may have been a widow or unwed. Her daughter may have been her only family. As a woman, her status was already lower than her male counterparts. If she was a widow, her status was even lower, and it was lower still if she was unwed. Women could not own property, be the legitimate heads of families, or be the direct recipients of their family inheritance. If that were not enough, she had a daughter who was gravely ill, and the only person she was able to find to assist her was a historical enemy, a Jew.

Because of her lineage, and based on the customs of the day, this woman had a double strike against her. Not only was she female, she was also Syrian, a descendant of the early inhabitants of the coast- land of Phoenicia. Matthew’s account says that she was a “woman of Canaan” (15:22). The term Canaanite indicates an inhabitant of Canaan, meaning a non-Jewish inhabitant of Palestine. The Canaanites founded Sidon (Genesis 10:19) and the Phoenicians were their descendants. All the people of this region were African/Asiatic, including the Jews. Therefore, the distinction is not one of color but of culture and ethnicity. The term “Syrophenician” was an even narrower description of this woman’s ethnicity. It was used to describe a Syrian who lived in Phoenicia, and as such it distinguished the Phoenicians from the other Syrians.

This mother seemed to know that JESUS had power to help her daughter. Without question she speaks with JESUS as if she knows HE has the ability to heal her daughter. She speaks with power and unwavering faith and trust: “She besought HIM to cast forth the devil out of her daughter.” Whether she heard of JESUS’ fame or was just aware of HIS power to heal people is uncertain. What is certain is that she believed that JESUS could, and she fully expected HIM to heal her daughter.

3. A WOMAN’S FAITH IS CHALLENGED (vv.27-28)

JESUS, in previous verses, had just chided the Jewish leadership for voiding the Law of Moses with their tradition. HE speaks concerning what is clean and what is unclean concerning the ritual of washing the vessel of food. JESUS tells the disciples that it is not what goes into a person that makes them unclean, but what comes out. The encounter with the Syrophenician woman is another opportunity for JESUS to teach on what is clean and unclean.

Based on Jewish tradition Gentiles are unclean. The woman approaches JESUS on behalf of her daughter who is unclean because of a demon. JESUS made several attempts to reject the Syrophenician woman. HIS first attempt was to ignore her (Matthew 15:23) she would not be ignored. Then JESUS rebukes her and says that the “children” must have their fill first before any is given to the “dogs.” In other words, HIS mission was not to the Gentiles, but to the Children of Israel. Still the woman would not be deterred. She continues the metaphor and says that even the “dogs” get the crumbs that fall from the table. Because she is a Gentile and thought of as unclean does not mean that she should wait until Israel has had its fill. All she was asking for was the droppings or crumbs from the MASTER’S table. She refused to allow such a characterization of her ethnicity to deter her from receiving her request.

Through all her endeavors she finally sees an opening where she is hopeful that her daughter’s chance for healing will come. Her faith had been challenged, and she met the rejection and racial comments with grace and tenacity. Now she was waiting for JESUS’ response.

Was JESUS rejecting this woman of color, or was HE testing and challenging her faith? Was JESUS demonstrating to HIS disciples that persons outside Judaism could have more faith than Jews?

4. A WOMAN’S FAITH IS REWARDED (vv.29-30)

“For this saying go thy way.” Matthew’s presentation of her reward for her persistence and unwavering faith gives us a more acceptable rendition of events. “Then JESUS…said unto her, ‘O woman, great is thy faith!’” (Matthew 15:28). In this account JESUS actually compliments this mother on her commitment and trust in HIM to fulfill her heart’s desire. It is noted that here, JESUS HIMSELF congratulates her, a Gentile woman, on her faith. JESUS immortalizes her in history as one of only two persons whom HE congratulated on having “great” faith (Matthew 8:10-13; 15:28).

This mother is a model of faith in the LORD’S mercy, even when rejection and prejudice comes from the most unlikely persons. Her greatness of faith was manifested in that she came to JESUS despite the differences of religious beliefs and culture. She persevered when it seemed that her prayer would be denied. She continued her quest in spite of the obstacles, and she waited until JESUS extended mercy to her. This kind of faith prevails in the most difficult circumstances and Matthew vividly describes what resulted from this woman’s faith: “and her daughter was made whole from that very hour” (15:28b).

When arriving home, this mother found her daughter, no longer raving or in convulsions, but lying quiet on her bed. This posture of her daughter indicated the physical exhaustion that would naturally follow the intense nervous strain of demon possession, especially the last attack produced by the departing demon. Finally, she had been healed as a result of her mother’s faith and prayers.

JESUS takes this opportunity to show the disciples that faith transcends racial and ethnic barriers. HE recognizes her faith calling it “great” and then heals her daughter. She refused to allow such a characterization of her race to deter her from receiving her request. Her daughter needed help and that was all that mattered. As a result the Syrophenician woman and her daughter became clean or acceptable members of the faith community. HER HUMILITY, TENACITY, AND STEADFAST FAITH, GAINED JESUS’ ATTENTION AND HE GRANTED HER REQUEST!

Many people have refused to be molded by the pressures and expectations of what the media, society, and history deems proper. Facing the biases of society, many of us have had to exhibit an attitude and persona of strength and wisdom. Like the Syrophenician woman, we must forge ahead in the midst of controversy and succeed against the odds. How would you persevere in the face of gender, racial, and religious prejudice and rejection?

When was the last time you made a difference in someone’s life by breaking the cycle of prejudice and rejection? The cycle can be broken beginning with you. You can be a mentor to young women who face prejudice and rejection because of being a single parent. You can volunteer at a homeless shelter once a month. You can volunteer at a domestic violence shelter or at your church to be a host-site for monthly Alcohol Anonymous (AA) meetings. We can always use volunteers in COMPASSION IN ACTION’S TWILIGHT BRIGADE so that no one needs to die alone.

THINK ABOUT IT!