Teachable Moment - The Syrophoenician Woman

Matthew 14:21-28

Mothers don’t take it very well when their children are in desperate need of help and the people who can help them ignore their requests. The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of a mom like that.

It’s a strange story. Upon first reading, Jesus’ actions seem un-Christlike. This mother says her daughter is suffering because she is possessed by a demon. Although she is not Jewish, she calls Jesus “Son of David.” This shows respect for him and his culture, as well as an understanding of who he is. And what does Jesus do? Nothing. He says nothing. He ignores her.

His disciples must have thought he didn’t want to be bothered with this non-Jewish woman. They told him to send her away. He replied that he was sent “only to the lost sheep of Israel” (Matthew 15:24, NIV). Did he really mean he wouldn’t help her because she wasn’t Jewish?

Jewish or not, her daughter needed something only Jesus could give, so she persisted. When she asked again for help, Jesus told her that it wasn’t right to “take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs” (Matthew 15:26, NIV). Was he really comparing this woman’s child to a dog because she wasn’t Jewish? Pretty un-Christlike, right?

What was going on there?

Considering that she needed Jesus’ help, the woman then did something very bold. She disagreed with him. She said it was right because “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table” (Matthew 15:27, NIV). Then Jesus commended her great faith and granted her request. Her daughter was healed.

Was Jesus testing her faith? Probably. But perhaps he was doing something more. This might have been what modern moms call a “teachable moment” with his disciples. Jesus created a situation in which this woman had to demonstrate the depth of her faith. This taught the disciples and any other onlookers that Jesus is for everyone. You don’t have to have the right religious training or be from the proper socioeconomic class to have faith in Jesus. The moment you have faith, regardless of who you are, you share in what he has done.

Let’s stop sending people away for being “not our type,” when Jesus sees their faith and welcomes them.

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28