Beyond Boarders

A Testament of Great Faith (Matthew 15:21–28)

What imagery or thoughts does the word “faith” evoke for you? It’s a term that’s capable of functioning both as a noun and as a verb, each carrying its unique meaning.

Faith as a Noun: Beliefs and Doctrines Defined

• In its noun form, “faith” encapsulates a collection of beliefs or doctrines that one accepts as true. It’s about the specifics of belief — the underlying principles or teachings that form the basis of a faith system. Take, for instance, the Christian faith: it’s characterized by core beliefs like the divinity of Jesus Christ, His resurrection, and the concept of the Holy Trinity. This usage of ‘faith’ delves into the realm of what we believe and the doctrines we hold dear.

Faith as a Verb: The Act of Trust and Confidence

• When we shift to using ‘faith’ as a verb, it transforms into an expression of trust or confidence in someone or something. This is less about the doctrines themselves and more about the manner in which we embody belief. It’s not just acknowledging a set of truths but actively placing trust in them.

Our personal beliefs and truths — our ‘faith’ in the noun sense — form the framework of our understanding. However, when we ‘faith’ as a verb, we bring these beliefs into the realm of lived experience. It’s the practical application of our belief system, where our convictions meet our actions and decisions.

In essence, while ‘faith’ as a noun outlines the contours of our belief system, ‘faith’ as a verb brings these beliefs to life, turning beliefs into action.

Considering these interpretations of faith, where would you place your own faith (verb: trust) on a scale of 1 to 10? Now, let’s go a bit deeper: How do you imagine Jesus would assess your faith? What would His perspective be on the strength and depth of your belief and trust in him? Would He describe your faith as “great”?

In the passage we’re about to explore, we’ll witness Jesus praising the faith of a believer from an unexpected background.

Exploring Matthew 15:21–28

In Matthew 15:21–28, we’re presented with an encounter between Jesus and a Canaanite woman.

After engaging in a debate with the scribes and Pharisees about cleanliness and handwashing, Jesus decides to take a retreat from Jewish territory to the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon. Seeking a rest from the intense interactions with Jewish religious leaders, He chooses to withdraw to a place where He is less likely to be recognized.

Matthew recounts that during this retreat, Jesus is approached by a Canaanite woman, who desperately pleads with Him, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is cruelly tormented by a demon.” This incident also appears in Mark 7:25–30, where the woman is identified as a “Syrophoenician.” However, Matthew’s description of her as a “Canaanite” carries significant Old Testament connotations. The Canaanites, historically the adversaries of the Israelites, were perceived as pagans and idolaters, often associated with practices like child sacrifice. They represented the antithesis of what the Israelites stood for.

This person had no claim or right to ask for God’s blessings, yet she cries out to Jesus in despair.

Matthew emphasizes her identity by noting she was a Canaanite “from that region,” underscoring her status as an outsider. Additionally, as an unaccompanied woman approaching a Jewish rabbi, she defied cultural, social, and religious conventions in her approach to Jesus.

We know Jesus to be a compassionate healer who responds to these types of requests. Matthew tells us (15:23) that Jesus doesn’t even utter a word to her desperate pleas.

Compounding the situation, the disciples, annoyed by her persistent cries, urge Jesus to dismiss her (15:23). Adding to the desperate mother’s plight, when Jesus finally responds, he says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Jesus’ reply underscores the specific focus of his mission, highlighting that he was sent by the Father exclusively to minister to the Jews, indicating that the woman, being a non-Jew, has no basis for seeking his help.

For this mother, the situation deteriorates rapidly. She approaches Jesus, confident in His ability to heal her demon-possessed daughter, only to be met initially with silence. When Jesus finally does respond, his answer suggests that she, belonging to a different race, is not the intended recipient of his help. The disciples make matters worse for her when they urge Jesus to send her away. But this woman won’t take no for an answer.

She then kneels before him with a beggar's plea: “Lord, help me!” (15:25)

Jesus’ next reply seems to pour fuel on the fire of rejection (15:26): “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to their dogs.”

Now Jesus makes some comparisons: The children (Jews) are the rightful recipients of family’s blessings, but the dogs are not worthy of what the children receive.

Still this woman is unwavering in her request…she takes Jesus’ parable and builds on it (15:27), “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table!”

Jesus then commends her faith and grants her request (15:28), “Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.” Matthew add: “And from that moment her daughter was cured.”

What can we learn from this story?

What was it about this woman’s faith that prompted Jesus to call it “great?”
The recognition of the Canaanite woman’s faith as “great” by Jesus, particularly in the context of her being a marginalized and “unclean” Canaanite, stands out as remarkable. This commendation becomes even more significant considering the interaction that precedes it, which includes elements that could be perceived as dismissive or offensive.

In a similar situation, some individuals might have left in anger and frustration. However, this woman displayed a different approach — marked by her persistence, humility, and hope in Jesus’ ability to help her.

She persistently grappled with Jesus’ responses, including his initial silence. Her humility was evident as she acknowledged her status as an outsider to God’s covenant (illustrated in the parable of the children and the dogs) and demonstrated her submission by kneeling before Jesus. Her hope was audaciously reflected in her bold appeals.

Persistence, humility, & hope: We readily see these characteristics (and others) in the Canaanite mother and might examine our own lives and determine that we are lacking in these areas. But the point of the story isn’t to merely give us a model to emulate. The bible is filled with stories that we can “moralize” and reduce down to traits and characteristics that we need to exemplify in our lives. If that was the point of the bible, it would be similar to Aesop’s fables — nice stories that we can use as a blueprint for behavior. The bible isn’t a book of behavior modification, it’s divine revelation that reveals human fallibility and the profound nature of God.

If we identify a need to enhance certain traits in our lives, such as persistence, humility, and hope, it’s essential to consider what fuels these attributes. How can we cultivate these qualities as exemplified by the Canaanite woman? The key to her boarder-breaking faith lies in where she directed her attention. Indeed, her desperation led her to take bold actions, but it was her unwavering focus on God’s mercy and grace that truly defined her approach.

She called him ‘Lord’ and ‘Son of David’ — a Jewish term for Messiah (“savior”). She knelt before him in an act of worship and reverence. The posture of her attitude and her body embodied submission. She was utterly and totally at his mercy. And she knew that he was gracious which fueled her hope in Jesus and drove her persistence.

She saw Jesus as special which was the foundation of her approach to him. She didn’t have the New Testament or even the gospels to learn about Jesus. But she seemed to know enough. She allowed her faith (noun: beliefs) to propel her actions (verb: trust).

Do you see Jesus as special? Is His distinctiveness the cornerstone of your prayers and service to Him? Or has the sense of Jesus’ uniqueness faded in your life over time?

Perhaps it’s necessary for you to expand beyond the boarders of your current understanding of who Jesus is.

Remarkably, at the story’s conclusion, Matthew simply notes, “her daughter was healed.” In this brief sentence, he captures the essence of Jesus performing a remote exorcism. Yet, the more profound “miracle” in this narrative is Jesus’ recognition of her faith, as He declares, ‘Your faith is great.’

What kind of miracle do you typically find yourself pursuing?