JESUS AND THE PAGAN MOTHER Matt. 15:21-28
BACKGROUND: Tyre and Sidon are in Phoenicia, 45 to 60 km from Galilee. Canaanites were pagans and idolaters, and the arch enemies of the Jews in the past. King David had ruled Israel 1,000 years earlier (verse 22). The woman calls Jesus Son of David, even though the lineage of the Messiah was not generally known at the time. There are only two people in the Gospels whose faith Jesus called great, both pagans. In contrast, he often reprimanded his disciples for their lack of faith.
1.
• From the parallel text in the Gospel of Mark, we can conclude that the woman came to Jesus without her daughter. Think about different reasons for the woman to leave her daughter behind.
• Why didn’t the father come with the mother?
• Try to imagine what this mother’s everyday life had possibly been like.
• What kind of relationship did the family’s other children possibly have with the possessed sister?
• What may the neighbors have thought about this family?
2.
• What measures had the mother possibly taken to help her daughter before coming to Jesus?
• For what did she perhaps blame herself?
• Who are the mothers of our time carrying the same kind of pain in their hearts as this woman?
3.
• The Canaanite woman knew something about Jesus that not even many Jews were aware of – that he was David’s direct descendant (verse 22). How could she have learned this fact?
• Why did the woman first ask for mercy for herself (verse 22)?
4. Jesus usually always answered people’s pleas for help. Why did he remain silent when faced by this woman’s agony (verse 23)?
• Why didn’t the woman go home after hearing what Jesus said to his disciples?
5.
• How did the Canaanite woman react to Jesus’ second rejection (verses 23b-24)?
• How would you react if Jesus treated you as he treated this woman?
6.
• Jews considered dogs unclean animals and could sometimes call pagans dogs. What may Jesus have wanted to say by calling the Canaanite woman “a puppy” rather than a dog? (verse 26)
• Dogs were never let inside the house, but puppies could sometimes be allowed. What do you think about the woman’s reply to Jesus’ third rejection (27)?
7.
• Why do you think Jesus remained silent for so long when faced by the woman’s suffering?
• What would have happened had the woman immediately received what she asked of Jesus?
• What would have happened if Jesus had quickly provided help in a big problem in your life?
• Why does everyone’s faith have to be tested?
8.
• What do you think the disciples thought of Jesus’ words in verse 28?
• What made the woman’s faith great? Try to find as many signs of a great faith as possible (verse 28).
• How had this great faith come to be in the woman’s heart?
• What made the woman believe not only in the power of Jesus but also in his love?
9. Mark reveals the end to this story: “So she went home and found the child lying in bed, and the demon was gone.”
(Mark 7:30). What do you think: did the woman believe her daughter had healed when she was still on her way home or did she doubt? Justify your answer.
• What changed in the family’s life after this miracle?
GLAD TIDINGS: As he was hanging on the cross, Jesus had to trust in the silent God. This is what he cried out: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? (Ps. 22:2). At that moment, Jesus’ faith was very similar to the faith of the Canaanite woman. The difference between the two situations was that with Jesus God fell silent because of his wrath, with the Canaanite woman because of his love. On the cross, Jesus carried the burden of God’s wrath that should have been directed at us because of our unbelief. What does this fact mean to you?
***
Version for printing
Downloads
Contact us
Webmaster