Mercy to a Stranger

I - The Scene:

a) Jesus withdrew into gentile territory.

b) Breaking up with wrong separatism

c) Here’s a certain reason why Jesus went to Canaan

II – The Text: Jesus goes “south of the border”, enters a house and on his way back…

The movement of the text is fascinating:

1. She asked correctly: “she began to cry out: have mercy on me”.

2. Jesus ignored her: 23 But [Jesus] did not answer her a word.

3. Reversed intercession: the disciples became irritated at the woman’s impertinence.

4. Jesus’ answer to the disciples: 24 But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

5. Verse 25 - at this point, it appears that Jesus had stopped. This gave the woman an opportunity to draw near Him.

6. Jesus’ reply was even more humiliating to the woman. He reiterated His previous statement, but this time it was more painful.

7. The woman turned Jesus’ words to her advantage.

8. Jesus granted her request:

III - The Gospel Illustration:

Why does this passage illustrate the gospel?

a) Because Jesus did not grant the woman’s request on account of her orthodoxy.

b) He did not grant the woman’s request on account of her humility.

c) He did not grant the woman’s request on account of her insistence.

d) He gave the woman what she wanted, because she had her faith on the right place.