Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus's praise, "O woman, great is your faith!" isn't just an observation; it’s a direct response to her clever argument. Her willingness to be considered a "dog" to receive "crumbs" from the Master's table powerfully demonstrates her faith’s resilience and deep understanding, even as it highlights the Jewish people's missed opportunities.
Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus, seeking a moment of private retreat in the regions of Tyre and Sidon, is approached by a persistent Gentile woman. Despite Jesus' initial silence and statements suggesting his mission was solely for the "lost sheep of Israel," she continues to plead for her demon-possessed daughter. She even uses Jesus' own challenging analogy of "dogs" and "crumbs" to press her case, demonstrating remarkable faith and humility.
Jesus famously remained silent, and even called her a 'dog.' What kind of faith keeps going when the answer seems impossible?
This woman's faith wasn't passive; it was active and tenacious. Jesus initially said nothing (Matthew 15:23), a harsh silence that would make many give up. Then, He deliberately used language that seemed to exclude her, comparing her to a 'dog' being denied the 'children's bread' (Matthew 15:26). These weren't just casual remarks; they were tests designed to gauge the depth of her trust.
Her response was remarkable. Instead of being crushed, she used Jesus' own words as fuel. 'Certainly, Lord,' she agreed, 'yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table' (Matthew 15:27). She didn't argue against the exclusion but found a way to claim even a remnant of grace. This shows that true faith doesn't crumble under pressure; it refines itself, adapting and persevering until its objective is met.
Jesus spoke of 'children's bread' and 'dogs.' What did this specific phrasing mean, and how did the woman turn it around?
When Jesus said, 'It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs' (Matthew 15:26), He was speaking within a specific cultural and theological context. For the Jews, the 'children' were Israel, the chosen people with whom God had made a special covenant. The 'bread' symbolized the blessings and salvation promised through the Messiah, which were primarily intended for them.
The woman, however, refused to be defined as an outsider. By cleverly re-framing the analogy, she declared, 'even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table' (Matthew 15:27). She wasn't demanding the whole loaf; she was asking for the overflow, the remnants, the grace that extended beyond the immediate covenant people. This powerful response highlighted that God's mercy, while initially focused on Israel, was not intended to be contained forever. Her faith anticipated the broader expansion of God's kingdom to the Gentiles, a truth Jesus ultimately affirmed.
Ask a follow-up
After such a struggle, Jesus' final words are powerful. What does His commendation and the instant healing reveal about faith's value?
The climax of this encounter is Jesus' direct affirmation: 'O woman, great is your faith!' (Matthew 15:28). This wasn't just a casual compliment; it was a profound theological statement. Jesus, the Son of God, recognized and lauded her extraordinary trust, especially given her background and the severe tests she endured. Her faith was deemed 'great' because it was humble, persistent, and deeply confident in who Jesus was and what He could do, even when faced with what seemed like divine refusal.
The immediate healing of her daughter ('And her daughter was healed instantly.') is the tangible result of that great faith. It demonstrates that faith, when it truly grasms God's promises and power, is incredibly effective. Jesus didn't just grant her request; He used her faith as a teaching moment, highlighting its immense value and power to access God's grace, not just for herself but for her suffering child.
Understand the original words
pistis · Greek Noun
Biblical faith is the confident trust in God's character and power, evidenced by actions and persistence. It is the channel through which God's grace and blessings are received.
iaomai · Greek Verb
To restore to physical, emotional, or spiritual wholeness. In the Gospels, healing serves as a sign of the arrival of the Kingdom of God and the Messianic authority of Jesus.
This event, occurring in Gentile territory, marks a pivotal moment where Jesus demonstrates that His compassion and healing power extend beyond the Jewish people, foreshadowing the future mission to the Gentiles.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus travels to Tyre and Sidon
Jesus intentionally travels into Gentile territory, seeking a period of rest and anonymity. This move outside of Jewish lands sets the stage for an encounter with a non-Jew.
c. 30 AD
Encounter with the Syrophoenician woman
A Greek woman from the region, whose daughter is demon-possessed, persistently pleads with Jesus for help. Jesus initially tests her faith by seeming to prioritize the 'lost sheep of Israel'.
c. 30 AD
Jesus commends the woman's faith
The woman's clever responses and unwavering faith, even when called a 'dog,' impress Jesus. He declares her faith to be great and grants her request, healing her daughter from a distance.
c. 30 AD
Jesus returns to Galilee
Following this encounter, Jesus returns to the Sea of Galilee, demonstrating the beginning of His ministry's outreach beyond the Jewish people.
This passage highlights the foundational principle that faith comes from hearing the word of God, which resonates with the Canaanite woman's strong faith despite initial silence and harsh words from Jesus.
Matthew 8:10Jesus expresses astonishment at the faith of the Roman centurion, another non-Israelite, mirroring his reaction to the Canaanite woman and showing a pattern of Christ marveling at the faith of Gentiles.
Mark 7:29This parallel account shows Jesus directly linking the healing of the daughter to the woman's words, emphasizing how her insightful response to his 'dog' analogy was the turning point.
Ephesians 2:14This verse speaks of Christ breaking down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles, which provides theological context for Jesus' initial reservation and eventual inclusion of the Gentile woman in his ministry.
Luke 18:7Jesus' parable of the persistent widow illustrates the importance of unceasing prayer and faith in the face of apparent delay or injustice, a theme powerfully echoed in the Canaanite woman's interaction with Jesus.
calvinMatthew 15:21-28: "Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon."
- And Jesus departing thence withdrew into the territories of Tyre and Sidon. 22. And, lo, a woman of Canaan, who had come from those territories, cried saying, Have compassion on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously afflicted by a devil. 23. But he made no reply to her, and his disciples approaching implored him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24. But he answering…
henryMatthew 15:21-28: "Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon."
15:21-28 The dark corners of the country, the most remote, shall share Christ's influences; afterwards the ends of the earth shall see his salvation. The distress and trouble of her family brought a woman to Christ; and though it is need that drives us to Christ, yet we shall not therefore be driven from him. She did not limit Christ to any particular instance of mercy, but mercy, mercy, is what she begg…
Jesus's praise, "O woman, great is your faith!" isn't just an observation; it’s a direct response to her clever argument. Her willingness to be considered a "dog" to receive "crumbs" from the Master's table powerfully demonstrates her faith’s resilience and deep understanding, even as it highlights the Jewish people's missed opportunities.
Jesus, seeking a moment of private retreat in the regions of Tyre and Sidon, is approached by a persistent Gentile woman. Despite Jesus' initial silence and statements suggesting his mission was solely for the "lost sheep of Israel," she continues to plead for her demon-possessed daughter. She even uses Jesus' own challenging analogy of "dogs" and "crumbs" to press her case, demonstrating remarkable faith and humility.
Jesus, seeking a moment of private retreat in the regions of Tyre and Sidon, is approached by a persistent Gentile woman. Despite Jesus' initial silence and statements suggesting his mission was solely for the "lost sheep of Israel," she continues to plead for her demon-possessed daughter. She even uses Jesus' own challenging analogy of "dogs" and "crumbs" to press her case, demonstrating remarkable faith and humility.
"Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly." — Jesus's praise, "O woman, great is your faith!" isn't just an observation; it’s a direct response to her clever argument. Her willingness to be considered a "dog" to receive "crumbs" from the Master'…
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Last reviewed October 2026