Matthew 15:28
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)
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Jesus' direct praise, "O woman, great is your faith!" immediately follows his challenging metaphor about dogs and crumbs. This highlights that her persistent humility, even when seemingly rejected, truly impressed Him. He's not just granting a request, but commending her profound trust that defied his initial hesitations.
Jesus has withdrawn into the region of Tyre and Sidon, seeking a moment of quiet, but a Canaanite woman, hearing of him, desperately pleads for her demon-possessed daughter. Despite Jesus' initial silence and his disciples' request to send her away, and even his provocative comparison of Gentiles to dogs, this woman's persistent and humble faith leads Jesus to commend her and grant her request.
Imagine pouring out your heart to Jesus, only to be met with silence. What do you do when the answer you desperately need doesn't come?
Jesus' initial silence towards the Canaanite woman wasn't a sign of indifference, but a deliberate test.
A Deliberate Delay
This woman came to Jesus with a desperate plea for her daughter. Jesus, for reasons known best to Him, remained silent. This wasn't a sign that He didn't care, but rather a way to draw out the depth of her conviction.
Testing the Heart
Jesus often tests our faith, not to find out what He doesn't know, but to reveal to us the strength and sincerity of our own hearts. Her persistence through His silence showed that her faith wasn't easily shaken.
Jesus called her a 'dog' and His message harsh. How could such words lead to a miracle?
Jesus' challenging words to the Canaanite woman were a profound test of humility and a redirection of His mission.
A Shift in Focus
Jesus stated, 'I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel' (Matthew 15:24). This highlights His primary mission at that stage of His ministry. However, He wasn't saying He couldn't help Gentiles, but rather that His immediate focus was on Israel.
Faith's Humble Reasoning
Instead of recoiling from the harsh label, the woman used it to her advantage. She agreed, 'Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' tables' (Matthew 15:27). This wasn't an insult to her, but a brilliant display of humility and a logical extension of Jesus' own analogy. She accepted her perceived lowliness but still believed there was value even in the 'crumbs' of God's grace.
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 encounter highlights Jesus's compassion extending beyond ethnic and religious boundaries, demonstrating that faith, not lineage, is the key to receiving God's grace, even in a time when his ministry was primarily directed toward Israel.
c. 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus travels into Gentile territories
Jesus intentionally enters the regions of Tyre and Sidon, areas primarily populated by Gentiles, a departure from his usual ministry focused on Jewish communities.
c. 1st century AD
A Syrophoenician woman seeks healing
A Gentile woman from the region approaches Jesus, desperately seeking healing for her demon-possessed daughter. She identifies Jesus as 'Lord, Son of David,' showing an awareness of Jewish messianic expectations.
c. 1st century AD
Jesus tests the woman's faith
Jesus initially remains silent, then states he was sent only to the 'lost sheep of Israel.' He further tests her by using the analogy of not taking children's bread and giving it to dogs.
c. 1st century AD
The woman's persistent faith
Despite the initial silence and challenging words, the woman perseveres, arguing that even dogs eat the crumbs from their master's table, demonstrating remarkable faith and humility.
This passage echoes the woman's plea by emphasizing that 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,' highlighting the universal accessibility of God's mercy when faith is present, even for those outside the covenant community.
Mark 7:29This verse provides a parallel account where Jesus directly links the healing to the woman's statement, stating, 'For this saying, go your way; the demon has left your daughter.' It reinforces that the healing was granted specifically because of her persistent and insightful faith.
Matthew 8:10Jesus' astonishment at the centurion's faith ('Truly, I tell you, with no one in all Israel have I found such great faith!') draws a parallel to his declaration about the Canaanite woman's faith, showing that extraordinary faith can be found even in Gentiles.
James 1:6The encouragement to ask 'in faith, with no doubting' speaks directly to the woman's unwavering persistence despite Jesus' initial silence and seemingly harsh words, demonstrating that true faith endures through trials.
Isaiah 55:1This verse's invitation, 'Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!' resonates with the woman's persistent seeking and willingness to accept even the 'crumbs,' illustrating God's abundant grace offered freely to all who seek Him.
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' direct praise, "O woman, great is your faith!" immediately follows his challenging metaphor about dogs and crumbs. This highlights that her persistent humility, even when seemingly rejected, truly impressed Him. He's not just granting a request, but commending her profound trust that defied his initial hesitations.
Jesus has withdrawn into the region of Tyre and Sidon, seeking a moment of quiet, but a Canaanite woman, hearing of him, desperately pleads for her demon-possessed daughter. Despite Jesus' initial silence and his disciples' request to send her away, and even his provocative comparison of Gentiles to dogs, this woman's persistent and humble faith leads Jesus to commend her and grant her request.
Jesus has withdrawn into the region of Tyre and Sidon, seeking a moment of quiet, but a Canaanite woman, hearing of him, desperately pleads for her demon-possessed daughter. Despite Jesus' initial silence and his disciples' request to send her away, and even his provocative comparison of Gentiles to dogs, this woman's persistent and humble faith leads Jesus to commend her and grant her request.
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What does it mean for Jesus Himself to declare your faith 'great'?
Jesus' final words to the woman are a powerful affirmation of her extraordinary faith and the immediate reality of her daughter's healing.
The Highest Commendation
When Jesus said, 'O woman, great is your faith,' it wasn't just praise; it was an acknowledgment of a faith that had persevered through silence, rejection, and even a direct comparison to a dog. This wasn't a faith that understood everything perfectly, but a faith that clung to Jesus even when His words seemed to push her away.
Faith's Powerful Result
'Let it be done for you as you desire.' This wasn't merely a passive granting of her wish, but an active decree stemming from the power of her faith. The instant healing of her daughter, 'from that very hour,' demonstrates that faith, especially the kind that clings to God's promises amidst trials, has the power to unlock miraculous intervention.
c. 1st century AD
Jesus grants the request
Impressed by her extraordinary faith, Jesus commends her and grants her request, declaring her daughter is healed instantly.
"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' direct praise, "O woman, great is your faith!" immediately follows his challenging metaphor about dogs and crumbs. This highlights that her persistent humility, even when seemingly rejected, t…
