Seaford Baptist Church

Reception in Tyre and Sidon

May 26th, 2009

Reception in Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30)

Jesus now withdrew from Capernaum to the region of Tyre and Sidon. At this point, the hostility from the religious leaders was fierce. So the withdrawal to Gentile region was a good move to keep the religious folks at bay, we wouldn’t want them to be unclean! But while He was there a Gentile woman has no problem approaching Him and the disciples.

She cries out Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! This Gentile woman addresses Christ by a double messianic title, for both Lord and Son of David were messianic names (Ps. 110:1; 2 Sam. 7:16). She acknowledged what the nation of Israel rejected.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Jesus ignores her request. And it is not an accident, He does it on purpose. Mind you, this did not make the woman stop requesting! She was so persistent, that the disciples asked Christ to send this woman away and to make her stop following them. In verse 24 Jesus turns to her and explains the reason He had ignored her request. Shepard says:

In Galilee he had freely ministered to the Gentiles who attended His preaching; but now the case is different. He had come to this Gentile country. If He should engage in extended ministries here He would forever close the door to all further effort on behalf of the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ This would be to defeat His wider ministry to the world later through the Jews, who were to be His emissaries when enlightened. For the same reason no other incident is recorded of any work done in Phoenicia except this one significant cure.

The woman still maintained her plea, kneeling before God Himself and pouring out her plea. Christ again rejected her petition. Don’t take the expression wrong. Those within the kingdom were like the children, and those outside of the kingdom were like the dogs. But the woman recognized that the Master was Master of both the children and what they did. And it is not uncommon for children to make sure they leave crumbs behind so their pets get something to eat. What wisdom in this woman’s answer! She would not be denied. She asked for what the children of Israel cast aside. And her daughter was healed immediately. This turning of a woman, in faith, to the King of Kings…well, the disciples needed to see this because Jesus was getting closer and closer to giving His life for all people.

For the question of the day, reflect on the behavior / attitude of the disciples.

GETTING PAST “CHURCH PEOPLE”
One of the obstacles the Canaanite woman had to overcome was the dismissive attitude of the disciples. Likewise, seekers today are advised not to judge the gospel on their first impression of most church folk.

If you are seeking help from Jesus, don’t be put off by the airs and attitudes of some people who claim to know him. Christians are not perfect. “Get rid of her,” said the disciples. And so today in many different ways people in need of Jesus are put off by the “righteous.”

If you’re looking for Jesus, don’t stop until you find him. And when you find him, try your best to be as generous and loving to others as he is.
(from The Life Application Commentary Series Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 by the Livingstone Corporation. Produced with permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.)

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Entry Filed under: Bible Study, Bryan Dunn