The Strand Study Bible

MATTHEW MATTHEW 15:6 The scribes and Pharisees made it possible within their “traditions” (laws) for children to drop the support of their parents in order to support the Temple. Refusing to budge from tradition is where Christians become like Pharisees. 15:11 Jesus reminded His disciples that it is internal activities ( that which cometh out of the mouth , i.e., the heart), not external activities (foods), that determine a person’s spirituality. 15:12 The disciples were offended because Jesus offended the influential Pharisees. God’s people need to learn to place God’s Word above the feelings of people (II Sam 12:12:1-7 and Mt 12:46-48). Parable #13 is aimed at believers who take offense at others being offended . The character flaw – assuming the feelings of people are more important than the facts of God . They are not. Psalm 119:165 says, “ Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. ” People who get offended by the Word don’t love the Word and should be avoided. Failure to avoid them is to become like them (vs. 14, Rom 16:17-18, I Cor 5:9-13, II Thess 3:6-15, I Tim 6:3-5 and II Tim 3:1-5). 15:22 God in His infinite wisdom has left us certain isolated narratives within the Scriptures that, once uncovered, can enrich our lives spiritually as believers and teach us tremendous principles about the Christian life. The woman of Canaan , whose daughter was vexed by a demon, is one such jewel ( II Ki 5:2 and Lk 21:2 ). Few within the Bible ever rise to the occasion of greatness in God’s eyes higher than this seemingly insignificant woman of Canaan did. At this time in history, Gentiles had no right to the privileges of the children of Israel. Yet, somehow or other this Gentile lady had found faith in Christ (vs. 22) and was in need of Him to heal her daughter. At first our Lord responded to this woman of Canaan with silence concerning her request (vs. 23). When you think about it, at least other folks who came to Christ in times past got an answer. This woman got nothing. Why? Because our Lord knew full well the material with which He was working, and could take His time with this woman –a woman of extraordinary faith. THE ADAGE IS TRUE: The greater your faith, the slower may be the reply to your prayers ( Silence is also an answer to prayer) NOTE - What is so interesting about this Canaanite woman is how she responded to Christ’s seemingly callous silence toward her. She knew He had said “no” on one level, so she decided to get on another level. She worshipped Him (vs 25). She prostrated herself in humiliation before Him and said in essence, “Is this a better level in which to reach you?” Then comes our Lord’s second response toward this woman after her unbelievable act of humility. He responded with coldness . Christ reminded her in no uncertain terms that He was here due to the promises of God to Israel, not the Gentiles (vs 26). Her response to His seemingly insensitive coldness toward her was to get even lower on the scale of humility. She says to herself, “Maybe I’m not low enough yet.” So she bows her face as close to the dirt as she can and says, “I cannot argue with what you just said, LORD. It would be wrong to take the children’s bread (the promises of God to Israel) and give it to the dogs (Gentiles). But that is not what I’m asking for. I’m not asking that you grant me the promises you made to Israel. I’m asking that you grant me the crust that children normally discard (you know, the promises you’ve given to all mankind –Gen 12:3 & 18:18 & 22:18 & 26:4 & 28:14, Isa 42:6 & 49:6-8 & 52:15, Lk 2:32, Mt 21:43 and Acts 13:46-47).” Can you see Him? Can you see Jesus now, as He tries to fight back the tears of joy over this kind of faith –the kind He longs for every believer to possess? Silence , humiliation , coldness –nothing could stop this lady from trusting in her Lord. She not only got the crust –she got the whole banquet (vs 28). There was no bottom to how low she could get, if she had to, for her Lord. Those who desire the whole banquet must learn to stop with the “I’ve got to feel the Lord’s presence in order to sustain my faith” type of faith (Jn 4:46-53), or the “You owe me” type of faith (Jn 11:1-3), and start trusting His omnipresence over His presence (that is, start taking His Word and allowing that to be the last say in our life). The reason this isolated narrative is so important for the Christian is because it teaches us biblical principles concerning contentment . For example, contentment is: * Learning to be satisfied with God – Hebrews 13:5 says: Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. This woman was forced to lean on Christ. She wasn’t a part of Israel, so she didn’t have a nation to lean on. She wasn’t a part of a family (as far as we know, she didn’t have a husband), so she didn’t have a man to lean on. She wasn’t a part of her community (she was a Gentile, turned believer, and thus rejected by her own community), so she didn’t have a village to lean on. Although she, no doubt, didn’t like her circumstances, still, she had learned in whom to trust. * Learning to be satisfied with needing, not wanting – Paul said in I Timothy 6:6-10: But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows . Interestingly enough, her need was not even hers, but her daughter’s need. There is something to be said about being content with food, raiment, and concern for others (i.e., the need of others). * Learning to be satisfied without complaining – Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13: Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me . Not one time did this lady ever “poor-mouth-it”. She was never the type to say, “I have gotten as low as I am going to get, LORD, and enough is enough.” As far as she was concerned, when it came to her SAVIOR , there was “no” bottom to her humility. * Learning to be satisfied in the battle – John said in I John 4:4: … greater is He that is in you, than he (Satan) that is in the world . No matter how many demons Satan threw at this lady and her family, she was always willing to battle them. There was no “quit” in her love for God. She wasn’t about to let a little silence , a little coldness , and a little humiliation stop her from battling for God. 1520