Introduction:
There are parts of Scripture that are ESPECIALLY offensive to unbelievers.
All of God’s Word represents what an unbeliever has no appetite for. But there are certain sections of God’s Word that are especially shocking to the sensibilities of an unregenerate person.
Sometimes offensive because the unbeliever has a hard time accepting the truth about the human condition - and God’s Word rightly assesses the sinful human condition.
Sometimes offensive because the unbeliever’s pride is assaulted by the Creator’s judgment of his sinfulness -God’s Word judges the unregenerate man or woman as being worthy of His wrath.
Sometimes offensive because the standards of God, viewed without humility, seem unfair, unjust, unacceptable.
ALL OF GOD’S WORD IS SOMETHING THE UNBELIEVER CANNOT BEAR TO HEAR, BUT SOME SECTIONS REPRESENT ESPECIALLY “HARD SAYINGS.”
ESV John 6:53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." 59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. 60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"
This is one of those sections.
If you don’t accept the sovereign rights of almighty God over all humanity - this section will offend you.
If you don’t accept the sovereign right of God to afford special status to a particular nation - the nation of Israel - by virtue of a covenant relationship that God chose to give them - this section will offend you.
If you don’t accept that man deserves nothing, and that all mercies are gracious mercies - then, this passage is especially offensive.
BUT IF YOU HAVE MET WITH THE GRACE OF GOD.
IF YOU ADMIRE THE CHANGE IN HUMAN NATURE THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD PRODUCES.
IF YOU RECOGNIZE THE WISDOM OF GOD’S DEALINGS WITH MEN AND WOMEN.
IF YOU RECOGNIZE THE BEAUTY OF HUMILITY
THEN, this passage is one of the most beautiful in the New Testament.
Your spiritual condition is tested by your response to a section like this one.
• A DESPERATE MOTHER (vs.21-22)
The first thing that we recognize in our verses is the presence of a desperate mother.
• THE IDENTITY OF THE WOMAN (vs.21-22a)
Jesus leaves the previous scene. He is no longer in the presence of the Pharisees, and of the crowds. He has “withdrawn.” And the two cities that are mentioned Tyre and Sidon are in Gentile territory.
If you look at a map, Tyre and Sidon are on the Mediterranean coast, with Tyre about 30 miles from Galilee, and Sidon about 50 miles. These were Phoenician cities.
In fact, Matthew describes this woman as a “Canaanite” woman.
This is a woman who is not a Jew. She is described using a term that not only identifies her as a Gentile (Mark calls her a Greek (Ἑλληνίς) and a Syrophoenician (from Phoenicia, an area considered part of Syria)) but would also remind us that she belonged to a people who are ancient enemies of the Jewish people.
• THE DESPARATE PLIGHT OF THE WOMAN (vs.22)
Why is she making her way to Jesus? She tells us.
Her daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.
• SHE ADDRESSES JESUS AS LORD
• SHE ADDRESSES JESUS AS “SON OF DAVID” (MESSIANIC)
• SHE APPEALS TO JESUS WITH HER NEED
And as the rest of the narrative will show, these are not superficial words. This is not an empty profession.
These words reflect a genuine faith.
And in this entire encounter, the Spirit of God, through Matthew, is teaching us something more than we might immediately recognize.
D.A. Carson does a good job of summarizing this:
“It not only records Jesus’ withdrawal from the opposition of the Pharisees and teachers of the law (cf. 14:13) but contrasts their approach to the Messiah with that of this woman. They belong to the covenant people but take offense at the conduct of Jesus’ disciples, challenge his authority, and are so defective in understanding the Scriptures that they show themselves not to be plants the heavenly Father has planted. But this woman is a pagan, a descendant of ancient enemies, and one who has no claim on the God of the covenant. Yet in the end, she approaches the Jewish Messiah and with great faith asks only for grace, and her request is granted (cf. 8:5-13).”
THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD HAVE RESPONDED WITH FAITH, PROVE THEMSELVES TO BE HOSTILE TO THEIR OWN KING, WHILE A WOMAN WHO DESCENDS FROM ANCIENT ENEMIES HAS TRUE FAITH IN ONE WHO CAN ONLY BE HER KING BY THE MERCY OF GOD.