Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. How is the woman who approaches Jesus identified? What does she want? See Mark 7:25-26 and Matthew 15:22 (printed below)
Immediately a woman, whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, and who had heard about Jesus, came and fell down at his feet. (26) Now the woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by race. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. (Mark 7:25-26)
A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is grievously tormented by a demon. (Matthew 15:22)
The woman is identified as “a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by race.” Matthew uses the term “Canaanite” to describe her. The point is, this woman is a Gentile, not a Jew; indeed, a Gentile of the worst sort, “a Canaanite.” She comes to Jesus with the request that He would deliver her little daughter who is demon-possessed.
2. Describe the woman’s attitude and conduct when she approaches Jesus. See Mark 7:25 and Matthew 15:22 (printed below)
Immediately a woman, whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, and who had heard about Jesus, came and fell down at his feet. (Mark 7:25)
A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is grievously tormented by a demon. (Matthew 15:22)
This woman humbles herself before Jesus, falling down at His feet. She begs Him to deliver her daughter from the unclean spirit. She acknowledges Jesus as the Lord and the Son of David (Matthew 15:22); in other words, she confesses that Jesus is Israel’s long-expected Messiah.
3. What does Jesus say to her? See Mark 7:27 and Matthew 15:24 (printed below) What does He mean?
But he said to her, First let the children be fed; for it is not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the little dogs. (Mark 7:27)
Then he responded to her and said, I was only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:24)
Jesus says to her, “First let the children be fed; for it is not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the little dogs.” Jesus is indicating that, as the promised Messiah, His ministry must first be to the people of Israel. Nevertheless, it is clear that in God’s appointed time the gospel would go out to all the world (see Matthew 28:19)
4. How does the woman react when she is initially spurned by Jesus? See Mark 7:28 and Matthew 15:23-27 (printed below)
But she answered and said to him, But, Lord; even the little dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. (Mark 7:28)
But he did not say a word to her. His disciples came and begged him, Send her away, for she keeps crying out and following us. (24) Then he responded to her and said, I was only sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (25) But she came and bowed down before him, saying, Lord, help me. (26) Then he replied, It is not fitting to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs. (27) But she said, But, Lord, even the little dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. (Matthew 15:23-27)
When Jesus at first ignores her, the woman does not go away; on the contrary, she continues to beg for His help. She is so persistent that the disciples beg Jesus to send her away. When Jesus identifies her with the household pet dogs, she does not become offended; she humbly accepts that identification and points out that even those little dogs receive the crumbs that drop from the dinner table.
5. How does Jesus finally respond to this woman’s humble and persistent pleading on behalf of her daughter? See Mark 7:29 and Matthew 15:28 (printed below)
Then he said to her, For giving this answer, you may go your way in peace; the demon has gone out of your daughter. (Mark 7:29)
Then Jesus responded and said to her, O woman, great is your faith. Your desire is granted. And her daughter was healed at that very hour. (Matthew 15:28)
Jesus compliments her for her great faith (Matthew 15:28). He then pronounces His benediction of peace upon her (Mark 7:29) and sends her away with the assurance that her request has been granted (Matthew 15:28). Matthew informs us that her daughter was healed at that very hour.
