A Humble "Dog"

Matthew 15:21-28

It is hard to watch a child who is sick, especially when we know the sickness is terminal. I have had the privilege of knowing a couple of children like this. One was a teenage young woman who was an absolute joy to be around. She had such a positive outlook on life. She eventually succumbed to her illness and is now in Heaven. I also met a sweet young girl in Costa Rica on a mission trip. She did not speak English and my Spanish is very limited. She would look down and then peek up to see if I was looking at her. When she saw me smiling she would laugh. Just before I left for home I was told that she too had a terminal illness. I do not know what became of her. That was 10 years ago and if she is still alive, she would be a young adult woman now.

In our story today, Jesus learns of a sick child. His response is puzzling and could be hard to understand. On the other hand, the mother's love is evident.

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Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Matthew 15:21-28

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At first glance, this seems like such a harsh passage and Jesus does not appear to be kind or loving. However, if the character of Jesus ever comes into question, we must look deeper. There is more to the story than that which is obvious.

The first thing we see is that Jesus was in Tyre and Sidon. These were Gentile cities. Not only were they Gentile cities, but they were wicked Gentile cities. Both had been prophesied against in the Old Testament because of their wickedness. The woman comes to Jesus because her daughter is "grievously vexed with a devil". We do not know the effects of this evil spirit in her other than it was "grievous". No matter how it afflicted her, this mother had watched her daughter suffer and she was at her whit's end. She didn't know what else to do. Then she heard that Jesus was in town and he was a miracle worker.

She runs to him and cries out for help, but Jesus does something strange, He ignores her. The woman's pleading irritated the disciples and they asked Jesus to send her away. This prompts Jesus to respond and he tells her that He was sent to the "lost sheep of Israel". He basically said, "I am sent to the Jews, and you are no Jew." She worshiped Him and and again begged Him for help. This time, Jesus responds with what appears to be a more harsh statement. He says, "It is not meet (good or noble) to take the children's bread , and cast it to dogs". Can you imagine? This sounds horrible!

The woman would not be deterred. She says something amazing, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table". This woman had no pride left. She was humbling herself completely before Jesus for help. There was nothing left to do if He could or would not help. This is exactly where Jesus wanted her.

I do not believe this lesson on humility was for this woman. Yes, Jesus was testing her to see if she would persist, but I believe the lesson is for us. By us, I mean Christians. This includes His disciples then and now. This is how we should go before Jesus and ask anything. We should humble ourselves as low as we humanly can because we are in the presence of the God of the Universe.

Because of her desire to see her child healed, this mother was not too proud to be called a dog, or to refer to herself as a dog. If Jesus had asked her to give her life for her daughter, she probably would have gladly complied. That is what loving parents do. So often, we ask God once for something and then get mad at Him when he doesn't give us our request. This woman begged over and over again. She fell on her face. She humbled herself, even to the point of being called a dog. Shouldn't we who are intimately aware of both our sins and the price that was paid to redeem us be willing to do the same, or more? That is the lesson we are to learn from this woman's example.

Father, may I not be too proud to humble myself before you. May I realize my sinful condition and your holiness. May I not think myself any better than a dog that eats the crumbs from under the table. If I am to be exalted, may it be by you and not by my own pride, for you resist the proud.