Rev. David Holwick K
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
March 27, 2011
Matthew 15:21-28
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I. Was it a bad day, or something else?
A. The sad case of Mel Gibson.
In July 2006, Mel Gibson was pulled over for speeding in Malibu,
California.
He had an open container of alcohol in the car so he was
arrested for driving under the influence.
Somehow he found out the police officer was Jewish.
Gibson responded, "Jews are responsible for all the wars in
the world."
It just about finished his career.
But his movies have earned $4.6 billion worldwide, and he made a
bunch of apologies, so the public gave him another chance.
Then last year his Russian girlfriend taped him abusively cursing
her out on the telephone.
Someone leaked it and immediately it was on the internet,
Entertainment News Tonight, CNN, Fox News - you name it.
Mel Gibson's career was toast.
B. What if Jesus had lived in the modern media era?
This one episode would have done him in.
A desperate mother comes and pleads for her child.
He ignores her.
She keeps it up so even the disciples are distressed.
He tells them, "I was sent to the people of Israel. Period."
She gets down on her knees, begging for mercy.
It is not for her, but for her child.
Jesus says, "I can't take the children's bread and toss it to
dogs."
Some Canaanite would have recorded it on their smartphone,
uploaded it the New York Times, and that would have been it.
The media would have crucified him before the Romans ever got
a chance.
C. Sometimes we can learn the most from difficult passages.
1) Someone who had a preview of the passage said, "I want to
see where you take this."
2) It is certainly presents a lot of problems.
a) Jesus seems harsh and rude.
b) There is the issue of ethnic divisions.
c) Not to mention religious arrogance.
3) But when we dig through the details, we find that it is a
remarkable story of God's grace and Jesus' mission.
II. In alien land.
A. Jesus goes to Tyre and Sidon.
1) These cities were ancient enemies of Israel.
a) The books of the Old Testament prophets are filled
with denunciations of these people.
b) Woman is identified as a Canaanite, which reinforces
this.
2) Jesus probably went there thinking he would be alone.
a) The gospel of Mark tells us he tried to go into a house
incognito.
b) He was trying to hide from the crowds. Mark 7:24
B. Yet this woman finds him.
1) She doesn't just find him, but hounds him.
a) The disciples were unhinged by her loud cries.
b) There is nothing quite like a desperate woman.
2) Her anguish is because her daughter is demon-possessed.
a) No details are given, but the mother says the girl is
suffering terribly.
b) Mom pleads for mercy (presumably, a healing).
III. Jesus seems out of character.
A. He ignores her. 15:23
1) Apparently she kept wailing.
2) Disciples ask him to deal with her.
a) Most likely, they are asking him to do the healing
quickly so she will go away.
b) (Otherwise, his response in verse 24 doesn't make sense.)
B. He highlights their religious differences. 15:24
1) Apparently speaking to the disciples, he says his mission
is limited to the lost sheep of Israel.
a) Therefore, he doesn't have an obligation to her since
she is a foreigner.
b) It is interesting that the woman seems to anticipate
this.
1> At the beginning of the encounter she addresses
him as the Son of David.
2> This is a title the Jews gave the Messiah.
3> So this Gentile knew enough about Judaism to
get her toe in the crack.
2) His limited mission was part of God's greater plan.
a) God chose the Jews to start with.
1> They received his revelations and laws.
2> Jesus was born within the Jewish system to complete
that revelation.
3> The focus of his ministry was to reach the chosen
people, the Jews.
b) God did have good plans for everyone else, too.
1> Even the call of Abraham anticipates the blessing
Abraham will have on the whole world.
2> Many Jews probably assumed the future Messiah would
accomplish this.
c) Did Jesus himself assume it was for the distant future?
1> He had already experienced foreigners who were
interested in his ministry.
2> A Roman army sergeant (centurion) had already shown
great faith in him.
3> But Jesus' primary focus was to be for the Jews.
3) Religious differences mattered to Jesus. John 4:22
a) On another occasion, a Samaritan woman at a well
tried to deflect the religious angle -
"You do it your way, we do it ours."
b) Jesus responded, "Salvation is of the Jews."
1> He never compromised on Judaism as the true faith.
C. Jesus gets harsh.
1) "It's not right to take kids' bread and toss it to dogs."
a) Many are deeply offended by his response.
1> Is he lumping all Gentiles with dirty dogs?
2> My alternate sermon title: "Rude Jesus."
b) It sounds like he is saying, "You are scum and I don't
waste time on scum."
1> This would be the line that would get him
blacklisted today.
2) Is it possible to alleviate the harshness?
a) The statement is probably a proverb and may not have
seemed as harsh to them as it does to us.
b) Jews had two words for dogs, and Jesus is the term for
household pets rather than the lowly scavenging kind.
1> Even so, if you call someone a nice dog you are
still calling them a dog.
2> And Jews did refer to Gentiles as dogs back then.
c) I believe this approach misses the point.
3) The tone means everything.
a) It could be that Jesus was speaking tongue-in-cheek.
b) It is interesting that the woman plays along with him.
c) Perhaps Jesus had a sense of humor much like mine.
1> He is not deliberately insulting her, but digging
for a deeper response.
2> She rises to the occasion.
IV. Jesus meets his match.
A. She honors him by kneeling, almost as if she is worshipping him.
1) "Lord" may be worshipful, or just respectful.
2) Notice how the woman agrees with Jesus.
a) She doesn't contradict or criticize him.
b) She agrees it IS wrong to give kids' bread to dogs --
but even the dogs get some crumbs.
B. Her punchline wins the day.
1) Jesus recognizes her great faith.
a) She is not just a "dog" but dogged - she doesn't give up.
b) She gets what she came for -- and like the Roman
centurion, she gets the healing by long distance.
2) You should know that Jesus often commended Gentiles who
had faith in him in spite of the barriers.
a) They will have seats in the Kingdom of God that should
have gone to Chosen People.
b) He anticipated a great response in the whole world to
his message - and perhaps this woman gave him greater
insight into this aspect of God's plan.
V. What do we do with an episode like this?
A. Everyone is unworthy.
1) You might say we are all dogs before God.
a) We must acknowledge our unworthiness.
b) Like the woman, we cannot demand blessings from God,
but can only plead for his mercy and goodness.
2) Our greatest need is to know Jesus.
a) The Canaanite woman knew that he was the only one who
could help her.
b) He is the only one who can help you.
B. Believe even when the door seems shut.
1) This woman never gave up.
a) The door seemed to be slammed in her face but she knew
better.
b) God's "no" may not be a "no."
c) We can presume upon God's grace, just as she did.
2) The context shows Jesus' apparent rudeness has a point.
a) Gentiles CAN receive God's grace.
b) As a matter of fact, they became the core of the church.
1> Old divisions like race and social class and
nationality are not barriers to God.
2> He is willing to accept you.
c) How have you responded to God's message?
C. God's crumbs are sufficient.
1) The needs you have may not be as great as those of others.
a) But they are very real needs to you:
1> Employment.
2> Health.
3> More fulfilling relationships.
b) Tell Jesus what you want him to do for you, and see
what happens.
2) The best crumb makes all the difference.
a) It is the salvation that comes from being committed
to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
b) Have you humbled yourself before him?
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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