Commentary on Matthew 15: 22-28

The Canaanite woman had a great need in this passage, her daughter was vexed with a demon. The bible encourages us to call upon the name of the Lord and He will answer (Jeremiah 29:12). She positioned herself in that word and called upon the Lord Jesus to have mercy on her, but the Lord did not answer her. As usual, his disciples asked that he command her to go away because they wanted privacy for the Master. Jesus in response to their request said I am sent to the lost sheep of Israel. He was saying woman your time will come but as for now I have come for the lost sheep and you are not one of them.

After the woman heard the verdict of Jesus she fell down and worshipped him, an act of worship that even the lost or the found sheep of Israel had not learnt. I believe that the Lord’s heart was stirring within Him and he replied  “It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.” I will paraphrase it “I desire to help you woman but now I am sent to the lost sheep of Israel and you are not one of them”. You also know as a mother that it is not right for one to give the child’s food to a dog. The woman then out of great faith positioned herself in the rhema word of Jesus and replied I agree with you, you are right but at times the dogs do eat the crumbs of the masters table. This woman knew that the only way she could obtain the blessing she needed was to position herself in a place where the Lord could bless her as a dog at the masters table.

Let us understand the whole picture, here is Jesus sent on a mission to this earth with the knowledge that after his death the scripture will be fulfilled that the Gentiles will become the children of God by faith in Him. Jesus knew that day will come and this woman was asking to experience the day then. The woman’s faith made grace available by faith, the same grace we have received to become the children of God. It was made available for her at that instance because of her faith. Let us hear it in the Lord’s words: “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.”

People of God let us position ourselves in the word of God. If we take our position in His word our lives will be changed and it will have an effect on the people around us. The woman was interceding for her child and her faith worked a miracle for her daughter. Our God is good let us trust him.

Olusola Osinoiki

Josh Publications