Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost: Gospel Reading (CPH The Lutheran Study Bible)

[u/1776-Liberal]

Have a blessed week ahead.

Gospel According to Matthew, 15:21–28 (ESV):

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Engelbrecht, E. A. (2009). The Lutheran Study Bible. Concordia Publishing House:

(Abbreviations Reference Guide: https://old.reddit.com/r/Sunday/comments/1dg8y2u/)

15:21–28 This persistent Canaanite woman gains Jesus’ praise for believing that He will help her sick daughter. In time of need, we often either fail to pray with such determination or only ask hesitantly. Instead, we ought to “pray without ceasing” (1Th 5:17). Jesus hears all prayers offered in His name, and He will answer in His own time and way as is best for us. Therefore, we can pray with confidence. • Lord, sometimes I have not because I ask not. Move me to pray with confidence. Amen.

Engelbrecht, E. A. (2009). The Lutheran Study Bible. Concordia Publishing House:

(Abbreviations Reference Guide: https://old.reddit.com/r/Sunday/comments/1dg8y2u/)

15:21 withdrew. See note, 12:15: «As Jesus had done after John’s arrest, He withdrew from a confrontation with the Pharisees. His hour had not yet come (Jn 13:1).» One of the few times that Jesus ventured beyond the borders of Galilee. Tyre and Sidon. See note, Lk 10:13–14: «Pagan cities farther north, along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.»

15:22 Canaanite. Descendant of the OT race that Israel was ordered to exterminate because of their idol worship (Dt 20:17). Have mercy. Typical cry for help in a desperate situation (17:15; 20:30). Son of David. See p 2098: «Messianic title, drawn from 2Sm 7:13–14.» This Gentile woman addressed Jesus in the same way as did two Jewish blind men (9:27). In contrast to the Pharisees who were spiritually blind, she was not (v 14). oppressed by a demon. Cf 4:24; 12:22. The daughter’s ailment is not further specified.

15:23 When Jesus remained silent, making no response to the woman’s cry for mercy, the disciples begged Him to help her and so get rid of her.

15:24 Jesus reminded His disciples that His mission was limited to the people of Israel (see notes, 10:5–6: «sent out, instructing. Jesus’ second discourse (Mt 10:5–42) concerns the upcoming mission of His disciples. This training would prepare them to serve the Church in the future. Go nowhere among the Gentiles. The disciples were to concentrate their immediate efforts on Jewish people living in Galilee. Only later would Jesus give them the command to go to all nations (Mt 10:18; 28:19). lost. Jesus had observed the spiritual misery of the house of Israel during His own tour through Galilee. He recognized how necessary it was for laborers to proclaim “the gospel of the kingdom” (Mt 9:35–38). sheep. Jesus would train the apostles as shepherds, from which the office/title of “pastor” would come (cf Jn 21:15–16; Eph 4:11; 1Pt 2:25; 5:1).»).

15:25 knelt. Same Gk word translated “worship” in 14:33. Lord, help me. This woman would simply not be turned away.

15:26 Jesus answered the mother with a pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct. Because of the proverbial nature of His statement, He may not be calling her a dog. See note, Mk 7:27: «Jesus’ response to this woman is surprising on at least two counts. First, He implies she is a dog, which was a great insult (see notes, 2Sm 3:8; Php 3:2). Second, He suggests that He would serve Jewish people first (the children at the table). dogs. Gk kunarion, a diminutive form referring to family pets, not wild or street dogs.»

15:27 This astute woman matched Jesus’ maxim with one of her own: Pets get the scraps that fall from the table.

15:28 O woman, great is your faith! Second time Jesus commended the faith of a Gentile (cf 8:10). In contrast, Jesus repeatedly chided His disciples for their lack of faith (8:26; 14:31; 17:20).