Great faith

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

GREAT FAITH

Matt 15:21-28

21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."  25 The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. 26 He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."  27 "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

NIV

The first thing we need to put to rest is the idea that Jesus called this woman a dog. This was a common expression used in that day and even in today by some groups and how they refer to other groups. The Jews called any gentile a dog as a way of showing disrespect. The gentiles called Jews a dog as well. Today Muslims call us Christians and Jews dogs demonstrating how little they respect us. We however, because of our faith in Jesus Christ and his teachings, are not only supposed to love our neighbor, but love our enemy as well.

Matt 5:43-45

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy .' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

NIV

Therefore it would be inconsistent with his own words that he would actually call her a dog as a sign of disrespect as he loves her more then we could possibly. The idea was to test her faith, as she was a gentile and for all practical purposes Jesus confined his ministry to the Jews. He came to the Jews, a chosen people to show the whole world his divine power and love. We know this because of his own confession, as well as the words John was inspired to write as to how much God loved the world and what he gave for it so that whosoever believed would not perish but have everlasting life. So than we have no other conclusion that Jesus was testing her faith. He wanted to see just how sincere she was about believing he was the Christ. She was not dismayed by his response about his being there just for the Jews. She was willing to accept just the crumbs of his ministry for her daughter. This was proof enough for Jesus that her faith was true. Surely we would think he already knew all about her, being divine, yet he was also human at that time. However we are also told of his foreknowledge in other portions of scripture. Still the woman had no idea of his plan, or his reasoning, but only her faith, her belief he could heal her suffering daughter. How do we relate to this event in our lives? Does Jesus test our faith at times? We know it is God’s will to heal us for we have been told so. Yet are we healed right away all the time? Are we healed every time? Do we even pray, believing we will be healed? Do we have the kind of faith this woman demonstrated? If so, do we go to Jesus or the doctor first? Have we accepted that Jesus sort of heals us through doctors? His healing is perfect, the doctor’s is not. Could there be times we have some infirmity or adversity to see if we will ask him for a healing or relief or just accept the infirmity or adversity by going to see a doctor instead or trying to find a way in our own strength to overcome the adversity? That would seem weird that Jesus would make us sick or bring some adversity into our lives.

James 1:2-8

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

NIV

Yet it does seem right to consider that our faith is tested. The woman passed the test. Can Jesus say the same about us? Do we just pray for a healing because that is what we are supposed to do? Do we just pray for relief of the adversity because we are expected to? But do we pray because we truly believe with all our heart, without any reservations, without any doubt whatsoever that what we ask in the name of Jesus will be given to us. Do we really expect Jesus to heal us? Do we have total confidence in his divine power to heal us? Do we have complete trust that he will overcome our adversities or give us the divine wisdom and power to overcome them? It is all about faith. We are told he gives every man a measure of faith.

Rom 12:3-4

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

NIV

What that measure is, we cannot be certain. We know God is not a respecter of persons, or does not show favoritism. Therefore we would have to conclude he gives the same measure of faith to each person. It is what we do with that faith which matters. Do we use it and see it grow within us or do we ignore it and see it wither away? Just as we exercise to grow our muscles, we need to exercise our faith so it will grow. As we see the results in our body from exercise, we will also see results from our exercise of faith. Let us hear Jesus say: “you have great faith! Your request is granted.