Just The Crumbs

Trinity XII --- August 14, 2005

Matthew 15:21-28

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

What do you know about God? How do you act, according to what you believe?

A boy walks to the ice cream store, his little dog happily following him. We see the dog patiently waiting outside, as the boy goes to the counter and orders a cone. After ordering, he comes out and sits at one of the tables, while Fido follows and then sits in front of him. If we could read Fido’s mind, he’s waiting patiently for Johnny’s sugar cone to spring the inevitable leak which will drip Butter Pecan to the ground beneath Johnny’s feet. Fido is hoping for a cool refreshing treat.

Come back in 5 minutes, and what will you find? Fido happily lapping up what little Johnny, blissfully ignorant, lets drip to the ground.

Our text finds the encounter of Jesus with a Canaanite woman who’s daughter is demon-possessed. She wants Jesus to have mercy on her. According to our English translation, it appears as if both the disciples and Jesus are harsh with her. This is not the case.

At first glance, it seems that Jesus doesn’t even acknowledge her presence. Add to that the words of the disciples, and you could almost conclude that they are all callous and cold. Listen to what happens. 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.” 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.”

First of all, Jesus was a wonderful teacher. As all-knowing God, He knew her heart. Here was a woman of “great faith”, He planned to use this situation to teach the disciples and you about faith. Remember last week? Remember the doubt the disciples showed in the incident of Jesus walking on the water to them, through the wind and waves? Now, Jesus was going to introduce them to a woman of faith.

Previous to our text, Jesus had encountered some Pharisees. In that confrontation, they had some strange ideas about religion, a discussion about what was clean and unclean - but there was no real faith in their hearts. This is an extreme contrast. This is a Gentile, outwardly unclean by her birth and lineage. She was also a woman - doubly to be avoided. Yet Jesus knows better, for He knows the heart.

So, Jesus isn’t ignoring her; he’s patiently bringing her faith to the foreground. As for the disciples, all we read in the English is, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” Were we all able to understand Greek, we’d know that the disciples’ comment meant much more. They were actually saying, “Do as she wishes Jesus, that she might go her way. She will not give up; grant her request.”

Then Jesus answers, loud enough for the woman to hear, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” It appears as if the Pharisees were correct, God’s plan of salvation is only for the children of Israel. Or is there more to this than meets the eye?

In this woman, Israelites will see what true faith is. In this woman, the lost sheep of Israel will receive a demonstration of faith by one who is not even of their house. Jesus’ seeming refusal was for the purpose of highlighting this woman’s great faith.

Previous to our text, Jesus had dealt with the Pharisees. The Pharisees expected God’s blessings because they were Israelites, the descendants of Abraham - and because they were Pharisees - the strictest adherents to the letter of God’s Law. Here is the contrast.

This woman deserves God’s blessings in Christ Jesus, for what reason? None! She isn’t even an Israelite. And yet, her response to Jesus’ seeming refusal is what? The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. Her posture of submission before Him on her knees, and her addressing Him as Lord and Son of David, means that she understands Him to be the promised Christ, God’s anointed. She knows that she is unworthy to have Jesus grant her request, but she continues to seek His mercy - she knows God’s merciful heart and acts accordingly.

Remember, Jesus knows the woman’s faith. He knows she will not relent. So, desiring to bring her faith undisputedly into the light, He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”

Wow, seemingly harsh words. But again, we read in English. Jesus is not referring to the curs that roam the streets and fight over scraps. The Greek word for dog which Jesus uses, refers to the little lap dogs, the beloved family pets. The woman sees Jesus’ words not as a rebuke, or the final word negating her request, but as a beacon of hope. While the children come first, the family pets always get scraps from the table. In fact, considering some of the house dogs I have seen, most of you understand completely her hope, for oftentimes, the family pets eat pretty well from the table scraps. Isn’t it true that the family dog is often considered just another member of the family.

So, encouraged and strengthened in her faith, she speaks “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Yes, Lord, I may not be from the chosen race, but in Your incredible mercy, You love me and care for me as well.

Where is your faith? What do you believe about God? Do you act upon your faith and belief, accordingly? Do you expect great things of God because you bear the name Christian, but live like the Pharisees, outwardly believers, but inwardly faithless?

Today we have exhibited for us, true and great faith. True faith begins by acknowledging the utter wretchedness of the individual, that there is nothing in us deserving of God’s goodness. True faith concedes that we have no right to make any demands on God. And yet, true faith also clings to the Lord as the only source of strength and the only true helper in time of need. True faith continues to cling to Christ, even when it appears He will not answer our requests of Him in the affirmative.

Here is a woman asking Jesus to give her exactly what God wills. She isn’t asking for earthly healing. She isn’t asking for riches or wealth, she is asking that Christ remove her daughter from the clutches of Satan. This is most certainly the will of God, and Christ desires this for the woman’s daughter. So it is that Jesus answers, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”

It wasn’t the woman’s faith that earned the granting of her request. Her actions were evidence of her faith. Her unwillingness to give up her request was based upon her belief in the merciful and gracious heart of God. Christ’s granting of her request is nothing more than proof to all that her faith was indeed correct in unwillingness to go away from and give up on God.

How often do you give up in your prayers. You fail to persist in bringing your requests to the throne of God’s grace. This happens especially as you perceive that He has hesitated or failed to answer your requests in the affirmative.

God isn’t slow in answering our requests, but does so according to His schedule, not ours. His schedule in answering prayers is done to bring the greatest benefit for His kingdom. If Jesus had immediately answered the woman’s plea for mercy, she would have been included in the list which followed our text, “and He healed many others, and cast out many demons.” Instead, the events of our text show forth the example of great faith, and that even God’s crumbs work miraculous things.

Great faith persists in appealing to God’s mercy and grace, even while confessing great unworthiness to do so. Great faith trusts the promises of God to grant our requests made according to His will.

You, dear friends, exhibit great faith when you come before the throne of God’s grace confessing your sins and trusting God to grant you forgiveness. In that faith, you are trusting nothing but crumbs, that which appears to be insignificant.

According to worldly eyes, you are trusting nothing but crumbs - a Word of promise, a few drops of water, a piece of bread, and a sip of wine.

Yet, you know with all confidence and faith, that in these crumbs, Christ does grant to you all that you request - sins forgiven, salvation sealed, eternal life granted. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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