Topical Bible: Faith: Faith in Christ: The Syrophoenician Woman

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The account of the Syrophoenician woman, also known as the Canaanite woman, is a profound illustration of faith in Christ, as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. This narrative highlights the woman's persistent faith and Jesus' response to her plea, offering a significant lesson on the nature of faith and the inclusivity of Christ's ministry.

Biblical Account

The account is found in Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30. Jesus had withdrawn to the region of Tyre and Sidon, seeking solitude. However, His presence could not remain hidden. A woman from that region, described as a Syrophoenician by birth, approached Him with a desperate request. Her daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, and she sought Jesus' mercy and healing power.

In Matthew 15:22, the woman cries out, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is miserably possessed by a demon." Her address to Jesus as "Lord" and "Son of David" indicates her recognition of His messianic identity, despite her Gentile background.

Jesus' Initial Response

Initially, Jesus does not answer her, and His disciples urge Him to send her away. When He finally speaks, He says, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). This response underscores the primary focus of His earthly ministry to the Jewish people, yet it sets the stage for a broader revelation of His mission.

The Woman's Persistence

Undeterred, the woman kneels before Jesus, pleading, "Lord, help me!" (Matthew 15:25). Jesus responds with a metaphor, "It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs" (Matthew 15:26). This statement reflects the prevailing Jewish view of Gentiles, yet it also serves as a test of her faith.

The woman’s reply is both humble and insightful: "Yes, Lord," she said, "even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table" (Matthew 15:27). Her response demonstrates her understanding of Jesus' power and her belief that even a small portion of His grace is sufficient to meet her need.

Jesus' Commendation of Her Faith

Impressed by her faith, Jesus declares, "O woman, your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour (Matthew 15:28). In Mark's account, Jesus says, "For this statement, you may go. The demon has left your daughter" (Mark 7:29). Her faith, characterized by humility, persistence, and recognition of Jesus' authority, results in the miraculous healing of her daughter.

Theological Implications

The encounter with the Syrophoenician woman reveals several key theological themes. First, it illustrates the power of faith that transcends ethnic and cultural boundaries. Her faith is a model of trust in Jesus' mercy and power, despite societal barriers. Second, it foreshadows the extension of the Gospel to the Gentiles, affirming that Jesus' mission encompasses all humanity.

This narrative also emphasizes the importance of perseverance in faith. The woman's refusal to be discouraged by initial setbacks exemplifies a tenacious trust in Christ's goodness and ability to save. Her account encourages believers to approach Jesus with boldness and confidence, assured of His compassion and willingness to respond to genuine faith.

Nave's Topical Index

Matthew 15:22-28
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried to him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, you son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
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Mark 7:25-30
For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
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Library

The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C. ...
... Faith is fundamental in Christian creed and conduct. ... thing which above all others
Christ recognized as ... The Syrophoenician woman (Matt.15) had perseverance; the ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrines of salvation a.htm

Genesis xxvii. 38
... or have we not already the record of his love towards it, when Christ answered the
Syrophoenician woman, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as ...
/.../arnold/the christian life/lecture xviii genesis xxvii 38.htm

Christ the Support of the Tempted
... he will be unto you as he was to the poor Syrophoenician woman, who came to Christ
on account ... If you seek to him in faith, his answer will be to you as it ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/christ the support of the.htm

Ephesians vi. 14-17
... injury, but preserves it, so also does faith supply alike ... on the other that it is
in the Name of Christ. ... Hast thou not heard of the Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7 ...
/.../homily xxiv ephesians vi 14-17.htm

The Folly and Danger of Parting with Christ for the Pleasures and ...
... an inward principle wrought in your hearts by faith. ... hearts are not hidden from Jesus
Christ; though he ... no more than he did the Syrophoenician woman; yet he ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the folly and danger of 2.htm

Christ Teaching by Miracles
... In the next place, among the miracles of Christ, we find ... when he healed the daughter
of the Syrophoenician woman, as we ... but they did not shake her faith in God ...
/.../newton/the life of jesus christ for the young/christ teaching by miracles.htm

The True Sign
... refreshed by the confiding trust of the Syrophoenician woman. ... They were often
vacillating between faith and unbelief ... the treasures of wisdom hidden in Christ. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 44 the true sign.htm

The Gethsemane Prayer
... prayer that which we find nowhere else in the praying of Christ. ... it shall be done
unto you," He said to the Syrophoenician woman, "Great is thy faith! ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/xii the gethsemane prayer.htm

Controversy
... value, unless connected with Christ by living faith. ... a question to them: "What think
ye of Christ? ... the Son of David?" The Syrophoenician woman, blind Bartimaeus ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 66 controversy.htm

The Children and the Dogs
... Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. ... level of that paganism to which
Christ, in the ... calculated to elicit some expression of faith, something to ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 7 24-30 the children and.htm