There are two pronouncements by Jesus in Scripture where He commends someone for “great faith”. Last week we looked at the centurion (Matt. 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10). This week we are looking at the Syro-Phoenician woman in Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30.
The story begins with this lady repeatedly crying out to Jesus, “Have mercy upon me, O Lord, Son of David!” A heart-felt cry to Jesus is always a good thing! Additionally, this woman’s plea was not for herself, but for her daughter who was severely demon-possessed. At first glance, the response of Jesus might be puzzling to us. He said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” The “children” He referred to are the Jewish people, “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (15:24 & 10:6). The little dogs referred to family pets. He was not speaking down to her but using this picture to explain His priority. Her response showed her humility: “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” At this Jesus exclaimed “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Neither the centurion nor the Syro-Phoenician woman were Jews, yet they came with humble hearts of worship, pleading and crying for Jesus to help someone else. They knew that Jesus was the answer to their needs. It is also interesting to note that Jesus responded to their faith in Him by performing long-distance miracles! May we walk by this kind of faith in our Lord and not by our own sight, and echo the hymn we are singing this Sunday:
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.