THE SYROPHOENICIAN WOMAN

September 2, 2007 PM

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Sermon Outline

MK 7:24-30

INTRO: Jesus has now left the shores of the Sea of Galilee and traveled northwest to the "borders of Tyre and Sidon". He has come to the land of the Phoenicians ... a land which borders the Mediterranean Sea . When I read some of the history of the Phoenicians, I discovered that they were probably the first seafarers to use the stars to navigate on the open water. So adept were they at such navigation that they had been able to sail to Britain! Tyre and Sidon were both important port cities with natural harbors. Both of the cities are mentioned in the Old Testament and are the subject of prophecy. Jesus also refers to these cities in His scathing rebuke of Chorazin and Bethsaida. So, from a Biblical perspective these were well known places.

1. THE REASON FOR HIS GOING TO THIS REGION?
   1. A hint? He wanted no one to know He was there
      1. I am supposing He is in the house of a disciple
      2. His wanting not to be known suggests He is seeking rest - or, the need to be away from enemies and/or Messianic fervor
   2. But "he could not be hid"
      1. it is very difficult for famous people to travel "incognito"
      2. and with crowds of people following Jesus everywhere He went it would be especially difficult ... and "secrets" have a way of becoming known

2. A WOMAN, A MOTHER, OF THE LAND
   1. A woman of Canaan - A Greek - A Phoenician of Syria
      1. this woman was a pagan person, a Greek, a Gentile
      2. yet, somehow she had heard of Jesus and His miracles
      3. this gives us some idea of the importance of "reputation"!
   2. The woman is also a mother with a serious problem
      1. at Mt 15:22 the woman says, "Have mercy on me..."
      2. a mother is so identified with her children that a child's malady is her own
      3. she explains further, "my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil"
   3. I notice in Matthew's account she calls Jesus "son of David"
      1. could Messianic hopes have spread beyond Judea?
      2. I have strong suspicion these "hopes" had indeed spread into regions surrounding countries (remember the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well)
      3. but her interest now is that the unclean spirit be expelled from her child

3. THE SURPRISING RESPONSE FROM JESUS
   1. Mt 15:23 - "But He answered her not a word"
      1. at first glance we might suppose this to be a rude response from Him
      2. but could His silence be a true test of her faith?
      3. are there times when our prayers seem to be unanswered that our own faith is being tested? I think probably so ... but Lk 18:1
   2. Mk 7:27 - "Let the children first be filled..."
      1. Matthew's account explains what this means - Mt 15:23,24
      2. although God's plan for redemption did not exclude Gentiles, it did have the nation of Israel first in view - Acts 1:8
      3. in this response of Jesus is the word "first" - I see in this the great hope for the world beyond the Jews!
   3. Jesus notes it's inappropriate to feed the dogs the children's food
      1. I'm not at all sure Jesus is using "dogs" in the typical Jewish way
      2. among Israelites "dog" was a term of contempt (cf. Mt 7:6)
      3. some say He used the "diminutive" form of the word ... suggesting the little house pets and not the wild dogs of the streets ... a "softer" word perhaps suggesting only a subordinate position and not contempt

4. THE MOTHER'S PERSISTENCE
   1. Her argument? True, but the dogs eat the children's crumbs!
      1. I expect many would simply have stopped with Jesus' first response
      2. combine His silence with His words to the disciples ... and to her
      3. it did not sound like He was going to let her be an exception
   2. But mothers whose children are in dire need do not stop imploring!
      1. simultaneously with the children's eating the dogs are eating the crumbs
      2. so, her logic makes perfect sense
      3. it would not be inappropriate, then, for Him to grant her request

5. THE BLESSING OF FAITH
   1. Mt 15:28 - "O woman, great is thy faith"
      1. her confidence was unshakeable - she knew Jesus could do this
      2. her persistence was a vital "key" to faith - real faith just does not stop
   2. Mk 7:29,30 - "...she found the devil gone out..."
      1. faith will always have its blessing in our lives
      2. as many illustrations as one might find of this in scripture, have we learned the lesson?

CLOSE: Could one of the great lessons here be the need for us to leave our "comfort zones" to render service to others?

Cecil A. Hutson

02 September 2007