Bible Lesson: Miracles Of Jesus: Canaanite Woman's Daughter Healed.
Bible Location: Near Tyre.
Bible Text: Mark 7:24-30 KJV, Matthew 15:21-28 KJV
Mark 7:24-30 KJV
24 And from thence He arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but He could not be hid.
25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of Him, and came and fell at His feet:
26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought Him that He would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
28 And she answered and said unto Him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
29 And He said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
Mark 7:24-30 NLT
24 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house He was staying in, but He couldn’t keep it a secret.
25 Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at His feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit,
26 and she begged Him to cast out the demon from her daughter. Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia,
27 Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”
28 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.”
29 “Good answer!” He said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.”
30 And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.
Mark 7:24 KJV
And from thence He arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but He could not be hid.
Jesus and His disciples had no rest, as they traveled the area of the Sea of Galilee, so they traveled to the North West territory known as Tyre and Sidon. As a former country of Phenicia, the land belonged to Syria. Into this Gentile area, the Lord and His disciples came hoping to find some rest from the crowds and time of instruction from their Master.
The Lord's reputation had proceeded Him, and it wasn't long before the needs of one Syrophenician mother, came before Him.
Mark 7:25,26 KJV
25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of Him, and came and fell at His feet:
26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought Him that He would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
Need knows no boundary. There is “no-place,” on this planet, where there is not a need for help of one kind or another.
This Syrophenician mother had heard the stories concerning Jesus, and for her, He was just the miracle worker who could help her daughter.
Perhaps one of the great mysteries that we will one day ask our Lord about is how precious children, could ever become demon possessed. Was it by the sins of her parents, or of those generations before her, or by some other means?
This Greek mother certainly is to be commended for several things; her ability to discern, between physical sickness, and spiritual attack, and discernment to recognize that Jesus who's heart reached out to the sick, setting spiritually oppressed and possessed prisoners free, surely was her answer.
And she had the wonderful discernment as did Nicodemus, that …
John 3:1,2 KJV
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with Him.
Believing that fully, this mother....
Mark 7:25 KJV
...came and fell at His feet:
How wonderful, to attend the church, where members or parishioners, upon entering, kneel and bow in reverence to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Mark 7:26 KJV
...and she besought* Him that He would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
*Besought-Greek: Erotao (Er-o-tah-o): To request, ask, beseech, desire, intreat, pray.
Mark 7:26 NLT
... and she begged Him
Oh, the wonderful heart of a mother, and so God has ordained it.
There was nothing this mother would not do to get help for her child, her love was so great.
Humble herself, bow, and beg, yes and more, if need be.
Mark 7:27,28 KJV
27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
28 And she answered and said unto Him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
Christ spoke figuratively, and in like fashion she responded.
She had no doubt heard, that He was the prophesied Jewish Messiah. Certainly it was His right to help His own people first, but she also knew that that would not help her daughter.
In respectful, tenacious, persistence, she replied...
Mark 7:28 KJV
...Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
And what was the result?
Mark 7:29,30 KJV
29 And He said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
Dear friend, do not dare think for one moment, that our Lord, ever thought to deny this loving mother any care for her daughter!
Mark 7:27 KJV
But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
Never would that be the case, but our Lord, desired above all things that this mother's faith would reach out beyond limit, for what she needed, and the lesson is the same for us today!
Luke 18:1-8 KJV
1 And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?
8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?
God's people are to be a people of ever increasing faith, ever reaching out, believing for more, in doing the work of the Lord.
Prayer and Faith:
I Chronicles 16:11 KJV
Seek the LORD and His strength, seek His face continually.
Psalm 34:6 KJV
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalm 61:1,2 KJV
1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.
Matthew 7:7,8 KJV
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
John 16:24 KJV
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Ephesians 6:18 KJV
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
I Thessalonians 5:17 KJV
Pray without ceasing.
I John 5:4 KJV
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
The Living God is our Answer:
II Samuel 22:2 KJV
And he said, The LORD is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer;
Job 5:19 KJV
He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
Psalm 91:1-16 NLT
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him.
3 For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
11 For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love Me. I will protect those who trust in My name.
15 When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life and give them My salvation.”
Isaiah 46:3,4 NLT
3 “Listen to Me... I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born.
4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.
Jeremiah 1:8 KJV
Be not afraid...: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Daniel 6:27 KJV
He delivereth and rescueth, and He worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
I Corinthians 10:13 KJV
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
II Corinthians 1:10 NLT
And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us.
II Timothy 4:18 KJV
And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
II Peter 2:9 NLT
...the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials..."
