The Syrophoenician Woman

The Syrophoenician Woman

Scripture References: Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30

ABOUT HER

• She was a Canaanite from the region of Tyre and Sidon
• She was a mother with a demon-possessed daughter
• She was desperate for help from Jesus

HER OUTER WOMAN

Read Matthew 15:21-28

Culturally

• Non-Jewish, a Gentile
• “Mark tells us that the woman of Canaan was Syrophoenician by race -the Phoenicians having merged with Syria. Later, the little country was taken over by the Greeks, and consequently by culture and language she was a Greek. The Greek is also identified with Gentile (see Romans 1:16).” -Frances Vander Velde, Women of the Bible

Functionally

• She approaches Jesus the way the Jews did “Have mercy on me, Son of David” (Matt 9:27 -the two blind men, Matt 12:23 -demon oppressed man healed, Matt 20:20 -blind men)
• “The Syrophoenician woman was a mixture of several races and a true Gentile (see Mark 7:26 for her nationality). She had no claim on Jesus as the Son of David, and when she addressed Him as such, He answered her not a word.” -J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary
• Remember the Gospel of Matthew highlights Jesus, King of the Jews. When Jesus responds to the disciples saying, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” he is causing her to face this fact while at the same time testing her faith. Jesus ministered to everyone differently.

“Because of all we know of Christ’s love and compassion, we cannot believe that He meant to ignore altogether her cry for help. Often the problem of unanswered prayer is acute, but He who ever hears the pleas of those who seek Him always answers prayer in His own best way. Perhaps with this Gentile mother, His repulse was meant to try her faith, which proved to be a faith accepting no rebuff.” -Herbert Lockyer, All the Women of the Bible

How do you respond to God’s apparent silence? David in Psalm 35:22 ESV responded this way, “You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me!”

TALK TO THE LORD!

Jesus is always quiet on purpose. Do you presume it to be a bad thing? It is wise to wait on the Lord for the revealing of His purposes and plans while seeking Him earnestly when He appears to be silent and not to assume the worst or give way to vain imagination.

HOW NOT TO RESPOND WHEN THE LORD IS SILENT:

1. Don’t make stuff up (lose touch with reality, create a false peace)
1. Nehemiah 6:8 ESV “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.”
2. Deuteronomy 29:18-19 NLT “...so that no root among you bears bitter and poisonous fruit. Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, ‘I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.’ This would lead to utter ruin!
3. “Worry is nothing less than the misuse of your imagination.” -Ed Foreman
2. Don’t lean on your own understanding (Coming up with your own conclusions)
1. Proverbs 3:5 ESV “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
2. “Always beware when you can reasonably account to yourself for the action you are about to take, because the source of such clear reasoning is the enthroning of human understanding.” -Oswald Chambers, Our Portrait in Genesis
3. Don’t be wise in your own eyes (Allowing pride to be your guide)
1. Proverbs 3:7a ESV “Be not wise in your own eyes.”
2. Jeremiah 17:9 NIV “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
3. “Unless we get hurt right out of every deception about ourselves, the word of God is not having its way with us.” -Oswald Chambers
4. “Pride is the hidden cause behind destroyed relationships, stunted spiritual growth, and thwarted emotional healing.” -Priscilla Shirer, Gideon
4. Don’t go out alone (Doing your own thing)
1. Isaiah 52:12 ESV “For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”

HOW TO RESPOND WHEN THE LORD WHEN HE IS SILENT:

1. Wait for the Lord’s revelation (Do not make a presumption)
1. Philippians 4:5 NKJV “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand”
2. Philippians 4:8a NKJV “Finally, brothers, whatever is true...think about these things.”
2. Acknowledge God’s ways in the situation (state the facts of what you DO know)
1. 2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”
2. “I claim the fulfillment of God’s promises, and rightly, but that is only the human side; the Divine side is that through the promises I recognize God’s claim on me.” -Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
3. Seek wisdom from the scripture you DON’T already have (search the facts of what you DON’T know)
1. Proverbs 2:2 NKJV “So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;”
2. Proverbs 3:13 NKJV “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding;”
4. Do things God’s way (Don’t go forward alone, without God)
1. Galatians 5:25 NIV “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
2. Galatians 5:25 NLT “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
3. “Extended times of prayer are not meant to change God’s mind but to align our thinking with His. Jesus never set His agenda and then asked God to bless it. He only did what the Father told Him to do (John 5:19).” -Sharon Jaynes, A Sudden Glory

What she had going against her was: her race (Canaanite), her gender (woman), the disciples (pushing her away), Jesus Himself was silent

• In her place one would most likely sink away brokenhearted and discouraged.
• “Before you’re tempted to wearily cast aside your jersey and quit, keep in mind our team wins.” -Beth Moore, Daniel
• What are things that come against you in your pursuit of God that you need to acknowledge and deal with. We all have them. Write these things down. Don’t let life pass by and miss out on the purposes of God for your life!

“Jesus was drawing out from her an understanding that would be helpful not only to her in this situation specifically but to us in all generations historically.” -Pastor Jon Courson

HER INNER WOMAN

After Jesus addressed her religious “talk” and responded to the disciples after His silence this woman crying out to Him, we see her respond from the heart saying in verse 25, “Lord, help me.”

Then Jesus goes a level deeper in her heart with his response in verse 26! The Jews referred to the Gentiles as dogs “kyon” and Jesus used a derivative of the word dog “kynarion” meaning “little dog” with the meaning of a pet.  In my opinion he used a softer term of the word to speak more respectfully to her.

“Jesus was saying, ‘It isn’t reasonable for the children to be starving when the pet dogs are being fed’” -Pastor Jon Courson

Then came her response! She had a humble response and did not allow PRIDE to hinder her intimacy with Jesus. Jesus goes back and forth with us to draw us OUT. He desires interaction with us, for us to be enlightened in the truth, to know what we believe and why. Read Ephesians 1:15-23

What was Jesus teaching the disciples? This woman could not come to Him as a Jew, but she could come to Him by faith.

“Now our Lord leaves the land of Israel for the first time during His public ministry. This is interesting because He came to Israel as her King. When He sent His disciples out, He instructed them to go into the cities of Israel but not beyond her boundaries. Then the Lord was rejected by Israel, and there arose a conflict. The breaking point between Jesus and the religious rulers came only a few verses ago. What happens? Jesus Himself steps over the boundaries of Israel and lays down another great principle. He will now receive the Gentiles.” -J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary

FAITH: Read Romans 4:1-25 and Galatians 3:21-29

“Many women were ardent followers of Jesus during His earthly ministry, but he said only of this one distressed mother, ‘Woman, great is thy faith.’” -Frances Vander Velde, Women of the Bible

Life Lesson

Persevere in your requests for the Lord. Have a breakthrough!

This woman had a breakthrough with Jesus! What did it take? What did it require of her?

Face resistance, stay in God’s presence, persist dialogue with Jesus, maintain a heart of humility (confessing what we don’t deserve), receive what Jesus gives us by faith

Discussion Questions:

1. In what areas do we tend to “give up” in with God in prayer? If we quit, what are we possibly missing out on?
2. What most impressed you about this woman?
3. What is a desire or request that you want to ask God for (that you feel comfortable sharing)?