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)?

Mary, Mother of Jesus

MARY

Mother of Jesus

Scripture References: Matthew 1; 2; 12:46-50;  13:55-58; Luke 1; 2; John 2:1-11; 19:25-27 Acts 1:14

ABOUT HER

Mary was:

• the daughter of Heli
• of the tribe of Judah
• the cousin of Elizabeth
• betrothed to Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth
• a virgin when pregnant
• mother of Jesus
• visited by the angel Gabriel

Mary’s Name: “As a name Mary is related to the Old Testament Miriam, to Mara, the name Naomi used to describe her affliction, and to Marah, the name of the bitter water reached by the Israelites in their wilderness journeys. The original and pervading sense of these root-forms is that of ‘bitterness,’ derived from the notion of ‘trouble, sorrow, disobedience, rebellion.’’ -Herbert Lockyer

When it comes to her name...it is not that Mary was rebellious or bitter as scripture says quite the opposite of that about her. However, she would experience and witness the world’s rebellion and bitterness toward the Son she would birth into the world and taste those things on the journey that God had her on.

Nothing is said about Mary’s physical appearance or beauty.

“Her love for God qualified Mary to be used by God.” -Elizabeth George

HER TIME TO LISTEN

Read Luke 1:26-45

v. 34 -This wasn’t a question of unbelief as was with others such as Sarah.

v. 38 -Go Mary! What a great example of a submissive heart toward the Lord.

God chose Mary.

“God’s choice meant that Mary would be pregnant before she was married and therefore branded a fornicator (John 8:41). God’s choice meant trouble with her husband-to-be, trouble at home, trouble in Nazareth, and trouble among the children she would one day have.” -Elizabeth George

Sometimes God’s choice for your life means trouble!

Mary didn’t live her life as if God existed to serve her. Mary lived her life to show she existed to serve God.

HER TIME TO RESPOND

Read Luke 1:46-56

Mary’s song is known as the “Magnificat” -”It reveals poetic and prophetic genius of the highest order, and takes its place among the finest productions of the world.” -Herbert Lockyer

This song reveals an overflow of God’s Word stored up in Mary’s heart.

“The surest test of a heart is indeed the caliber of its speech -the quality of the words which issue forth from it.” -Elizabeth George

“Mary first conceived Christ in her heart by faith, before she conceived in the womb” -Augustine

v. 46 “My soul magnifies the Lord” -are you like a magnifying glass so that when others look on your life they look at you and God seems bigger and clearer to them?

v. 47 -Mary recognized her need for a savior.

v. 48 -Mary looked to the future beyond the reproach she would bear for Christ. Mary had an eternal perspective and was not short-sighted! This shows us her mature character.

Read 1 Peter 1:3-11

Are you continuing to grow in your walk? Where do you still need to grow? What character qualities does the Lord still need to develop fully and richly in you?

Our tendency is always going to be to turn to the external instead of deal with the internal.

(Read Oswald Chambers devotional for March 27th)

Vision By Personal Character, My Utmost For His Highest

“Come up hither, and I will shew thee things.” Revelation 4:1

An elevated mood can only come out of an elevated habit of personal character. If in the externals of your life you live up to the highest you know, God will continually say – "Friend, go up higher." The golden rule in temptation is – Go higher. When you get higher up, you face other temptations and characteristics. Satan uses the strategy of elevation in temptation, and God does the same, but the effect is different. When the devil puts you into an elevated place, he makes you screw your idea of holiness beyond what flesh and blood could ever hear, it is a spiritual acrobatic performance, you are just poised and dare not move; but when God elevates you by His grace into the heavenly places, instead of finding a pinnacle to cling to, you find a great table-land where it is easy to move.

Compare this week in your spiritual history with the same week last year and see how God has called you up higher. We have all been brought to see from a higher standpoint. Never let God give you one point of truth which you do not instantly live up to. Always work it out, keep in the light of it.

Growth in grace is measured not by the fact that you have not gone back, but that you have an insight into where you are spiritually; you have heard God say "Come up higher," not to you personally, but to the insight of your character.

"Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?" God has to hide from us what He does until by personal character we get to the place where He can reveal it.

v. 56 -First Trimester Time!

HER LABOR STORY

Read Luke 2:1-38

2:1-7 -Mary had a very lonely and untraditional birth experience. A lot of times in a believers life we won’t keep up with the “traditions” of our culture ..and sometimes in our “church culture”!

2:8-21 -Angels played a huge part in orchestrating this event! I love how the Lord lets us see the spiritual realm so much in Mary’s story.

The Shepherds, Simeon and Anna the Prophetess

The Lord gave Mary these treasures to hold onto because He knew the road that lay ahead of her. This was Mary’s baby shower from the Lord!

What are treasures that the Lord has given you?

God told Joseph in a dream...

Others will not always understand why you do what you do. Being led by the Lord does     not always make sense to others. Life is unpredictable.

“Mary followed God’s plan for her life as a wife and followed her husband...an act which saved their young son’s life. Do you realize that faith in God is what enables us women who love God to follow our husband? Just like the holy women of old -women like Mary -who loved God and trusted in Him, we are to adorn ourselves with God’s beautiful, submissive spirit and follow our husbands (1 Peter 3:5-6). Faith in God enables us to do so.” -Elizabeth George

v. 23 -This was the offering of the very poor.

HER PARENTING

Read Luke 2:39-52

“Later Mary was married to Joseph the carpenter and she bore him four sons and several daughters, the former being named -James, Joses, Judas and Simon, and the daughters unnamed (Matthew 13:55, 56; Mark 6:3). During His ministry, none of His brothers believed in Him. In fact, they sneered at Him, and once concluded that He was mad, and wished to arrest Him and take Him away from Capernaum (Mark 3:21, 31; John 7:3-5).” Herbert Lockyer

Mary had some real-life family issues!

2:19, 51 -Mary was a contemplative person and when her time to shine came...she was ready!

“Mary’s alone was the privilege of rearing a perfect child. One in whom was no sin or guile. The boy Jesus heard God in everything around Him and saw His beauty everywhere. This was His Father’s world. Mary’s child had perfect, uninterrupted fellowship with the Father, and gradually developed to the full consciousness of mission.” -Frances Vander Velde

2:48 -Mary still had to deal with real, motherly concerns. It was at this time Mary had to start to separate herself in her heart from Jesus in this form of caring for him.

“For the next eighteen years He yielded to His home authority. It is felt that during this period Mary lost the protection of her husband, for if he had been alive he would have been certainly mentioned in succeeding events (Mark 3:31; John 2:1; 19:25).” -Herbert Lockyer

John 2:1-5 -Mary had a “Martha” moment!

Matthew 12:46-50 NASB “While he was still speaking to the people, behold his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. Be he replied to the man who told him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand toward the disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

“I think it is important for us to see this side of Mary, see her as a woman taking action. Otherwise we might get the impression that mary was a passive woman who agreed to anything; ‘whatever will be will be.’ Her submission to God’s will was not robotic in nature, and if we believe that it was, we would under-appreciate Mary. She had great privileges and responsibilities in God’s redemptive plan, but her participation didn’t always come easily. Her submission wasn’t automatic. It involved consideration and struggle, and at times a personal cost.” -Brenda Poinsett

John 19:25-27 NASB “but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”

“At previous meetings with Christ, Mary expressed her feelings. Now, as He dies, she stands in silence.” -Herbert Lockyer

Mary was evidently a widow as Jesus puts her into John’s care. Even though she had other children who could have cared for her, Jesus was providing for her spiritual care as her other children were not believers.

HER DESTINY

Read Acts 1:12-14

“Mary let go of Jesus as her son and accepted Him as God’s Son.” -Brenda Poinsett

This “letting go” as a mother wasn’t something she did once for all when the angel Gabriel spoke to her and she wrote her song. It was something that she needed to do every day.

HER LESSONS TO US

Humility -We never see Mary complaining or having self-pity.

Obedience -A prominent trait in Mary’s life.

Her character gave her a nobility. This is the kind of character the daughters of God need to have as we are a royal priesthood!

Discussion Questions:

1. Try to imagine Mary’s son as He played, studied and worked; imagine His attitude toward His playmates, His parents, the natural world. Was He different from other children? Could Mary have had any problems with her child?

2. What makes Mary unique to you personally?