Meet A Woman of Great Faith
A Woman of Great Faith
We saw in previous chapter of Matthew 14 where Christ rebuked Peter for his “little faith”. Peter started walking on water and because he started looking at the wind, became afraid and doubted and then started sinking into the water. Peter removed his eyes on Jesus, the object and focus of his faith and our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”.
Today in our study, we see a woman who defiled all odds to focus on Christ to receive wholeness for her demon-possessed daughter. First, this woman did not belong to this crowd. She was a foreigner. I can identify with her when you are in a foreign land. Whether you are the only white or black where you are and everyone else is a different color, race, sex, accent or etc. should not stop you. Your eyes and my eyes must be on Jesus who alone has what we need – "the way, the truth, and the life"
Secondly church people (includes all of us who follow Jesus) tried to stop the woman from seeing Jesus. The disciples tried to stop this woman. Have you run into church people who tried to stop you? They are there and will make attempts even in your household. We must press on to hear the words of Jesus - “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Matthew 15:28.
Then the last hurdle was Jesus himself. God will offend your sense of worth before you can receive from him. Jesus made this woman realize He owes her nothing. God does not owe you or me anything. There is nothing we can give him who made all things. We are paupers and only paupers receive from God. God specializes in pouring out His mercy and grace on those do not deserve anything from Him.
Is it possible you have not received from God because of your sense of entitlement and because of your feelings of goodness? “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 5:1. When we reach this point of realization, we worship God just as the woman did.
Only when we come to the cross where we have nothing to offer but rather to receive redemption for our poverty in sin can we see Jesus. The cross is sufficient at all times and for all things. The cross is where we are made complete and whole in God's eyes. Nothing else outside the cross will suffice.
Now let's read the account which is a bit humorous and on the surface offensive. Don't let offenses stop you from pressing unto Christ. Have you been literally called a dog and still pressed unto to touch Jesus? Multitudes pressed on to touch Jesus and were healed.
What in our hearts today need healing? What is your need? Let's press unto Jesus for that loved one, friend, co-worker who needs Christ. Father increase our faith against all hindrances and against all odds. Help us to focus and study your word that builds our faith and to see You. Amen
Matthew 15:21-39
A Gentile Shows Her Faith
21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”
23 But He answered her not a word.
And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”
24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”
26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Jesus Heals Great Multitudes
29 Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them. 31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
Feeding the Four Thousand
32 Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
33 Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?”
34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”
And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”
35 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. 37 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. 38 Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.[g]
We saw in previous chapter of Matthew 14 where Christ rebuked Peter for his “little faith”. Peter started walking on water and because he started looking at the wind, became afraid and doubted and then started sinking into the water. Peter removed his eyes on Jesus, the object and focus of his faith and our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”.
Today in our study, we see a woman who defiled all odds to focus on Christ to receive wholeness for her demon-possessed daughter. First, this woman did not belong to this crowd. She was a foreigner. I can identify with her when you are in a foreign land. Whether you are the only white or black where you are and everyone else is a different color, race, sex, accent or etc. should not stop you. Your eyes and my eyes must be on Jesus who alone has what we need – "the way, the truth, and the life"
Secondly church people (includes all of us who follow Jesus) tried to stop the woman from seeing Jesus. The disciples tried to stop this woman. Have you run into church people who tried to stop you? They are there and will make attempts even in your household. We must press on to hear the words of Jesus - “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Matthew 15:28.
Then the last hurdle was Jesus himself. God will offend your sense of worth before you can receive from him. Jesus made this woman realize He owes her nothing. God does not owe you or me anything. There is nothing we can give him who made all things. We are paupers and only paupers receive from God. God specializes in pouring out His mercy and grace on those do not deserve anything from Him.
Is it possible you have not received from God because of your sense of entitlement and because of your feelings of goodness? “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 5:1. When we reach this point of realization, we worship God just as the woman did.
Only when we come to the cross where we have nothing to offer but rather to receive redemption for our poverty in sin can we see Jesus. The cross is sufficient at all times and for all things. The cross is where we are made complete and whole in God's eyes. Nothing else outside the cross will suffice.
Now let's read the account which is a bit humorous and on the surface offensive. Don't let offenses stop you from pressing unto Christ. Have you been literally called a dog and still pressed unto to touch Jesus? Multitudes pressed on to touch Jesus and were healed.
What in our hearts today need healing? What is your need? Let's press unto Jesus for that loved one, friend, co-worker who needs Christ. Father increase our faith against all hindrances and against all odds. Help us to focus and study your word that builds our faith and to see You. Amen
Matthew 15:21-39
A Gentile Shows Her Faith
21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”
23 But He answered her not a word.
And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”
24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”
26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Jesus Heals Great Multitudes
29 Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them. 31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
Feeding the Four Thousand
32 Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”
33 Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?”
34 Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”
And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”
35 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. 37 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. 38 Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.[g]
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