Katherine Stanley

Dr. McCaulley

BITH – 213

22 March 2021

“The Faith of the Canaanite Woman”: Text Paper

1. How does the arrangement of the passage help you answer your question? (10%)

1. Context

The passage that precedes “The Faith of the Canaanite Woman” is one that addresses the

distinguishment between the law’s ceremonial requirements and moral defilements. With this, a

person’s sin can be dealt with through a ceremonial measure, while moral defilement is

damaging to one’s soul. Following the parable of the Canaanite woman is the story of Jesus

feeding the four thousand, which marks the ending of his ministry in Galilee regions. Throughout

the book of Matthew addresses many themes, one of the main ones is that regarding the

Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is one that is welcoming to all peoples, not exclusively

towards the Jewish people and is attained through faithfulness and righteousness and evident

through one’s actions of compassion and love. The Faith of the Canaanite woman is placed

between Jesus’ teaching about purity and wisdom, and Jesus highlights the power found in the

Kingdom of God in feeding of the four thousand with only a few pieces of bed and a handful of

fish. In the passage of “The Faith of the Canaanite Woman”, the main theme of the Kingdom of

God is portrayed in Jesus’ love for the woman despite her social standings as she is faithful in the

same way that Jesus’ followers should have once they inherit the Kingdom.

2. Translation
The main interpretation that shaped the English version of Matthew was through the Greek

translation. I was unable to find any noticeable changes in the varying translations offered that

did not overall affect the story, as the only differences noted were slight differences in word

choice. The word choice that differed was merely just a preference in translation, not something

that rearranged or highlighted the story of the Canaanite Woman in another way that is presented

in the English version.

3. Structure

“And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.   And behold,  a

Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son

of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 

In these first two verses, the notable points are the district that Jesus is in (Tyre and

Sidon) and that the Canaanite woman cried out to Jesus calling him, “Son of David”. The new

district that Jesus is in is primarily occupied by people Gentile and Greek dissent and other a few

Jewish people. Although the Canaanite woman was a foreigner to Jesus and the disciples, they

were setting foot into her region. In addition, the Canaanite woman showed great honor and

respect in acknowledging Jesus’ great power in addressing Him as the, “Son of David”.

But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her

away, for she is crying out after us.”   He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the

house of Israel.”

In verses 23 and 24, there is yet again another emphasis of the Canaanite woman being

someone of opposing dissent to their own. With verse 23 specifically, it is clear that Matthew

was writing to the Jewish people in adding in this language of making an effort to send away the
Canaanite woman who the Jewish people had a strong distaste for. In verse 24, Jesus addresses

his purpose of fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies to the Israelites. This is very interesting

because Jesus is getting at the point that although he is upholding a prophecy to the Jewish

people that was made in the OT, he is still making a stop to listen and help this Canaanite

woman.

But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”  And he answered, “It is not right

to take the children's bread and  throw it to the dogs.”  She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs

eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.”

In Jesus’ reply to the Canaanite woman’s plea in verse 25, he is firm and unrelenting

towards this woman’s perseverance to seek out of His help. In the book of Mark, the language is

somewhat “milder”. Yet Jesus is not cursing the woman or putting her off by using firm

language, he is most likely testing her in the many ways Jesus is notoriously known for

throughout various passages in the bible. It is probable that Jesus was inferring that the Canaanite

woman better understand Jesus’ true mission and identity, and not just see him as another Gentile

wandering through the region performing exorcisms. In verse 26, the woman is persistent in

demonstrating the faith that she has for Jesus to heal her demon possessed daughter no matter

how absurd it may seem according to the many outwardly diving factors she has from the

Israelites.

Then Jesus answered her, “O woman,  great is your faith! Be it done for you as you

desire.”  And her daughter was healed instantly.”

In this final verse, Jesus is highly complementary of the woman’s faith, using it to

provide an example of what every Christ’s followers faith needs to resemble. With this, Jesus
indicates the ability that everyone has to access the Kingdom of God. Although Jesus was on

mission for the Israelites, He is accessible both the Jew and the Gentile/Canaanite, and there is

divine power in one’s faith in Jesus Christ.

4. Language:

The words that seem particularly important within this text are faith, Canaanite, and Son of

David. As Jesus carries on his ministry in varying regions, Matthew draws on “Son of David”

language. In portraying David in Jewish scriptures as “prototypical” and “idealized” king of

Israel, Matthew draws upon the royal lineage coming from Joseph’s line which then extends

through the line of King David. There is intentionality in the Canaanite woman, the foreigner,

using this particular name to cry out to Jesus as it embodies the authority and reign that Jesus has

over Israel. This reign is most likely to be found threatening to someone who is not of Jewish

dissent, which makes it all the more powerful to be coming from the Canaanite woman. The

Canaanites were notoriously known for their pagan and corrupt ways, and their presence in the

land of Israel was a threat that could potentially ruin their pure religion and morality. With this,

there is a great demonstration of the faith that the woman had to desperately cling to Jesus

despite the many obstacles she had to break through in various aspects.

5. Comparison

In Mark chapter 7:24-30, there is a story that recounts the same scenario as found in Matthew

chapter 5. The story of “The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith” found in Mark is in the same

region of Tyre and Sidon. In both gospels, the conversation between Jesus and the woman

stating, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to

the dogs” and “…Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs” remain the same
in both stories. Both of the gospels also highlight the strong faith of the woman in labeling Jesus

as the prophet who will deliver the Israelites and emphasis the differing background between

Jesus and the woman. One of the main contrasts between the stories is simply the differing

ethnicities between the two women, which is important to take note of as the tensions between

the Israelites and the Canaanites were very high in the gospel of Matthew compared to that of the

Syrophoenicians and the Israelites. In addition, there was less of an emphasis of the woman’s

faith being the reason that Jesus’ granted the Syrophoenician’s request as compared to that of the

Canaanite’s faith in the end of the Matthew passage. Rather, there is more an implication that

Jesus granted the Syrophoenician’s request due to her humble faith and worshipful attitude. In

both stories, the women had responses that were characterized by a complete absence of pride

and self-reliance and there was a strong precedent set on the fact that the Kingdom of God is not

just for those of Jewish dissent.

6. Reaction

a. Within the context of ancient Israel, Jesus granting the request of a Canaanite

woman would have been very uncommon and not welcomed in by society. As

shown through the disciples’ reaction and the clarification that Matthew makes to

emphasize the struggle of the woman’s ethnic origin, ancient Israelites would

have disagreed with Jesus’ act of love towards this woman’s demon possessed

daughter.

b. I think that Biblical scholars often wrestle with questions regarding why Jesus

went to the region of Tyre and Sidon, why Jesus draws faith out of the Canaanite

woman, and why is there a reference to small dogs and what is its significance in

the exchange of conversation between Jesus and the woman. In leaving from
 conflict with the Pharisees and elders about fifty miles north in Gentile country,

Jesus was leaving behind rejection of the Jewish leaders. This is timing is very

important to take note of as there was stark contrast in Canaanite woman who

barely knows Jesus who is relentlessly seeking His mercy in comparison to how

the people had been treating Him from where He was traveling from. In addition,

Jesus often talked to people with questions and wasn’t always direct with his

answers, and there isn’t a clear-cut answer of why Jesus drew of the faith in the

Canaanite woman. Lastly, the woman uses the word “dog” to acquiesce the role

that it takes up in relation to Israel, thus claiming that although she may not be

able to sit at the down at Messiah’s table and eat with the “children”, she should

be allowed to at least pick up the fallen crumbs.

c. This text places a strong emphasis on faith and the divine love that God has for all

types of people, no matter where they come from. With this, Jesus’ mercy, grace,

forgiveness, power, and love are not subject to just people of Jewish dissent, but

the Kingdom of God is for every single individual. The way to the Kingdom and

to get to Jesus is through faith in the Messiah, thus a very simple act. This in itself

demonstrates the simplicity of obtaining all that the Kingdom of God has to offer.

Part Two

In learning and diving deeper into the passage of, “The Faith of the Canaanite Woman” I

was able to grow in a deeper appreciation for a story that I have often overlooked. I have often

overlooked this story not only because of the length, but because it is a story that seems very

atypical for Jesus in my mind. By researching and addressing more of the details of these verses
it has allowed to read this passage with a new perspective and awe of God. Something that really

impacted me was the resilience of the Canaanite woman in seeking out the Lord’s mercy over

her and her demon-possessed daughter. Even though he dismissed her twice and put her faith to

the test, she continued on. Even when Jesus stated, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house

of Israel” in verse 24, she still went ahead and persisted in seeking out Jesus. This part of the

passage was very convicting for own faith as I began to reassess the ways in which I seek out the

Lord, which has been inspiring me to be more desperate for Him and His power to intervene in

my life. It is so terrifying and easy to allow life to just roll on by in the 21st century setting of

convenience and fast-paced life without addressing our dire need for Jesus. Moreover, the

woman continues to be persistent in saying to Jesus, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the

crumbs that fall from their masters' table, “in 27. Without even hesitating, the Canaanite woman

comes to Jesus with a humble spirit and a simple faith. As she is willing to take whatever she can

get because the power of God in any form, even if it comes in the form of crumbs fallen from the

table, her heart has a posture of humility and lacks all senses of self-reliance.

In addition to the posture of humility that the Canaanite woman brought to this encounter

with Jesus, Jesus brought an open-mind and heart. At first, I struggled mentally as Jesus

dismissed the woman twice before helping her, which came from my skewed perspective. After

using additional research to aid my view on the dialogue between the woman and Jesus, I am

able to look at this initial dismission as an act of love rather than a punishment. Jesus already has

crossed the line for each and every single of us, and He additionally is bringing out the raw and

beautiful faith out of the Canaanite in pushing back on her a bit. Matthew ultimately uses this

story to preach to the Jewish people and be an example of what is looks like to fully live out the

gospel, and to show them how to look beyond all prejudices and stereotypes to seek out the faith
of an individual and soul before anything else. It is evident that many would have struggled to

grasp this as even the disciples were urging to move on with their ministry and to ignore the

Canaanite woman, and I believe that this is still a issue that we continue to face today in

accepting others differences.

I love the simplicity of this passage as it shows the heart that Jesus has for being an

advocate for social justice and racial reconciliation, and that He took the time to stop for this

woman rather than attending to more “important” and grandiose miraculous gestures and

blessings. Jesus continuously demonstrates powerful messages throughout the scriptures through

the most “unqualified” individuals, which deepens the argument of the gospel being accessible to

all. (Word Count: 602)

 Resources

“Bible Gateway Passage: Matthew 15:21-28 - New International Version.” Bible Gateway,

www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+15%3A21-28&version=NIV.

Green, Joel B. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, edited by Jeannine K. Brown, and Nicholas

Perrin, InterVarsity Press, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central,

https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/wheaton/detail.action?docID=3316699.

“23. The Faith Of A Canaanite Woman (Matthew 15:21-28).” 23. The Faith Of A Canaanite

Woman (Matthew 15:21-28) | Bible.org, bible.org/seriespage/23-faith-canaanite-woman-

matthew-1521-28.