His Word Today

“It is ever to humble us, as we contemplate God’s greatness and glory and our own littleness and sinfulness. And it is as we enter more and more deeply into this experience of being and exalted that our knowledge of God increases, and with it our peace, our strength and our joy. God help us, then, to put our knowledge about God to this use, that we all may in truth know the Lord.”    J. I. Packer

We have thus far seen that one of the initial aspects of Knowing God is recognizing and understanding that He is the creator of the heavens and the earth. Revelation 4:11 says, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

God created the heavens and the earth out of nothing. What kind of God could do such a thing?

It would take a being of unsurpassed worth, a being who is perfectly powerful—indeed, all-powerful—to bring something into existence that preciously had no existence. God did not simply rearrange preexisting matter to make the universe; He called matter itself into existence. Consequently, God possesses great glory as the Creator of all things, and because He in His glory created all things, He is worthy to receive glory from us. We are His creatures; He is our Creator. Therefore, our highest honor and praise should go to Him alone. We can revere nothing greater than we revere God, for there is nothing greater than our Creator,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

The Apostle Paul, several times in the New Testament, reminds believers and unbelievers of the glory of knowing God the Creator. This certainly was the situation when Paul was at Mars Hill in Athens, Greece. The account is found in Acts 17:16-34. The narrative is as follows.

“Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him.

And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.”

Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”

So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.”

Mediate upon this text of Scripture until we meet again. It is then that we will begin to examine Acts 17:16-34 in greater detail.

Soli deo Gloria!

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1).

How fitting that Genesis, the book of beginnings, should begin with the phrase, “In the beginning.” It literally means that which is chief, first or the starting point. It is at the beginning moment, Genesis 1:1 says, that God initiated an action resulting in something that did not previously exist with Him in His eternal existence. What God initiated was His act of creating the heavens and the earth.

This creative act is mentioned elsewhere in Scripture (Job 38:4-7; Psalm 33:6; 136:5; Isaiah 42:1-5; 45:18; Acts 14:15; 17:24; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:10; 11:1-3; Revelation 4:11). The most familiar companion text concerning God creating the heavens and the earth is found in John 1:1-3 which says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.”

Who is the subject of this verse? Who was existing in the beginning? The Bible tells us it was God. The Hebrew word used here for God is Elohim. The word refers to the One, True God. He who is majestic and worthy of worship.

The Westminster Larger Catechism defines God as follows: “God is a spirit, in and of Himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.”

One commentator writes, “God—the name of the Supreme Being, signifying in Hebrew, “Strong,” “Mighty.” It is expressive of omnipotent power; and by its use here in the plural form, is obscurely taught at the opening of the Bible, a doctrine clearly revealed in other parts of it, namely, that though God is one, there is a plurality of persons in the Godhead—Father, Son, and Spirit, who were engaged in the creative work (Proverbs 8:27; John 1:3, 10; Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 1:2; Job 26:13).

It is interesting to observe that the Bible, from its opening book, chapter and verse, through its conclusion in the Book of Revelation, never argues for the existence of God. The Scriptures set forth the truth that God exists and always has existed. In fact, the Bible sets forth that the One, True God who eternally exists is the only True God who eternally exists (Deuteronomy 4:39; Isaiah 40:21-28; 43:10; John 1:1; Colossians 1:17). It is He, and He alone, who created the heavens and the earth.

The word “created” means to make something that has not been in existence before; to make something out of nothing. God created the universe from no pre-existing material or substance. He created the substance by speaking it into existence. Psalm 33:6 and 9 says, “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. For He spoke and it came to be; He commanded and it stood firm.”

Genesis 1:1 tells us that in the beginning, God created, out of nothing, the heavens and the earth. The word heavens, samayim, means, in its plural form, not only the sky and the atmosphere but also the realm of the planets and stars along with the abode of God. God created the universe.

Once again, the Westminster Larger Catechism provides a beneficial insight. “The work of creation is that wherein God did in the beginning, by the word of His power, make of nothing the world, and all things therein, for Himself, within the space of six days, and all very good.”

In this universe that God created, He not only created the heavens but He also created the earth. The Hebrew word for earth, ‘ares in the singular, refers to the third planet in the galaxy known as the Milky Way Galaxy. God not only created all the universe but this tiny, pale blue dot known as Earth. In this one verse we see time (In the beginning), force (God), act (created), space (the heavens), and matter (and the earth). .

“This first verse is a general introduction to the inspired volume, declaring the great and important truth that all things had a beginning; that nothing throughout the wide extent of nature existed from eternity, originated by chance, or from the skill of any inferior agent; but that the whole universe was produced by the creative power of God (Acts 17:24; Romans 11:36),” explains one commentator.

If we are to know God, we must acknowledge the truth that He is our creator. With this acknowledgement, there is a profound sense of how incredibly powerful and mighty God is and how incredibly insignificant we are in comparison. Reflect upon the words of the Psalmist David.

“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1-9).

Make it a priority today to observe God’s creative handiwork as the season of winter is about to begin. Worship Him in the beauty of His creation regardless of whether its summer, winter, springtime or harvest.

Soli deo Gloria!    

“Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul.” — J. I. Packer

There are five basic truths that we must understand if we are going to know God in the fullness of who He is. These five truths are as follows. (1) God has revealed Himself, not only in creation but also in His inerrant Word, the Bible; (2) God is sovereign. He is providentially in control of everything, and this especially includes the saving of sinners; (3) God’s saves sinners by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone, ultimately for His own glory alone; (4) God is triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and (5) Our lives are to be spent working and serving to glorify God’s name and not our own. No other goal of life is greater than of magnifying the glory of God.

We will examine each of these five basic truths in the days to follow. We will endeavor to explain their continuing relevance to sinners and saints alike. Remember, we do not make biblical truth relevant. Biblical truth about God, or any other subject it addresses, is already relevant because it is biblical truth from God. The Bible establishes its own relevancy or importance because God has established the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

Dr. J.I. Packer writes concerning the quest of knowing God that, “We are in a position of travelers who, after surveying a great mountain from afar, traveling around it, and observing how it dominates the landscape and determines the features of the surrounding countryside, now approach it directly, with the intention of climbing it.”

Ask any mountain climber and they will explain the needs for proper tools and equipment in approaching such a quest as climbing a mountain peak. In seeking ascend the mountain of knowing the person and character of God, we also are in need of the proper tools and equipment in our quest.  

I submit that the tools of our quest include; (1) A Study Bible. If you do not have one, then either purchase, or borrow one from a friend. You cannot know God if you do not have His Word. Excellent study Bibles include the ESV Study Bible, The Reformation Study Bible and the MacArthur Study Bible; (2) A notepad and a pencil or pen. Write down your questions and seek out a biblical mentor to gain a greater understanding of knowing God. (3) A prayerful heart. An attitude humility and submission is required when we encounter biblical truths about God which may upset us, challenge and perhaps even confuse us. We must ask God to give us the understanding we need and the trust He requires of all His children who seek to know Him.

“Most of us accept the biblical testimony that there is a God who rules in heaven and earth (though we don’t always accept everything Scripture says about Him),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.  

It has been said, in jest, that God created man in His image and man has been endeavoring to return the favor ever since. What this means is that God created man, and man now seeks to create a God of his own choosing. This is never wise.

The goal of knowing God is not about making God fit our perspectives of who we think He is, or ought to be. Neither is it about simply gathering as much information as we can in order to fill ourselves with pride that we know more about God than the other guy. Rather, any study of God, with the goal of knowing Him more, is for the purpose of discovering God for what the Scriptures teach that He is and consequently glorifying Him with every part of our being because of who He is.

The Westminster Larger, and Shorter, Catechism asks this initial, but profound question: “What is the chief and highest end of man?” The answer is that “Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy Him forever.”  

I want to scale that mountain and reach the top. How about you?

Soli deo Gloria!

On January 7, 1855, Charles H. Spurgeon, the minister of New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, England, opened his morning sermon as follows:

It has been said by someone that “the proper study of mankind is man.” I will not oppose the idea, but I believe it is equally true that the proper study of God’s elect is God; the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father.

“There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity. Other subjects we can compass and grapple with; in them we feel a kind of self-content, and go our way with the thought, “Behold I am wise.” But when we come to this master science, finding that our plumb line cannot sound its depth, and that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought that vain man would be wise, but he is like a wild ass’s colt; and with solemn exclamation, “I am but of yesterday, and know nothing.” No subject of contemplation will tend more to humble the mind, than thoughts of God….

“But while the subject humbles the mind, it also expands it. He who often thinks of God, will have a larger mind than the man who simply plods around this narrow globe…. The most excellent study for expanding the soul, is the science of Christ, and Him crucified, and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity. Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity.”

“And, whilst humbling and expanding, this subject is eminently consolatory. Oh, there is, in contemplating Christ, a balm for every wound; in musing on the Father, there is a quietus for every grief; and in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is a balsam for every sore. Would you lose your sorrow? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead’s deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of sorrow and grief; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead. It is to that subject that I invite you this morning.”

These words, spoken over a century ago by Pastor Spurgeon (at that time, incredibly, only twenty years old) were true then, and they are true now. They make a fitting preface to a series of studies on the nature and character of God; the God we seek to know.

Soli deo Gloria!

As we prepare for Christmas this year, approximately a month away, I would like for us to consider what it means to know God. We should understand that knowing about God is different than actually knowing Him. Therefore, we’re going to take a break from our study of Matthew’s Gospel to concentrate on on the meaning of knowing God.

Several years ago, I preached a series of messages on the topic Knowing God. What does the title “knowing God” mean? How does this ongoing discipline of knowing God occur? Who is responsible for knowing God? What particular people are to passionately pursue the discipline of knowing God?  

To “know” (Hebrew – ‘yode’; Greek – ginosko; oida) biblically means to understand, to be familiar with, to recognize, and to possess information. The object believers in Christ are to understand, to be familiar with and to possess information of is the One, True God of the Scriptures. 

Please notice that the word “knowing” is a present active participle. I am using that word deliberately. Believers never arrive at a complete knowledge of God prior to heaven. We are always on an active, informative, progressive, and passionate journey of continuously knowing, and understanding God.

This journey of knowing God is not only about who He is, but also about what He does. What is God like? What are His attributes and is there any one attribute greater than others? What does God hate? Does God hate? What are the many things God has chosen to do?

In what or who does He delight? Is there any way that believers in Christ can make God love them more? Is there any way believers in Christ can make God love them less?

Is knowing God exists sufficient to save an individual from God’s wrath? If not, what can or does save a sinner from the wrath of God. Is God a God of wrath?

As you can see, there are many questions surrounding the subject of knowing God. Our goal is to acquire biblical answers. I encourage you to read, meditate and even memorize Jeremiah 9:23-24. Let’s begin.

²³ Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, ²⁴ but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23–24 (ESV)

Soli deo Gloria!

³² Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” ³³ And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” ³⁴ And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” ³⁵ And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, ³⁶ he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ³⁷ And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. ³⁸ Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. ³⁹ And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.” (Matthew 15:32–39 (ESV)

Biblical scholars have debated whether Matthew’s recounting of Jesus’ feeding of the four thousand is the same miracle as the feeding of the five thousand that Matthew previously recorded (Matt. 14:19-21). The consensus is that these two chronicles are separate and distinct miracles.

First, Jesus feeding the five thousand occurred in Galilee (Matt. 13:53; 14:22). Mark recorded that Jesus’ feeding the four thousand occurred in the Decapolis (Mark 7:31-37). This was a Gentile populated area. Therefore, the first supernatural feeding was to the Jews. The second was to Gentiles. The amount of people, five and four thousand respectively, did not include women and children. Jesus fed proportionately more people than the initial number indicates.  

Second, the first miraculous feeding involved two fish and five loaves of bread (Matt. 14:17). Today’s text indicates that the disciples had in their possession seven loaves and a few small fish (Matt. 15:34).

Third, the remnants for loaves for the first miraculous feeding were twelve full baskets (Matt. 14:20; John 6:13). The remnants for the second miraculous feeding were seven full baskets (Matt. 15:37).

In both instances, the people had their fill and were satisfied (Matt. 14:20; 15:37). Both illustrated that Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6).

“The evidence compels us to take these stories at face value -— descriptions of two different, miraculous feedings. The five thousand were clearly Jews because the group followed Jesus from Nazareth and other surrounding towns (Matt. 13:53–14:21). On the other hand, the four thousand were probably Gentiles. Just prior to feeding them, Jesus healed many of the four thousand who then “glorified the God of Israel” (15:29–31). Jews could speak of the Lord this way, but it is more likely that Gentiles would say such things as the Jewish crowds in Matthew do not use this title elsewhere. More importantly, Mark locates the events of today’s passage in the Decapolis (7:31–8:10), a region of ten predominantly Gentile cities east of the Sea of Galilee,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

The purpose of Jesus’ miracles were not just to suspend the laws of nature; laws He Himself created (John 1:1-3). Rather, Jesus’ miracles purposely displayed His person, power and presence; not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles. This miraculous power continues today in the preaching, and conversion of souls, of and by the Gospel.

¹⁶ “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16–17 ESV)

By grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone, every believer in Christ is a result of God’s miraculous work.

Soli deo Gloria!

²⁹ “Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. ³⁰ And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, ³¹ so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.” (Matthew 15:29–31 (ESV)

It is important to observe the geographical context of Matthew 15:19. Matthew records that, ““Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee.” The sentence indicates that where Jesus went on from was the area of Tyre and Sidon (Matt. 15:21). Jesus went to the Sea of Galilee. The distance between the two Phoenician cities and the Galilean area is 177 miles.

How long would it have taken Jesus and His disciples to make this journey? The average foot speed for most adults is three miles per hour, or twenty minutes per mile. Dividing 177 by 3 equals 59. At an average foot speed of three miles per hour, it would have taken Jesus and His followers approximately 59 hours to make the 177-mile trip to Galilee from Tyre. This is roughly a 2.5-day journey. As John Wayne would say, “A good stretch of the legs.”

Upon arriving at Galilee, Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down there. Mark 7:31 says that Jesus was in the region of the Decapolis. The Decapolis was a term meaning “ten cities” that designates a group of Hellenistic (Greek) towns predominately located on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River. The area was probably the area known in the Old Testament as Gilead, and includes what is today northwest Jordan and southern Syria. Matthew recorded Jesus’ earlier visit to the Decapolis in Matthew 8:28-9:1. These inhabitants were Gentiles.

As before, the crowds brought the sick and infirm to Jesus. These included the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others with various maladies. All these conditions evidenced the consequences of the fall of man into sin (Gen. 3:1-7). The people place these sick at the feet of Jesus and He healed them all.

What was the response of the crowd?  They wondered (θαυμάζω; thaumazo). They were astonished and marveled at what Jesus had done. They then glorified the God of Israel. It would be these same people, who were 4,000 men plus women and children (Matt. 15:38), that Jesus would feed with seven loaves of bread and a few, small fish (Matt. 15:34).

“Jesus’ ministry in this area reveals that the kingdom is for Jew and Gentile alike. His miracles here figure predominantly in the prediction of the Messiah’s reign in Isaiah 35. Christ’s work here shows that His blessing is for the nations, which may explain why His Jewish disciples had trouble conceiving that Jesus would feed unclean Gentiles (Matt. 15:33). Even Peter struggled to believe that the nations could become full citizens of God’s kingdom (Gal. 2:1–10).” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

Jesus, as the Bread of Life (John 6), is so not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles (Romans 1:16-17). Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

²⁵ “But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” ²⁶ And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁷ She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” ²⁸ Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.” (Matthew 15:25–28 (ESV)

Jesus and His disciples initially refused the Canaanite woman’s request for her daughter’s healing (Matt. 15:21-24). However, she persisted. She came and knelt before Jesus. Knelt (προσκυνέω; proskuneo) means to prostrate oneself in worship. She continually said, “Lord, help me.” The woman not only acknowledged Jesus as Lord by her words (Matt. 15:22), but also by her behavior.

Jesus responded by saying,” “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” The reference to dogs (κυνάριον; kunarion) refers to a family pet and not a stray on the street or alley. Jesus invoked the image of children being Israel and the family dog being Gentiles. Ministering to Israel came first before Jesus would minister to the Gentile nations.

However, the woman responded by saying, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” The woman understood the metaphor Jesus used. She did not deny its significant meaning. She knew she was a Gentile but she pleaded for God’s gracious provision for her daughter.

Jesus said, ““O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” The word great (μέγας; megas) means surprising. Faith (πίστις; pistis) is trust, commitment, dependence and worship of Christ. Jesus acknowledged that the woman’s faith in Him was astonishing. Jesus granted her request and her daughter was immediately healed. Like the healing of the nobleman’s son (John 4:46-54), Jesus did not have to be with the woman’s daughter to heal her daughter.

Jesus took the opportunity to test her faith, which explains His delay in granting her request. This behavior is not unusual with God. Abraham and Sarah had to wait a long time for the LORD to grant their heart’s desire (Gen. 21:1-5; Rom. 4:18-21).

“Jesus delayed to heed her requests in order to test her faith, that is, to refine it as silver is refined and purified. He wanted to give her faith an opportunity for more glorious expression. He aimed to strengthen it by means of the answer He had given her is vs. 24 and 26. She would now begin to realize, far better that if He had immediately healed her daughter, what an extraordinary blessing she was receiving,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.

The woman was reverential, earnest, loving, humble and hopeful. She was also persevering in her God-given faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Divine love is so infinite and marvelous that it even praises a human being for exercising a gift – in this case faith—with which this very divine love has endowed her, and which apart from that divine activity could not have gone into action at all,” concludes Dr. Hendriksen.

Soli deo Gloria!

.

²¹ And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. ²² 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.” ²³ 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.” ²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:21–24 (ESV)

Following the Jewish leaders refusal to hear Him (Matthew 15:1-20), Jesus went to the pagan territories of Tyre and Sidon. It was there that He met a Canaanite woman. She confessed Christ as the “Lord” and the “Son of David.” Both were titles for God and the Messianic expectations of God’s people. Ironically, it was a Gentile who recognized Jesus as Lord even though Israel’s leaders did not.

The Gospel of Mark reveals further information concerning the woman. Mark 7:24-26 says, “²⁴ And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. ²⁵ But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. ²⁶ Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.”

The title Syrophoenician means that the woman was a native of either Tyre, Sidon or Syria. While Jesus immediately answered the religious leaders (Matt. 15:3), Matthew records that Jesus did not answer the Canaanite woman. He did not even speak to her. Neither did the disciples.

However, while the disciples did not speak to the woman (see John 4:1-9), they did speak to Jesus about her. They said, ““Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” The disciples were commanding Jesus to dismiss and reject the woman. The reason they gave was that she was screaming after them. In reality, she was crying out only to Jesus for mercy and help for her daughter. The disciples showed a callous lack of sympathy and compassion to someone in desperate need.

Initially, Jesus appeared to be just as unsympathetic. He said to her, ““I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

“Jesus rejects her pleas to heal her daughter at first, telling her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (vv. 23–24). These words are not to be taken as a rejection. True, Jesus was sent to preach the Gospel of the kingdom first to the Jews, but He did not ignore Gentiles. In fact, He healed some men outside of the covenant community before meeting this woman (Matt. 8:28–34). Jesus is testing her to determine whether she will cling to Him steadfastly,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

Have you ever been interrupted by someone who needs something from you immediately? How do you react in that circumstance and situation? Do you feel pressured to comply with their request when you haven’t had time to consider their request?

What principles can we glean from this portion of Scripture? We’ll soon see when we resume out study in Matthew’s Gospel when next we meet.

Soli deo Gloria!