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.” (Matthew 15:21–22 (ESV)
The geographical context is the coastal town of Gennesaret, located on the northwest coast of the Sea of Galilee (Matt. 14:34). It was where Jesus had sent His disciples following the Feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:1-33). It was that area that Jesus departed and traveled to the district of Tyre and Sidon, located on the northeast coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Tyre was a town on the Phoenician coast located approximately 35 kilometers south of Sidon.
Matthew then used the imperative verb Behold (ἰδού; idou) meaning to look or to see. It is intended for his readers. Matthew, and the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21) wanted the readers of this Gospel to pay attention to what they would soon be reading.
What was it that Matthew wanted his readers to behold? His next words are significant; a Canaanite woman. Who were the Canaanites?
“The descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham, the son of Noah (Gen.9:19). Migrating from their original home, they seem to have reached the Persian Gulf, and to have there sojourned for some time. They thence “spread to the west, across the mountain chain of Lebanon to the very edge of the Mediterranean Sea, occupying all the land which later became Palestine, also to the north-west as far as the mountain chain of Taurus. This group was very numerous, and broken up into a great many peoples, as we can judge from the list of nations (Gen. 10), the ‘sons of Canaan.” Six different tribes are mentioned in Ex. 3:8, 17; 23:23; 33:2; 34:11, The name “Canaanite” is also sometimes used to designate the non-Israelite inhabitants of the land in general (Gen. 12:6; Num. 21:3; Judg. 1:10), “explains the Illustrated Bible Dictionary.
This Canaanite woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon approached Jesus. Matthew also informs us she was crying. Crying (κράζω; krazo) does not mean a gentle and soft whimper. Rather, it is a loud, guttural wail of agony. This woman was consistently and persistently screaming at Jesus. This was probably to get His attention.
Why did she behave this way? Matthew provides the answer. She personally and passionately said, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” This statement explains her behavior. She was desperate.
The phrase have mercy on me (ἐλεέω; eleeo) means to have pity. Her plea was intense, bordering on a command. She called Jesus, O Lord, Son of David. Lord (κύριος; kurios) means master. It is the Greek equivalent of God’s Hebrew name, Yahweh (Ex. 3; Psalm 8; Isaiah 6:1-7). Son of David means the heir of the God’s kingdom covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:14). The woman was not only affirming Jesus as Yahweh but also as King of Israel.
The reason for her fervent plea was because her daughter was sick. In fact, her daughter was severely oppressed by a demon. The woman came to Jesus for help. She may have known Jesus had previously performed exorcisms (Matt. 8:28-34; 9:32-34). She needed such a miracle for her daughter.
“Tamar and Ruth were among the very first Gentile women to trust God when His covenant people did not. Today, we read of one woman who shared her faith during the earthly ministry of Jesus,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“Our Lord encounters this woman right after the leaders of Israel oppose Him (Matt. 15:1–20). Just like Onan (Gen. 38:6–10), some of Abraham’s physical sons lacked committed, obedient trust in God’s promises. And just like Tamar and Ruth, it is a Gentile, a daughter of Israel’s ancient enemies no less, who has faith in the Christ.”
More to come. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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