THE FAITH OF A GENTILE WOMAN

Mark 7:24-30 / Keywords 7:28

"Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

7:24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.[g] He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

28 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

29 Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”

30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Footnotes

g. Mark 7:24 Many early manuscripts Tyre and Sidon

1. The crying out prayer of a Gentile woman (24-26)

After this event, Jesus withdrew to a secret place, probably to protect his disciples from the Pharisees. Nonetheless, a mother with a demon-possessed daughter tracked down Jesus and fell at his feet. This woman was a Greek, a Gentile, yet she turned to Jesus as her Messiah. Disregarding any human boundaries, she begged for Jesus’ mercy to drive the demon out of her daughter. God cannot ignore a mother’s crying out prayer.

 

2. Her humble reply (27-20)

To test her faith in the God of Israel, Jesus responded to her harshly, even calling her a dog. But her pride was not offended, nor did she become bitter or crooked. She accepted that she was a dog who would be thankful for even a few crumbs of Jesus’ mercy. Because of her humility and faith, Jesus was moved to heal her daughter instantly. When she returned home, her daughter was restored and set free from the devil’s grip.

 

Prayer Lord, please help me to learn this Gentile woman’s humility, faith, and crying out prayer.

One Word Jesus hears our crying out prayers and accepts our humility and

Faith