Matthew 15:21-31
“Notice what you notice.” Our byline, “notice what you notice” has tripped me up sometimes. I find myself looking for items in these passages that I had not seen before, which is a good thing as we read these passages more intensely, but that byline should not rule out commenting on the old and familiar. And that is the case with today’s passage, the Canaanite (Syro-Phoenician) woman. It is the only occasion that I can recall where someone has a response to Jesus that causes Him to reconsider His plan of action. Jesus puts the woman off by saying, It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs (v. 26), but she comes right back with Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table (v. 27). It is a delightful scene, in that it shows Jesus as totally personable, willing to change direction when gently prodded to do so. I love this passage!!
The second part of today’s reading is also intriguing. This time it is Matthew who is strong in the details. Verse 30 reads 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… Normally, that’s the “end of the story”, mission accomplished, but not this time. Matthew goes on in verse 31 to report that the crowd … saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. Matthew offers exacting detail to each of the infirmities mentioned in the previous verse! Intriguing!
Finally, I can’t help but comment on today’s geography. If you get out a good Bible map, you will see that Jesus has ventured far to the northwest, some 30 to 50 miles, to the Mediterranean coast cities of Tyre and Sidon. From there Matthew has Him back beside the Sea of Galilee, while Mark has Him traveling east of the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Decapolis, and finally back to the Sea. That’s a great deal of walking. If Jesus traveled 20-25 miles a day, He would have had a two-day trip to Tyre, then another day-trip to Sidon. And those are short distances compared to a three- to five-day journey from Sidon to the region of the Decapolis! But beyond those large distances, I wonder why Jesus chose to make those journeys. Did He have a particular target in these destinations or was He just trying to get out of Galilee for a while? But His fame had spread even to these regions and wherever He went, crowds came to Him and He ministered.
GLORY!
Todays reading made me wonder, why was Jesus going to gentile area, Tyre and Sidon. To reach diaspora Jews? Or to teach his disciples compassion for all, even Canaanites? His disciples seemed to focus on him without seeing the needs of the people he came to heal.
We had the same initial thoughts, Debbie, except that you went deeper into answering the question. You gave Him a reason; I just gave Him an “out”!
Interesting points, Fred. And I think you’re right—maybe he was trying to get away from Galilee. But his reputation was definitely a hindrance to getting to talk to the people without them clamoring for healings.