A SYROPHENICIAN MOTHER

Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   When you think of Bible mothers, who comes to mind?  (Eve, Sara, Hagar, Rachel, Jochebed, Hannah, Bathsheba, Elisabeth, Mary, Eunice)

 

B.   In this lesson, we will not be looking at any of these famous mothers.

 

C.   We are going to be studying:

1.    An unnamed mother

2.    A Greek mother

3.    A mother of Canaanite descent

 

D.   The account of this mother is found in two places, Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30.

 

E.   The title of our lesson is:  “A Syrophenician Mother.”

1.    We will be looking specifically at Matthew’s account.

2.    However, we will go to Mark from time to time when he supplies us with additional information.

 

I.             A PLACE OF ESCAPE (Matt. 15:21; Mark 7:24)

 

Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

 

A.   Seldom did Jesus ever leave the land of Israel.

 

B.   On this occasion, he left Galilee and went into the coastal areas of Tyre and Sidon.

1.    Picture

 

 

2.    In ancient times, this land was under the control of the Canaanites tribes.

3.    In Bible times it was in the province of Phonecia in the country of Syria.  Some referred to it as Syrophenicia.

4.    Alexander the Great had conquered this land.  Thus, it was Greek in nature as well. 

 

C.   Mark tells us that Jesus went to this place “and entered into a house, and would have no man know it…” (Mark 7:24).

1.    Sometimes Jesus needed to escape to places due to threats.

2.    At other times, He escaped to places in order to get some much needed rest.

 

D.   Jesus was not going to get the privacy He wanted.  Mark continues, saying:  “…but he could not be hid.”

 

II.           THE PLEA OF A MOTHER (Matt. 15:22; Mark 7:25-26)

 

A.   The Woman’s Identity (Matt. 15:22a; Mark 7:26)

 

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts…

 

1.    We noted in our introduction that the coasts of Tyre and Sidon belonged to the Canaanites in times past.   This woman was a resident of that area.

2.    Mark’s account reveals that “the woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation” (Mark 7:26).

 

B.   The Woman’s Intercession (Matt. 15:22b; Mark 7:25)

1.    Mark reveals that she had heard about Jesus. 

a.    She had heard of His wonderful works.

b.    She heard that He was now in a location near to her.

2.    Mark also tells us that she “came and fell at his feet.”

3.    Matthew records her cry:  “Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.”

a.    Here is where we learn that this woman was a mother.

b.    She was the mother of a daughter.  Mark calls her a “young daughter” (Mark 7:25).

c.    We learn some interesting facts about this woman from this text.

1)    She was a compassionate mother.

2)    She was a loving mother.

3)    She was a caring mother.

 

III.         A PROBLEM TO DISMISS (Matt. 15:23-24)

 

A.   The Woman Ignored (Matt. 15:23a)

 

But he answered her not a word…

 

1.    When we read these words, we are somewhat surprised at first.  Why would Jesus ignore a suffering mother?

2.    However, we will soon see that He was willing to help her.

3.    Most commentators believe that Jesus was testing the faith of this Grecian woman.

 

B.   The Lord Incited (Matt. 15:23b)

 

And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

1.    The presence of this woman made the disciples uncomfortable.

2.    Note the words:  “…for she crieth after us.”  Apparently, she was attempting to get the attention of Jesus or any one of the twelve who would listen to her.

3.    Whether Jesus assisted her or not was not important to them.  They just wanted Him to send her away.

4.    Aren’t we often quick to do the same thing to people who are needy, persistent, and seem to be a burden?

 

C.   The Lord’s Ideation (Matt. 15:24)

 

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

 

1.    The focus of Jesus’ ministry was to appear to the Jews as the long anticipated Messiah.

2.    By saying, these words, He almost seems to be leaning to the side of the apostles to send her away.

 

IV.         THE PERSISTENCE OF THE MOTHER (Matt. 15:25)

 

Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

 

A.   Did Jesus know that this woman would be persistent in her request?

Was He using this event to teach His disciples a lesson about persistence?

 

B.   We do see a mother who is persistent in seeking help for her daughter.

1.    Being ignored by Jesus did not stop her.

2.    The desire of the disciples to send her away, did not cause her to back down.

3.    She had heard of Jesus and believed He could heal her daughter.

 

C.   “Lord, help me.”  Words like this are difficult for anyone to ignore or reject.

 

V.           THE PARLEY WITH A MOTHER (Matt. 15:26-27; Mark 7:27-28)

 

A.   The Truth Impressed (Matt. 15:26; Mark 7:27)

 

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to the dogs.

 

1.    Two relationships are noted in Jesus’ words.

a.    Parents to children

b.    Jews to Gentiles

2.    A parent should always care more for his child first.  He would not take a meal prepared for his child and feed it to the dogs.

3.    In like manner, Jesus’ mission was to the Jews.  His focus should be upon them, the children of God, and not the Greeks, considered dogs by the Jews.

 

B.   The Counter Introduced (Matt. 15:27; Mark 7:28)

 

And she said, Truth, Lord:  yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

 

1.    The woman countered by introducing another element to the picture.

2.    When the children ate their meal, sometimes their crumbs would fall to the floor.

3.    The little puppies that were in the house would scurry to eat those crumbs.

4.    POINT:  The woman was not asking for bread.  She only wanted the crumbs.

5.    Again, we see the persistence of this mother seeking help for her daughter.

VI.         THE PROMISE DUE TO FAITH (Matt. 15:28; Mark 7:29-30)

 

A.   The Commendation of Her Faith (Matt. 15:28a)

 

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith…

 

1.    This woman could have easily been discouraged and left hopeless.

a.    Jesus did not immediately speak to her.

b.    The apostles wanted the Lord to send her away.

c.    Two times Jesus affirmed that His mission was to the Jews.

2.    She never swayed in seeking Jesus’ help.

a.    She came and fell at Jesus’ feet.

b.    Have mercy on me…

c.    Lord, help me.

d.    “…yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

3.    Her persistence was evidence of her faith. 

4.    Jesus commended her for having a great faith.

 

B.   The Cure of the Daughter (Matt. 15:28b)

 

…be it unto thee even as thou wilt.  And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

 

1.    The sick girl was not in the presence of Jesus.

The sick girl did not manifest any faith in the Christ.

2.    Because of the faith of her mother, she was cured that very hour.

3.    Mark records these words of Jesus:  “…for this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.”

4.    NOTE:  Departing also required great faith.  She had to trust in Jesus’ power and promise.

5.    “And when she was come to the house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed” (Mark 7:30).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Sometimes we hear mothers referred to as “momma bears.”  Just as a mother bear defends her cubs, human mothers will fight for their children.

 

B.   The Syrophenician woman certainly fought for her daughter.

1.    She was a compassionate mother.

2.    She was a loving mother.

3.    She was a caring mother.

4.    She was a bold mother.

5.    She was a persistent mother.

6.    She was a mother full of faith in Jesus.

 

C.   Mothers like this need to be:

1.    Praised

2.    Used as instruction

3.    Followed as an example

 

D.   We have many mothers in this audience who can sympathize with this Gentile woman.  You, as mothers, have felt similar pain, have search diligently for cures, and have never given up your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.