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Seeking the Crumbs

Matthew 15: 21-28

The Canaanite woman who asked Jesus to heal her daughter didn’t come expecting to be treated well. She was probably used to being looked down upon by Jews. Yet she knew Jesus had what she was seeking, and she wasn’t going to let anything get in her way—not even pride. Jesus tells her he was “sent only to the lost sheep of Israel”—not the lost sheep of Canaan. Yet the woman’s faith is what moves Jesus to action. She says “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their maters’ table.” Put another way: “I know you are called to offer salvation to Israel first, Lord, but I also know that you are so powerful and so generous that if I only had a crumb of what you offer, my daughter would be made well.”

Her faith and her humility are what we should take note of.

This Canaanite woman is like the woman with the issue of blood who said “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well” (Matthew 9:21) and the centurion who said “only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” (Matthew 8:8).