In his dispute with the Jewish religious leaders, Jesus accuses them, ironically, of a failure to understand the point of the law (Matthew 15:1-20). They used the law as an identity badge. The disciples also struggled at times to understand what Jesus was on about. So, who did get it? A Canaanite woman of all people appeals to Jesus and becomes a model of faith in contrast to the religious leaders and Jesus’ disciples. Why did this Gentile woman believe that the Jewish Messiah would help her? Simply because Jews practiced various laws that declared God’s purpose to bless outsiders, particularly the needy. It appears that she was aware of this, as would any poor foreigner who had visited Jewish areas. For, when Jesus pushes her, she appeals indirectly to a law in Leviticus 19:9 which stipulated that Jews harvesting their crops should not harvest to the edges of their fields or pick up what falls to the ground. These were to be left for the poor and the alien. This woman felt like Jesus’ neglect contradicted the promises of God. Have you ever been in a situation that appeared to be in contradiction with God’s promises? These might seem like times for losing faith. However, these situations of tension are the furnace in which faith itself is birthed. It is times like these when faith applies and becomes fully manifested. This is what Jesus is doing here. He is not lacking in care and compassion for this woman. He is drawing out her faith. Perhaps God has you in a similar situation and he is wanting to see an expression of faith from you.
Reflect on how you can exercise faith today.
Read Matthew 15:21-28.
