“A Canaanite Woman“
[By Reed Gurchiek]

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3, NASB). Seems counterintuitive. Wouldn’t heaven be for those rich in spirit? For those with the spiritual expertise of all of the world’s self-help books enabling them to weather every storm of life on their own. In typical not-like-the-world fashion, Jesus instead preaches a different attitude. One who is poor in spirit acknowledges their state and is consequently entirely reliant on God and not on themselves. Being emptied of self-righteousness, they are full of faith and the understanding that righteousness comes only through Jesus.

A good example of this attitude is from the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28. Jesus is on the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. These locations (about 100 miles from Jerusalem) were primarily Gentile country and were less frequented by Jesus during his time on Earth. Jesus is approached by a local woman of the area begging for mercy on behalf of her daughter who was “cruelly demon-possessed” (NASB). Jesus initially does not respond. He does eventually extend mercy, but the delay may have been to bring about this opportune teaching moment. It was also true, as Jesus clarifies in verse 24, that the delay was due in part because He “was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (NASB). Indeed, earlier in the gospel account when Jesus first sends out the twelve apostles, he instructs them explicitly to “not go on a road to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of Samaritans” (Matthew 10:6, NASB). The fact is that the divine plan of salvation had a particular order. Just as Jesus was sent exactly when he was and not 100 years sooner nor later, so too was the plan for the reconciliation of the Gentiles to come at its appointed time. But that time was not now. However, despite the initial rejection, the woman responds in worship. She bows down, calls Jesus “Lord” and asks for help. Jesus, in a parable of sorts, explains the (admittedly hard-to-take) reality that his mission at that time and the accompanying miracles were not for the Gentiles yet; it simply wasn’t time. To do so, would apparently be to “take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (Matthew 15:26, NASB). A second rejection would be hard for anyone to take. At this point, many may have doubted their thoughts about the divinity of Jesus. Many may have responded in anger accompanied by thoughts of unfairness. The response of this unnamed Canaanite woman, however, is an example for all of us. She is happy to be a dog and to take even the crumbs! In expressing this to Jesus, she is commended for her faith and her daughter was healed.

A few remarks. First, she was desperate and, importantly, she knew it. Secondly, she knew there was only one way out and that being through Jesus. Returning to the example beatitude, this woman was poor in spirit and in realizing her desperate state, she was willing to take on any role. It wasn’t about her and her glory. Not once did she doubt Jesus even in circumstances when many would have. This void of self-reliance is necessary to make room for full reliance on Jesus. The less reliant we are on ourselves, the more room for God there will be. A relevant thought comes from Luke 17:10, “So you too, when you do all the things which were commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done’” (NASB).