NOTES for Mat 15:21-28

What makes this Canaanite woman's faith so great? After all, any mother will endure anything, any humiliation, for the sake of her daughter's health. Perhaps what matters to Jesus is not what prompted this woman's request or where her journey of faith begins, but how far she travels along that path. The Canaanite woman is a pagan, and Jews do not associate with pagans, so Jesus remains silent. When the disciples appeal to Him, He breaks His silence and reminds them that God helps His own people. The woman hears this, yet still asks for help. In doing so, she breaks away from her own people for the sake of a relationship with the God of Israel. With His next words Jesus shows that God cannot be compelled to help; He does not accept the magical approach to a relationship with Him that is characteristic of pagans. The woman's reply signifies her acceptance of mercy from this God who is new to her. Thus, in the space of a few minutes, she travels from being a pagan woman who relentlessly demands from Jesus what she needs to being a woman who trusts the God of Israel and humbly accepts His mercy.