Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23 But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” 24 He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” 28 Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Jesus withdraws to the region of Tyre and Sidon, two Gentile cities north of Galilee. There He is approached by a woman whose daughter is tormented by a demon. Matthew calls her a Canaanite, an ancient biblical name that clearly identifies her as someone outside the people of Israel—a Gentile. The woman calls Jesus “Lord, Son of David.” “Son of David” is a title for the promised Messiah who would come from the family of King David. Although she is a Gentile, she uses this title for Israel’s Messiah and trusts that Jesus has the power to deliver her daughter.
Jesus remains silent at first. The disciples hear her repeated cries and ask Him to send her away. Jesus then explains, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” His earthly ministry was directed first to Israel in fulfillment of God’s covenant promises. God called Israel His firstborn son, and He promised Abraham that through his descendants all nations would eventually be blessed (Genesis 12:1–3; Exodus 4:22). When Jesus sent the Twelve on their first mission, He likewise directed them to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). The woman continues to trust Him. She comes forward, does Him homage, and offers a prayer of only three words: “Lord, help me.” Her prayer is brief, direct, and shows that she trusts Jesus’ power. She believes that the Lord before whom she bows can free her daughter from the demon.
Jesus answers with an image drawn from family life: “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” The children represent Israel, the people who first received God’s covenant promises. The word translated as “dogs” refers to small household dogs that remain near the family table. The woman accepts the order described by Jesus and builds her appeal upon it. She replies, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” She asks for no place ahead of Israel. With humility, persistence, and confidence, she takes up Jesus’ own image and appeals once more for mercy. She trusts that the blessings of the Messiah are so abundant that even the smallest portion from His table is sufficient to heal her daughter.
Jesus then gives her extraordinary praise: “O woman, great is your faith!” Matthew often records Jesus correcting the “little faith” of His disciples. Here He publicly praises the great faith of a Gentile woman. Like the Gentile centurion whose servant Jesus healed, she places her trust in Jesus and receives healing for someone she loves (Matthew 8:5–13). The healing of her daughter also points forward to the mission of the Gospel to all nations. Jesus fulfills God’s promises to Israel, and through Israel’s Messiah, God’s saving mercy reaches every nation. After His Resurrection, Jesus will command His disciples, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
The Canaanite woman teaches us to approach Christ with reverence, perseverance, and trust. Her prayer, “Lord, help me,” can become our own when suffering leaves us with few words. Faith continues to call upon the Lord because it trusts His authority, His wisdom, and the abundance of His mercy.
Lord Jesus, strengthen our faith when answers seem delayed. Teach us to approach You with humility, to persevere in prayer, and to trust in the abundance of Your mercy. Amen.
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Sources and References
- The New American Bible, Revised Edition. Washington, DC: Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 2011. Notes on Matthew 8:5–13; 10:5–6; 15:21–28.
- Hahn, Scott, and Curtis Mitch. The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010. 34–35.
- Casciaro, Jose Maria, gen. ed. The Navarre Bible: New Testament, Expanded Edition. Dublin: Four Courts Press; New York: Scepter Publishers, 2008. 101.
- Brown, Raymond E., Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy, eds. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990. 658–59, para. 100.
- Curtis Mitch and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010. 197–98.
- Aguilar Chiu, Jose Enrique, et al., eds. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. New York: Paulist Press, 2018. 939–40.
- Collins, John J., Gina Hens-Piazza, Barbara Reid, OP, and Donald Senior, CP, eds. The Jerome Biblical Commentary for the Twenty-First Century. 3rd fully rev. ed. London: T&T Clark, 2022. 1204.
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