When we read about Jesus’ interactions with people, especially those outside the normal and accepted social boundary (women, lepers, and Gentiles, especially), he often surprises us. The account of His conversation with a Canaanite woman is pointed yet compassionate.
Which Gospels Mention the Canaanite Woman Talking to Jesus?
Matthew’s and Mark’s Gospels narrate Jesus’ interaction with a Canaanite woman. The passage is located first in Matthew 15:21-28. Mark shares the account in Mark 7:24-30.
Remembering the intended first-century audience of each Gospel will help us find further clarification and meaning regarding Jesus’ conversation with the Canaanite woman. Matthew’s Gospel has an unmistakable Jewish character, tracing Jesus’ lineage from Abraham and stressing Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and King of Israel. As King, He would wield His uncontested authority; His godly treatment of all people is part of what we see in Matthew’s Gospel.
Early tradition states Mark’s Gospel was written in Rome, and his book focuses on Roman believers, particularly Gentiles. How appropriate for Mark to include a narrative about Jesus speaking to a Canaanite woman—a Gentile.
At one point in his ministry, Mark (also called John Mark) deserted the Apostle Paul on the way to Perga (Acts 13:13) and was later restored (Acts 15:38-40) to the point that Paul said, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11). Mark is also said to have been a close companion of Peter’s, and we all know of Peter’s denial of Christ (Matthew 26:75). But then Christ forgave and restored a penitent Peter (John 21:15-19). Mark understood what it means to receive forgiveness and acceptance, emphasizing Jesus’ answers to the Canaanite woman’s plight.
How Did Jesus Respond to the Canaanite Woman’s Request?
Jesus’ responses to people served multiple purposes:
1. To show who He is (John 20:30-31).
2. To proclaim the good news of the Kingdom (Luke 4:43; John 18:37)
3. To teach a lesson to the people He conversed with (every interaction within the Gospels).
4. To teach a lesson to those within earshot and eyesight of His exchanges with people (again, every interaction within the Gospels).
With those thoughts in mind, let’s review the narratives in Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30.
In Matthew 14, Jesus arrived in Gennesaret after feeding the five thousand and walking on the sea of Galilee to reach His disciples on their boat. Matthew 15 begins with Pharisees and scribes following Him there from Jerusalem and questioning Him about God’s commandment regarding washing hands. In fact, their tradition concerned them and not God’s law (Matthew 15:3-9). Jesus then called the nearby people to Him to teach them and told them it’s not what a person eats that defiles them; instead, it’s what comes out of their mouths that does (Matthew 15:18-20a).
Mark 6 relates the same preceding events and adds the following to the account of what Jesus did in Gennesaret, “And wherever He came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of His garment. And as many as touched it were made well” (Mark 6:56).
Jesus then withdrew to the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon, where His fame had gone before Him. He “entered a house, and did not want anyone to know, but He could not be hidden” (Mark 7:24). A Canaanite (Mark calls her a Syrophoenician) woman sought Him and came crying to Him, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon” (Matthew 15:22). Jesus initially greeted her request with silence. His immediate audience was the woman and His disciples. They had witnessed Jesus’ most recent conversation with the Pharisees, whom He rebuked for their hypocrisy. They begged Him to send the woman away. Jesus answered He was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24). The meaning here is Jesus was to reach the Jews first, and then their faith would be a witness to the Gentiles, and they would then glorify God for how He fulfilled His promises (cf. Isaiah 53:6-8; Romans 15:8-9).
Undeterred, the Canaanite woman went and kneeled before Jesus and said, “Lord, help me.” Jesus told her, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (Matthew 15:26). Her answer delighted Jesus, as evidenced by His answer and action. She told him even the dogs get to eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table. Jesus exclaimed, “’ O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly” (Matthew 15:28).
Why Did Jesus Compare the Canaanite Woman to a Dog?
In those days, calling someone a dog was a slanderous metaphor for Gentiles—non-Jews. Vine’s Dictionary says the term refers to someone “whose moral impurity will exclude them from the New Jerusalem. The Jews used the term of Gentiles, under the idea of ceremonial impurity. Among the Greeks it was an epithet of impudence.” It’s akin to us calling a non-Christian a heathen.
Jesus, our omniscient God, knows the hearts of everyone (Luke 16:15; John 2:25; Acts 15:8). He knew why He would meet with the Canaanite woman and the outcome of their conversation. They were both within earshot and eyesight of His disciples. He essentially called them out as He spoke to the woman because they probably would have wagged their heads in agreement when Jesus called the woman a dog.
He used the opportunity to teach His disciples more about His mission—to call all men to Himself, including Gentiles. They had previously witnessed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the scribes when Jesus confronted the Jewish leaders, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person” (Matthew 15:18-20a). The disciples would have remembered, and Jesus’ point would have been clear to them (and us).
Why Did Jesus Not Preach to Canaanites During His Ministry?
Jesus’ mission was first to proclaim the kingdom to the Jews. In Jeremiah 50:6, God calls His people (Israel) lost sheep. Jesus, as Messiah, is the One whom the Old Testament prophesied would gather the lost sheep (Ezekiel 34:23-24; Micah 5:4-5). He must fulfill prophecy, and preaching to the Jews was His priority.
Can We Learn Anything from the Canaanite Woman’s Story?
When the Canaanite woman begged Jesus to have mercy on her, she called Him “Lord, Son of David.” That particular title (Son of David) coupled with Lord denotes Jesus as Messiah—the Christ. But that wasn’t enough. Jesus began His answer to her by basically calling her out. His silence led her to ponder and question again. Whether by His silence, questions, or responses, Jesus was (and is) a master communicator, and He drew people into His perfect counsel by use of all three.
The unnamed Canaanite woman recognized who she was, but she also recognized Jesus for who He is—“Lord of all” (Romans 10:12). She could have gone to her pagan deity’s temple. Yet, she recognized and then, after He said He could not give His children’s bread to dogs, called Jesus what He is, Lord. Calling Jesus Lord and admitting her need for any “crumbs” He might have for her expressed profound faith in Him. With His disciples watching, He rewarded her faith and healed her daughter “that very instant” (Matthew 15:24).
The Canaanite woman was bold yet humble, persistent but patient, and courageous to approach Jesus. We can all do the same and encourage others to do so as well.
When we confront racism in our day, we Christians remember our Lord and Savior invited us also to become part of His kingdom. Instead of racism, gracism. Galatians 3:28 is a glaring truth in the light of prejudice, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” It is by His grace we are saved (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8). This is a stark difference from those (like the Pharisees) who believe in works-based salvation (Acts 15:7-9). Salvation exists only by faith in Jesus Christ alone (Acts 4:12; Romans 3:30).
The account of Jesus and the Canaanite woman is a beautiful report of the love and kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ—Savior of all.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/leolintang
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