The Syrophoenecian Woman

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

~Matthew 15:21-22

What about these words makes it obvious that the woman and her daughter were both suffering?

• when she asked Jesus to have mercy on her

If your child were the one possessed, how woudl you aproach Jesus for healing?  What would you say?  How would you act?

• I would probably do the same exact thing the Syrophoenecian woman did

Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

~Matthew 15:23

Why do you suppose Jesus at first ignored the woman?  What was her response?

• It could be possible that he thought she had enough faith that her daughter would be healed on her own
• I think she was suprised by his unresponsiveness, so she tried to keep gettinghis attention

Was it ok for the woman to keep "crying out"?  Why or why not?

• sure, because she was probably wanting to see a miracle performed

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

  The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

  He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

~Matthew 15:24-26

The woman was not an Isrealite.  What might have been her response to Jesus' statement that he had come "only to the lost sheep of Isreal"?  Why do you think she didn't give up?

• suprise
• she wanted to see her daughter healed

How persistent are you in prayer?  Do you give up easily?  Or do you keep praying until you get a definite answer?

• I keep praying until I get a definite answer

“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

  Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

~Matthew 15:27-28

What was meant by the "crumbs" in verse 27?  What was the woman saying?

• the crumbs are individual people
• that everyone matters in this world

What was Jesus' response?  Why did he responsd in the way he did?

• he was very please because he was testing her faith

When have you asked for little and received much?  Were you suprised?  How often do we settle for the "crumbs" when Jesus really wants to give us the whole loaf?

• It probably happened a while ago but yes I believe I acted very suprised. 
• We probably only settle for so little on a very minimal basis, but we probably should do it more often

Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

~Matthew 15:23, 28

What is the difference between how the disciples responded to the woman and how Jesus ultimately responded to her?

• the disciples didn't want to be bothered whereas Jesus was willing to elp

When a needy person approaches you, do you respond like Jesus or like his disciples?  How do you respond if the person is emotionally needy - continually sticking close to you, interupting your conversations with others, asking questions you can't answer, and generally wanting more than you wish to give?

• I do my best to respond more like Jesus
• I don't think I have encountered all these situations, but when someone is emotionally in need of me, I do my best to be a good friend and provide them with any answers they might be seeking to the best of my ability and if I can't think of a good personal answer, then I ask them to pray about the situation