"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable to you, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."

"Has Faith Gone To The Dogs?"

(Matthew 15:10-28)

Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn

Matthew 15:10-28

Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." 12Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?" 13He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit." 15But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." 16Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."

21Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." 24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 27She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.

INTRODUCTION:

A number of years ago when Pepper Rodgers was the football coach of UCLA, he was in the middle of a terrible season. It even got so bad that it upset his home life. He recalled, "My dog was my only friend. I told my wife that a man needs at least two friends and she bought me another dog." (1)

When times get tough we need friends don't we. We need someone to stand by us and stand with us during the hard times.

this morning we meet a woman who needed that someone and turned to Jesus. But according to the passage he wasn't much interested in helping her. The passage even records Jesus saying some pretty nasty things, he compares her to a dog. And the disciples seem to treat her like a dog. What was going on? Why the harsh treatment? What's it all mean?

I. JESUS HAD PATIENCE:

A. Let's back up and look at the beginning of the passage first. I think it explains why Jesus acted like he did. If we look at this passage in context, we find out that Jesus and the disciples were getting a lot of flack from the Pharisees for not following the strict dietary laws. Sometimes they even failed to wash their hands before eating. I don't know about you but I think my mother was a Pharisee, at least when my brothers and I were growing up. She might not have been a Pharisee but she sure could have fit in. I don't care what we did, the first question out of my mother's mouth was: "Did you wash your hands?" And the second one was just like it. "Did you use soap?"

Anyway, the Pharisees questioned Jesus and tried to embarrass him in public. So, he in turn, questioned them. Then he called the crowds together. And taught them saying: " Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." In other words, it's what comes from the heart that matters, not what we feed our face.

B. Jesus had to have an extraordinary amount of patience. how do you go through life and faith with groups constantly trying to trip you up? How do you function when every time you turn around your authority, beliefs, motives and teachings are being challenged and questioned by the very people you were sent to minister to? It can only be done with a deep sense of purpose, a deep faith and a Savior Size portion of patience.

He had to have patience because no sooner were the words of this teaching out of his mouth than the disciples came running over and told him how much his words had irritated the Pharisees. They didn't seem to get it any better than the Pharisees. So Jesus told them to forget about the Pharisees, they were nothing but a bunch of blind guides trying to lead the blind.

I'm sure the Pharisees overheard and were even more offended. You see, they thought of themselves as the bearers of the light. They knew the law, they knew it inside out and upside down. And because of this, they felt they were the rightful leaders who should show everyone else how to live. They took real pride in pointing out just how good and how holy they were. The Pharisees had gotten so wrapped up in the ritual aspect of cleanliness that they had forgotten the moral aspect. In other words, they were going through the motions without any meaning. And everybody knew it, except them.

There was a guy from New York who decided to retire where it was warm, so he came to Texas. He bought himself a place in a small town and decided he wanted to get to know his neighbors and become part of the community. He found out that one of the centers of the community was the domino hall. So he read up on Forty-two and Dominos and Mexican Train and all the variations he heard people talk about.

He bought a set of dominos and headed down to the domino hall to make some new friends. The place was pretty full. He scanned the room and saw a group of people standing around this one table watching a game of Forty-two. He couldn't see all of the players so he walked over and to his amazement it was three men and a dog playing. He was amazed. He'd never seen anything like that before. So, he asked: "Can that dog really play Forty-two?"

One of the men in crowd turned and said, "Yeah, but he ain't very good. Every time he gets a good hand, he wags his tail."

Like the dog playing Forty-two, their actions gave it away.

You see, while they talked a good game; while they knew what to do; they didn't do it. Their pride got in their way. They knew the law, but they didn't understand it.

Jesus' patience nearly played out when Peter came and asked him to explain this teaching to the disciples. They didn't get it. But Jesus had a great deal of Patience, like a said, a Savior Sized portion. So, he began to explain. And on their journey to the region of Tyre and Sidon, a Gentile area just Northwest of Israel, Jesus came face to face with a living example, a teaching moment as teachers say.

II. THE WOMAN HAD PERSISTENCE:

A. That was when they encountered the woman who sought healing for her daughter who was tormented by a demon. The woman with the Save My Daughter Sized case of Persistence.

Scripture says that no sooner had they entered the territory than this woman started following crying out: "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." Over and over and over she cried out. So much so, that the disciples went to Jesus and asked him to make her stop. She was getting on their nerves. I'm sure Jesus listened to all of this and maybe even shook his head in mild amusement.

The disciples wanted Jesus to send her away. Why? For two very good reasons. First, she was a woman. And remember, women weren't held in too high esteem back then. And Second: She was a Canaanite. In other words, she was one of Israel's enemies. The Canaanites were the folks that the Israelites had run off in order to claim the Holy Land as their own. So there was bad blood and centuries of prejudice working here.

But that didn't stop this woman. She was bound and determined to get help for her daughter. She wasn't about to quit, she follow them until she wore them down.

B. Some very dear friends of ours have a son named Robbie. When Robbie was seven or eight, old enough to know better, his mother told him to empty the trash in the bathroom. Being the creative young man that he was, Robbie took one look at the trash can and one look at the toilet. His little mind put two and two together and came up with what he thought was the quick answer to a problem. One flush and that trash can full of trash would be gone. So he dumped and flushed. You guessed it. It backed up and water starting flowing over the edges of the commode. Robbie stood there with the now empty trash can, trying to catch the water. When his mother finally came in and saw the mess and saw Robbie trying to catch all the water, she asked: "How long were you planning on standing there, son?"

And Robbie answered, "For the rest of my life."

That's exactly what the woman in this passage was about to do, follow Jesus and the disciples for as long as it took. For the rest of her life if necessary. Jesus noticed her persistence and so he spoke directly to her. But I'm not sure she was expecting the conversation that followed.

III. JESUS HAD THE POWER:

A. You and I probably wouldn't have much cared for it. She knelt before him, asked for help and in essence, Jesus referred to her as a dog. "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." Not a very complimentary answer, was it?

We've seen Jesus, filled with compassion even in the midst of his own grief and heal and feed the five thousand. We've seen him heal blind men calling to him from the side of the road. He healed lepers, the ruler's daughter and even the woman with the issue of blood. So what's the problem here? Why this snide remark? Jesus could have blinked his eyes and healed the daughter. All of the universe was at his beck and call. Jesus had the power all he had to do was say the word. All he had to do was think the word and the girl would be healed.

So, what's the deal? Was Jesus prejudiced? I don't think so. Other wise he wouldn't have healed the Roman Centurion's servant back in Chapter 8.

William Barclay, in his Daily Study Bible suggests that Jesus was engaging the woman in word play. That it was all in fun and jest; that woman caught on and participated in the banter. He suggested that it was all for the benefit of the disciples. (2)

There are some who suggest that Jesus wasn't ready to include the Gentiles in his ministry. And the words with the discussion with the woman was simply his expressing that reluctance. But the woman's shrewd answers caught his attention and made him rethink his stand.

B. I tend to agree a little bit with both. This isn't a side of Jesus that we've ever seen before. The only ones he has ever been cross with were the Jewish religious leaders who seemed to get everything all wrong. Jesus had never been cross with any who sought mercy as this woman did.

Maybe, Jesus did use this moment as a teaching moment for the disciples. Their prejudice was showing through. They were ready to get rid of this persistent pest of a woman, who kept following them around like a spoiled four year old wanting a piece of candy or some cheap toy, hollering "I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want, I want ......"

When Jesus even spoke to her, they all must have thought the faith had gone to the dogs. Jesus made his remark about dogs and the woman replied, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

Jesus was absolutely amazed at this woman's persistence and her faith. A faith that would not give up.

There's a story going around about a little boy who was all snuggled in bed. Dad had finished reading a bedtime story, tucked him in and kissed him good night. As the light went off the little boy said, "I want a drink."

Dad said, "You just had a drink when you brushed your teeth. Now go to sleep."

There was silence until Dad got into the living room and sat in his chair. Then from the darkness came the words: "I want a drink."

Dad hollered, "No water! Go to sleep!"

Silence again for about a minute and then, "I want a drink."

"Be quiet," Dad said.

"I want a drink."

Dad yelled down the hallway, "If you ask for a drink one more time, or I hear one more sound out of you, You're going to get a spanking. I'm not kidding. It's bedtime, be quiet and go to sleep!"

It was as quiet as a tomb, not a sound. And then the little boy hollered out: "Daddy, when you come in here to spank me could you bring me a drink of water, too?"

That young man, was on safe ground. He knew the person to whom he was making his request. The Canaanite woman knew to whom she was making her request, too. She knew Jesus had the power to do as she asked. Jesus recognized her faith and then said to her, "You have great faith! Your request is granted."

IV. THE PURPOSE:

A. It was at that moment that Jesus actions became a teaching moment. You see, the difference between she and the Pharisees was so great that Jesus had to point it out to the disciples. Scripture doesn't say what happened next or how the disciples reacted. But in the revised Strayhorn version, I imagine Jesus taking the disciples aside and saying, "Do you know what I've done here? Do you understand why I healed her daughter"

I also imagine them scratching their heads and reluctantly saying, "Uhh . . ., Well, uhm . . No."

It's a good thing Jesus had a Savior Sized patience. Jesus pointed out the difference between the Pharisees and the Canaanite Woman. The Pharisees lived and external. They were doing all the right things but for all the wrong reasons. They were doing them to puff them self up in their own eyes and in the eyes of everyone around them. They expected all the best seats in the house whenever they went anywhere.

And then there was this woman. All she asked for were the crumbs off the masters table. If she was going to be called a dog, then she was going to be treated at least as well as a dog. And be fed like the dog. That's all she claimed. And that's all she needed. Jesus heard her request and healed her daughter.

B. This passage goes to prove the old saying, "You can't judge a book by its cover." Jesus looks beyond the outward appearance. Jesus looks beyond even our actions and looks into our hearts to see the motive. And we're called to do the same.

So many times our prejudices come out when we least expect them to. We see someone dressed a certain way and expect them to be a certain something. We see ragged clothes and think someone is poor. We see fancy clothes and we think rich. We see someone of color and expect them to act a certain way. I think Jesus was teaching the disciples to look beyond the outer appearance.

A preacher friend of mine sent me a story a couple of months ago. It's supposed to be true. Even if it's not, it's still a good story and a good example of looking beyond the outer appearance. It seems on a recent weekend in Atlantic City, this woman won a bucketful of quarters at a slot machine. She took a break from the slots for dinner with her husband in the hotel dining room. But first she wanted to stash the quarters in her room. "I'll be right back and we'll go to eat", she told her husband and she carried the bucket full of quarters to the elevator.

As she was about to walk into the elevator she noticed two men already in the elevator. Both were black. One of them was big… Very big… An intimidating figure. The woman froze. Her first thought was: These two are going to rob me. Her next thought was: Don't be a bigot, they look like perfectly nice gentlemen, even if one of them is awfully black. But racial stereotypes are powerful, and fear immobilized her. She stood and stared at the two men.

She felt anxious, flustered, and ashamed. She hoped they didn't read her mind but knew they surely did; her hesitation about joining them on the elevator was all too obvious. Her face burned. She couldn't just stand there, so with a mighty effort of will she picked up one foot and stepped forward and followed with the other foot and was on the elevator.

Avoiding eye contact, she turned around stiffly and faced the elevator doors as they closed. A second passed, and then another second, and then another. The elevator didn't move. Panic consumed her. My God, she thought, I'm trapped and about to be robbed! Her heart pounded. Perspiration poured from every pore.

Then one of the men said, "Hit the floor."

Instinct told her: Do what they tell you. The bucket of quarters flew up in the air as she threw out her arms and collapsed on the elevator carpet. A shower of quarters rained down on her. Take my money and spare me, she prayed. More seconds passed. Then she heard one of the men say politely, "Ma'am, if you'll just tell us what floor you're going to, we'll push the button."

The one who said it had a little trouble getting the words out. He was trying mightily to hold in a belly laugh.

She lifted her head and looked up at the two men. They reached down to help her up. Confused, she struggled to her feet. "When I told my man here to hit the floor," said one of the men (the average sized one), "I meant that he should hit the elevator button for our floor. I didn't mean for you to hit the floor, ma'am." He spoke genially. He bit his lip. It was obvious he was having a hard time not laughing.

She thought: My God, what a spectacle I've made of myself. She was too humiliated to speak. She wanted to blurt out an apology, but words failed her. How do you apologize to two perfectly respectable gentlemen for behaving as though they were robbing you? She didn't know. The three of them gathered up the strewn quarters and refilled her bucket. When the elevator arrived at her floor they insisted on walking her to her room. She seemed a little unsteady on her feet, and they were afraid she might not make it down the corridor.

At her door they bid her a good evening. As she slipped into her room she could hear them laughing while they walked back to the elevator. The woman brushed herself off. She pulled herself together and went downstairs for dinner with her husband.

The next morning flowers were delivered to her room ~ a dozen roses. Attached to EACH rose was a crisp one hundred dollar bill. The card said: "Thanks for the best laugh we've had in years." It was signed, Eddy Murphy and Michael Jordan.

CONCLUSION:

Jesus words with the Pharisees and his action toward this woman from Canaan were all tied together to teach us one simple truth: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles . . . what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles." Our doctors may tell us to be careful what we eat, but Jesus reminds us to be careful what we say and what we think. Be mindful of your heart and whether it is in tune with God. (3)

This is the Word of the Lord for this day.

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Bibliography

1. James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1988) p. 227.

2. William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible, the Gospel of Matthew (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975) (Wordsearch electronic version)

3. Rev. John Aymond

4.

Other References Consulted