Slices
Prepare
Spend a few moments thanking the Lord for the way he hears and answers prayer. Ask him to speak to you about being persistent in prayer.
Bible passage
The faith of a Canaanite woman
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 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.’
23 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.’
24 He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.’
25 The woman came and knelt before him. ‘Lord, help me!’ she said.
26 He replied, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.’
27 ‘Yes it is, Lord,’ she said. ‘Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.’
28 Then Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Explore
Jesus moved from Gennesaret to Tyre and Sidon (v 21), a Gentile area with a long history of enmity with the Jewish people.
A Gentile woman came to Jesus because her daughter was demon‑possessed (v 22). What strikes you about the way she addresses Jesus (v 22)? She, a Gentile, recognised that Jesus is the longed-for Jewish Messiah.
What was the disciples’ reaction to the woman? Have you ever experienced being shunned or dismissed by those who should behave better? The disciples treated her as a nuisance and asked Jesus to send her away (v 23). Imagine the disciples saying, ‘Just do what she wants so she’ll go away and leave us in peace.’ Jesus made it clear that his mission was only to the Jewish people (v 24).
But the woman was not put off. Look at the conversation she had with Jesus (vs 25–28). ‘Dog’ was a negative name the Jews used for Gentiles. How do you think Jesus’ words in verse 26 connect with verse 24? The woman persisted: dogs are satisfied with crumbs falling from the table (v 27).
Look at verse 28. Why do you think Jesus changed his mind and answered the woman’s request? How might that encourage you in your prayer life?
Respond
Give thanks for the example of this woman’s persistence in asking Jesus for help. Ask the Lord to give you that same faith and persistence as you pray.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Isaiah 35,36; Hebrews 3
Pray for Scripture Union
Our 2027 Easter and Summer Events are now open on our website for people to book in and secure a place for all the fun next summer. Pray for the Mission Events team as they dream and plan for new events to open next summer. (This week's prayers relate to this article.)
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