March 21, 2025
Woof - Part 5
Matthew 15:26-28
03/21/2025
26 And he answered, ``It is not right to take the
children's bread and throw it to the dogs.''
27 She said, ``Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the
crumbs that fall from their masters' table.''
28 Then Jesus answered her, ``O woman, great is your
faith! Be it done for you as you desire.'' And her
daughter was healed instantly. (ESV)
While teaching in the area around Tyre and Sidon, a
Canaanite woman asked Jesus to cast a demon from her daughter.
Although Jesus seemed to ignore her, to rebuke her for daring to
ask Him for this blessing, the woman persisted in her prayer.
And he answered, ``It is not right to take the
children's bread and throw it to the dogs.'' She said,
``Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall
from their masters' table.'' Then Jesus answered her,
``O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as
you desire.'' And her daughter was healed instantly.
Like the Canaanite woman, we are unworthy to approach Jesus
in prayer. After all, we have sinned in thought, word, and deed.
Yet we cling to God's grace, knowing that His promises are
certain, that He has called us and marked us as His own children.
The Canaanite woman admitted that she was not of the house of
Israel, that she was like a little dog. But like the dog who
eagerly sits under the table, she looks for the smallest morsel
that falls to the ground. The merest crumb of God's love
exceeded all powers of earth and heaven. What she received from
Jesus was not crumbs, but the fullness of His love.
This incident in the life of Jesus is written for our
learning. Pray without ceasing, knowing that God desires all
people to be saved, to come to the knowledge of the truth. This
is the message you will hear each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. at
Trinity Lutheran Church as you join us in receiving God's gift of
forgiveness and life everlasting.
May our Lord grant that we have faith to await His
blessings, knowing that He has declared us worthy for the sake of
His Son. Amen.