Let Your Heart Be Moved
Matthew 15.21-28
21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just 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.” 23 But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food 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, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Jesus is walking with his disciples in the district of Tyre and Sidon, modern day Lebanon, when a woman approaches him with a plea to have mercy and heal her daughter. The initial response from Jesus is silence. The disciples approach Jesus and instruct him to send her away but Jesus does not heed this request and instead answers her with a challenge (Verse 24). This challenge is met with humility and courage as the woman kneels before him and asks again for help at which time Jesus gives his infamous challenge in replay (verse 26). The woman responds with wisdom and humility that will change the course of Jesus ministry.
This encounter between Jesus and a Canaanite woman is shocking to many who first read it. The shocked response is often due to the harsh language used by Jesus and the uneasy reality, for some, that Jesus’ mind and direction was changed in this encounter.
This is not the first time, however, that someone has caused Jesus to change his direction. Very early on in his ministry Mary convinces Jesus to take action at a wedding banquet and after first disagreeing, Jesus decides to take her advice. Two strong woman with humility and courage create a shift in Jesus' heart and ministry. This movement in Jesus' approach is even more evident in the encounter with the Canaanite woman.
The placement of this encounter is deliberate by the author of Matthew. Only a few verses earlier we are told of the feeding of the five thousand, during which 12 baskets of leftovers were taken up. These baskets are symbolic of the twelve tribes of Israel. Almost immediately after the encounter with the Canaanite woman we are told of the feeding of the four thousand, during which 7 baskets are taken up. The number seven is symbolic of wholeness and completion. Jesus, through this encounter, takes his ministry from one focused on the lost sheep of Israel to one of wholeness which includes the gentiles.
There are major lessons that we can take from this encounter for the Church and for how we engage in with society in general.
Here we have a story of a woman having a lasting impact on Jesus through her humble and prophetic actions. Jesus alters his position through this interaction, allowing himself to be moved by the experience. His initial reaction of disrespect, one that was culturally expected, had its limits exposed through humility and faith. The Canaanite woman shows courageous leadership through her engagement and Jesus gives an example of dynamic leadership to his disciples who viewed the event. We often harbour unhelpful understandings of leadership. A leader who is unflinching and resolute in their direction is seen as strong while one who allows others to affect their direction is often understood as weak. Unfortunately this can go further in some areas of the church and society where having a woman in power is still viewed with suspicion or outright rejection. The Canaanite woman’s encounter with Jesus challenges these ideals and shows strength in allowing ones position to be challenged and their heart to be moved. Jesus never gave a teaching on what we would understand as “corporate leadership” however, it was a woman who affected arguably the biggest influence in the direction of his ministry. In a time when change and adaptation is essential to creating life-giving leadership the story of the Canaanite woman gives the church much to deeply consider.
The story of the encounter with the Canaanite woman invites us to view a God that is more interested in relationship than set norms. This is not a story of manipulation or placating someone because they have become a disturbance. This story is an example of Jesus being moved to a more compassionate and whole course of action, leaving a very human mindset, to recognise a more transcendent reality being offered through faith. We cannot read this story and continue to hold on to static understandings of God that form into unquestionable rules of faith. The Existentialist Theologian John Macquarrie once said;
"We can never know God by seeking to grasp and manipulate God, but only by letting God grasp us."
- John Macquarrie
This is true also of our relationships with one another, especially those we find challenging to our current understandings and ideas. We can come to a greater understanding of those we do not understand only when we allow our hearts to be affected and moved. In a society which too often takes the lead of the disciples, completely dismissing others if they are inconvenient to our ego, there is a great opportunity to witness to a God that invites our hearts to be moved.
As the Canaanite woman was courageous enough to break through the unjust norms of the society to a greater understanding of Gods kingdom, so too can we break through restricting understandings of leadership, belonging, and faith to find new expressions of Gods dynamic action in this world. Let your heart be moved.
Rev’d Caye