REFLECTION (Mt.

15:21-28)

Much can be learned by reflecting on the words and actions of the Canaanite woman,
among other things, she is a model for effective prayer. Firstly, notice that she comes to the
Saviour with faith. She never questions whether Jesus is able to deliver her daughter from
the demon. She simply trusts in the divine authority of Jesus, three times calling him
“Lord” Secondly, she shows perseverance in asking for Jesus' help. Neither his initial
silence nor his attempt to decline the request lessened her tenacity in pursuing his
assistance. She persisted until she attained what she sought. Finally, the woman displays
admirable humility.
One might expect her to take offense at the comparison between non-Jews and house pets.
But the reaction of the woman gives no indication that her pride has suffered any injury.
Instead of being put off by the comment, she accepts that she has no claim on the God of
Israel or his Messiah. The episode thus presents us with dispositions essential to petitionary
prayer. If we approach the Lord Jesus as the Canaanite woman did, we too can hope for his
favourable response: “Let it be done for you as you wish"
She was a Canaanite, to shew the power of Christ's presence. For this nation, which had been
driven out that they might not corrupt the Jews, now shewed themselves wiser than the Jews,
leaving their own borders that they might go to Christ. And when she came to Him, she asked
only for mercy, as it follows, "She cried unto Him, saying, Have mercy on me, Lord, thou
Son of David." 
The great faith of this Canaanite woman is herein shewed. She believes Him to be God, in
that she calls Him "Lord;" and man, in that she calls Him "Son of David." She claims nothing
of her own desert, but craves only God's mercy. And she says not, have mercy on my
daughter, but "Have mercy on me;" because the affliction of the daughter is the affliction of
the mother. And the more to excite His compassion, she declares to Him the whole of her
grief, "My daughter is sore vexed by a daemon;" thus unfolding to the Physician the wound,
and the extent and nature of the disease; its extent, when she says "is sore vexed;" its nature,
"by a daemon." 

Observe how the woman herself had contributed not a little to her daughter's healing; and
therefore Christ said not unto her, 'Let thy daughter be healed,' but, "Be it unto thee according
to thy will;" that you may perceive that she had spoken in sincerity, and that her words were
not words of flattery, but of abundant faith. 
And this word of Christ is like that word which said, "Let there be a firmament." and it was
made; so here, "And her daughter was made whole from that hour." 
Observe how she obtains what the Apostles could not obtain for her; so great a thing is the
earnestness of prayer. He would rather that we should pray for our own offences ourselves,
than those others should pray for us. 
And that to heal the Centurion's servant, and the daughter of this Canaanite woman, He does
not go to their houses, signifies that the Gentiles, among whom He himself went not, should
be saved by His word. That these are healed on the prayer of their parents, we must
understand of the Church, which is at once mother and children; the whole body of those who
make up the Church is the mother, and each individual of that body is a son of that mother. 
The qualities of the woman
1. Caring person 100% Active for those she loved
2. Who even in silence still cried out to the Lord
3. Not Ashamed to humble herself worshipped the Lord
4. Nothing could stand between her and Jesus, Nothing shall separate us from the love of
God (Rom.8:38)