In Matthew 15:21-28 (last week’s sermon passage), a remarkable change occurs with Jesus. He is approached by a Canaanite (unclean) woman begging for his help with her demon possessed daughter. Jesus first ignores the woman (v. 23), then says he was sent first and foremost to Israel (v. 24). Next he tells the woman she is not worthy for his help because she is not one of the people of God (v. 26).
However, in v. 28 He says to her ‘woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted’. What has this ‘dog’ has done to completely changes Jesus’ attitude towards her? Well it must be in what the woman says in v. 27:
‘Yes Lord. But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table’.
Firstly, the woman admits that she is a ‘dog’. She admits that due to her sin, she IS actually unworthy of Jesus’ help. Secondly, she admits that even a ‘crumb’ of Jesus’ grace is sufficient.
Friends, this is exactly how Jesus wants people to come to him: (i) acknowledging that due to their sin, they are unworthy of his salvation or blessing, but (ii) aware that Jesus’ grace (e.g. his death) is more than sufficient to save someone even as sinful as me. So how do we know we have responded to Jesus in this way?
The clearest indicator is in how we respond when someone points out some in in our lives. Do we get defensive and point out how they’re probably more sinful than us? If so, we have not understood the gospel to the same extent as the Canaanite woman. A heart that has been transformed by the gospel will say ‘even if they’re wrong about THIS sin, which they’re probably not, I have plenty of other sin they haven’t seen’; BUT ‘Jesus has taken it away.
Well may the accuser roar of things that I have done. I know them all and thousands more; Jehovah knoweth none.
