The Canaanite Woman's Faith

Saturday, February 7, 2015
Matthew 15:21-28 KJV 

21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

OBSERVATIONS QUESTIONS
1) The Lord had just taught His followers about defilement following an altercation with the religious leaders. According to Matthew, where did the Lord go next and who did he encounter? (v.21-22a)
2) What did the woman ask of the Lord? (v.22b)
3) How did the Lord and His disciples respond to the woman? (v.23-24)
4) What did the woman do and say in response? (v.25)
5) How did the Lord respond to her? (v.26)
6) What did the woman say to Jesus and what was His final response to her? (v.27-28)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Has the Lord ever refused a petition that you made to Him, in faith?
8) If so, why do you believe that our Lord refused your request.

LIFE LESSONS
9) The Lord is always willing to respond affirmatively to our petitions to Him, when we ask Him in faith (believing that He will provide our needs).
10) At times, our Lord does not respond to us exactly as we would like Him to, but He always responds for the good of all and for His glory