Syro-Phoenician Women

 

Extraordinary Women of the Bible

Women in Christ's Time

Syro-Phoenician Woman

 

Syro-Phoenician Women: (Also called the Canaanite Woman) (si'-ro-fe-nish'-an).

Key Scripture: Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30.

 

Her Character: Though a Gentile, she addressed Jesus as "Lord, Son of David," Her great faith resulted in her daughter's deliverance.

 

Her Strengths: She was a woman of resolute determination.

 

Her Sorrow: That her child was possessed by an evil spirit.

 

Her Joy: That Jesus freed her daughter from spiritual bondage.

 

Pre-Story: For the third time Jesus withdrew from Galilee and sought solitude with his disciples. He had not gone into Gentile territory to embark on a healing ministry, but his fame had reached beyond the borders of Galilee. The Syro-Phoenician Women is a mother suffering unspeakable grief because of the incurable demoniac affliction of her daughter. She was a woman of resolute determination as she sought to get relief for her child from the great Israelite Healer of whose fame she had heard.

 

Her Story: The Syro-Phoenician Women belonged to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. She was a woman of Gentile stock who came to earn a rare commendation from Jesus even though she was a descendant of the old Canaanite worshipers of Baal. Her name, and that of her husband and also of her daughter are not known.

It was during Jesus retreat into a largely Gentile region, that this woman heard that Jesus was in the area, she came immediately and fell down at his feet. Mark explained that she was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. She was persistent in asking Jesus to cast forth the unclean spirit (demon) out of her daughter. Matthew related that her request was formed in this way: "Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon. But he answered her not a word" (Matthew 15:22-23). So intrusive was this woman that the disciples encouraged Jesus to send her away.

Jesus replied by saying, "I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). "But she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me" (Matthew 15:25). "And he said to her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not right to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs" (Mark 7:27). She responded, "Yes, Lord, the children eat, but at least the dogs get something – scraps that fall from the table! At least they get scraps! They get something, Lord!" She admitted she was a "dog." The Jews hated dogs!

The woman followed the Lord’s parable, acknowledging the distinction implied by his words. This woman humbled herself incredibly. She told our Lord, "I am willing to get whatever is left. She was willing to be content with the smallest of crumbs. And she was willing to sacrifice everything. Jesus had waited for this moment. Then Jesus responded with grace and compassion, He said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once. (Matthew 15:28). Jesus declared that she had great faith and then granted her request. The mother’s daughter was healed because God saw her broken and contrite heart.

Her Place in God's Divine Plan: The Syrophoenician woman taught us that great faith endures. She was steadfast and resilient in her request of the Lord.

Her Challenges Along the Way: There are a number of obstacles facing this woman. First of all, geography. Tyre and Sidon is technically outside the boundaries of Israel. There's an issue of race. And she's a woman.

Lesson We Can Learn from Her Legacy: This lady had great spiritual insight. She was not asking the Lord to alter the way He was implementing the plan of God. She was simply asking for a "crumb." Faith is based upon understanding the will of God. It is founded upon knowledge — not mere emotion. Jesus reaches out to everyone. The women who prayed, and the child who was healed, were both females. Not only that, they were foreigners. Jesus looked past this and saw their worth.

Genealogy: None.