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. (Matthew 15:21-28 KJV)
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman
We have here the remarkable story of Christ casting out a demon from the Canaanite woman’s daughter. It is both unique and surprising, and it reflects Christ’s mercy toward the Gentiles. This is a glimpse of the light intended for them (Luke 2:32). Though Christ came to his own people, many of them rejected him and even took offense at him.
Jesus left the region where the Pharisees complained about his disciples eating with unclean hands. This shows that light is rightly taken from those who reject or ignore it. When Christ and his disciples were not welcomed, he left, following his own words (Matthew 10:14), “Shake off the dust from your feet.” Though he is patient, he will not endure rebellion forever. As he said earlier (Matthew 15:14), “Let them alone,” and so he did. Willful rejection of the gospel can lead Christ to withdraw and remove his presence (Acts 13:46, 51).
He went into the region of Tyre and Sidon—not into the cities themselves, which had already been excluded from witnessing his mighty works (Matthew 11:21-22), but into the surrounding area. Like Elijah going to Zarephath (Luke 4:26), Jesus came near to show mercy to a Gentile woman. Wherever he went, he did good. Even the most remote places were touched by his kindness, and just as the edges of the land saw his light then, the ends of the earth would later see his salvation (Isaiah 49:6). It was in this setting that the miracle took place.
A Canaanite woman came out from that area. She was a Gentile, likely descended from a nation once under God’s judgment, yet this story reminds us that God’s grace reaches individuals from all nations. She may never have approached Christ had he not come near her region. Often, a visit from Christ stirs sleepy faith and awakens zeal.
She cried out to him from a distance, likely hesitant to approach closely because she was a Gentile. She spoke from her pain: “My daughter is suffering terribly from a demon.” It was a grievous affliction. Parents especially feel the spiritual and emotional pain of their children. Though her daughter was possessed, she still called her, “my daughter.” Even in the worst circumstances, a parent’s love and sense of responsibility remain. It was her daughter’s suffering that drove her to seek Christ—not for teaching, but for healing. Still, because she came in faith, she was not turned away. Often, the troubles of loved ones are what bring us to Christ.
She pleaded for mercy: “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David.” In calling him Lord and Son of David, she recognized him as the Messiah. Though a Gentile, she embraced the hope of Israel and acknowledged the Jewish promises. From the Lord, she expected power; from the Son of David, grace and compassion. Her request was simple—she left the specifics to him, asking only for mercy. She made no claims based on merit but appealed entirely to grace. When our children are afflicted—whether physically or spiritually—we should follow her example and bring them to Christ in earnest, trusting prayer. He alone has the power to deliver them.
What makes this story even more remarkable is how Christ seemed at first to discourage her. He usually welcomed those who sought him, but here, he responded differently. Some believe he acted this way to avoid offending the Jews by treating Gentiles as equals too soon, since earlier he had told his disciples not to go to the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5). But more likely, he was testing her. Knowing her heart, he wanted to draw out and honor her strong faith, just as God tested Abraham (Genesis 22:1) or wrestled with Jacob (Genesis 32:24). Often, Christ’s ways that seem difficult are actually designed to refine and strengthen our faith. There may be deep love in his heart even when his response seems hard.
When she first cried out, he did not answer (Matthew 15:23). Though Christ was usually quick to respond, here, he was silent. Still, she didn’t walk away or grow bitter. She could have questioned his kindness, but she didn’t. His silence had a purpose—he was listening, and in time, he would respond. Delays in answers often deepen and sharpen our prayers. At times, God seems distant (Psalm 44:23; Lamentations 3:8, 44), but he is still at work. In such moments, we are called to trust and wait (Habakkuk 2:3; Job 35:14).
The disciples, perhaps growing uncomfortable, said, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” They may not have been seeking her healing, just a return to peace. Yet their concern gave her another opportunity. Jesus responded, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” This seemed like a closed door—she wasn’t one of them. His mission at that time was focused on Israel (Romans 15:8), even though he would soon become a Light to the Gentiles.
When she persisted, he said, “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs” (Matthew 15:26). That was a hard word. The blessings of the gospel were considered the “children’s bread,” meant for those within God’s covenant family (Romans 9:4). Gentiles were often called “dogs” by the Jews, and Christ, using their language, asked why he should offer the blessing to someone outside the family. Yet even here, there was a test—not rejection.
Christ’s response reminds us that God often humbles those he intends to lift up. Trials test the strength of our faith, and spiritual privileges shouldn’t be taken lightly or given to the careless. But the woman didn’t give up. Others might have been offended or discouraged, but she stayed. A humble believer accepts even hard dealings from Christ and continues to trust.
She knelt before him and said, “Lord, help me” (Matthew 15:25). She didn’t argue her case, nor did she grow defensive. She simply cried out with deeper humility. The delay didn’t push her away—it refined her prayer. Sometimes, when we don’t receive an answer right away, God is teaching us to pray more earnestly. Even Christ prayed more fervently in Gethsemane.
She let go of any claim to belonging to Israel. That didn’t matter. What mattered was faith. She wasn’t arguing for her rights; she was trusting in his mercy.
Finally, Christ commended her faith: “O woman, great is your faith!” He recognized not only that she believed but that her faith was strong. While many other virtues—humility, wisdom, perseverance—were at work in her, it was her faith that Christ singled out for praise. Of all graces, faith honors Christ most, and so Christ honors faith most.
Though the faith of all believers is equally valuable, it isn’t equally strong in everyone. The greatness of her faith lay in her unwavering trust in Christ, even when he seemed distant or unkind. She loved and trusted him even when it looked like he was turning her away. That is great faith.
Christ said, “Be it done for you as you desire.” He gave her what she asked, and more. Great faith receives great answers. When our will is aligned with his, he is pleased to respond generously. What more could anyone ask than to hear Christ say, “Let it be as you will”?
When we, like this woman, come to Christ to pray against the power of Satan, we are aligning ourselves with his own intercession. Though Satan may torment and tempt, through Christ’s grace and prayer, we overcome (Luke 22:31–32; 2 Corinthians 12:7–9; Romans 16:20). The result was immediate. Her daughter was healed at that very hour and was never again tormented. The woman’s faith brought healing across a distance. Christ spoke—and it was done.