123. The Prayer Of The Syro-Phoenician Woman.

The Prayer Of The Syro-Phoenician Woman. The Prayer as recorded.—Matthew 15:21-27. The Lord’s Answer.—Matthew 15:28. Our Savior, after denouncing the Scribes and giving offence to them by exposing their delusions, retired to the most remote part of the land in the borders of Tyre and Sidon; but his fame has reached this quiet place, and a mother a descendant of the Canaanites, a remnant of whom were settled in Tyre, comes to him with a prayer for her afflicted and diseased child. There has been a diversity of opinion as to the precise nature of the malady; some supposed it a nervous disease like epilepsy; others that Satan had such full possession of the faculties as to produce a state of mind entirely subservient to his will; but whatever it was, we know it was the cause of deep grief to the mother, and induced her prayer to the Savior.

Filled with great desire for the cure of her child, she is not diverted from her purpose, though the Savior apparently does not hear her first petition; he is trying her faith, as he often does that of his children now, and we would earnestly beg attention to the importunate, resolute manner of this mother. The apparently strange answer of our Savior cannot divert her— she is determined. Our Lord’s answer that he is sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel refers to her Gentile origin. The Jews frequently called them dogs. Satisfied that he was the Son of David, the Messiah who was to come, she is sure he has the power of casting out devils, and is therefore convinced if she perseveres he will hear and answer her. O learn from her to be earnest; though God delay the answer to our prayer, learn from this woman to persevere.

“There are God and heaven above thee—

Wilt thou languish in despair?

Tread thy woes beneath thy feet—

Scale the walls of heaven with prayer.” Be anxious to obtain a blessing; ask often, and do not weary. As God heard this mother so will he hear you. “His arm is not shortened that he cannot save, nor his ear heavy that he cannot hear.” However great the boon you crave you will receive it, if you ask believingly and importunately.