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Matthew 15:21-28

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21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

25The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

26He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

27“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

28Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

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1)       Were the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon Jews or non-Jews?

o   Tyre and Sidon were pagan cities inhabited by non-Jews.

 

2)       What was the Jews’ prejudice against pagans?

o   They

§  Considered pagans unclean.

§  And called pagans dogs.

 

3)       Why did the Canaanite woman address Jesus as Son of David?

o   Son of David refers to the Messiah or the Christ.

o   The Canaanite woman confessed Jesus as the Christ.

 

4)       According to verses 22 and 23 what was Jesus’ response to the Canaanite woman’s request for mercy on her because her daughter was demon-possessed and suffering terribly?

o   Jesus did not answer a word.

 

5)       According to verse 23 what did the disciples urge Jesus to do and why?

o   They urged Jesus to send her away.

o   For

o   She kept crying out after them.

 

6)       According to what Jesus said in verse 24 whom was he sent to minister to?

o   Jesus was sent to minister to the Jews.

 

7)       According to verse 25 what did the Canaanite woman kneeling before Jesus asking for help indicate?

o   It indicated the woman’s

§  Humility.

§  And earnestness.

 

8)       Who did Jesus mean by the dogs in verse 26?

o   Jesus meant pagans like

§  The Canaanite woman.

§  And her daughter.

 

9)       What was the woman subjecting herself to in approaching Jesus who is Jewish for help?

o   She was subjecting herself to the prejudice of Jews against pagans.

 

10)   Whom did Jesus mean by the children in verse 26?

o   Jesus meant the Jews.

 

11)   In accordance with what Jesus said in verse 26 what was his rationale in denying the woman’s request?

o   Jesus was sent to minister to the Jews.

o   By helping her he would be taking away from the Jews what belonged to them.

o   Therefore he could not help her.

 

12)   How did the woman make it clear in her reply in verse 27 that by helping her Jesus would not be taking anything away from the Jews?

o   She pointed out that dogs under the table ate the children’s crumbs without taking anything away from the children.

 

13)   According to what Jesus said in verse 28 why did he grant the woman’s request?

o   It is because she had great faith.

 

14)   According to verse 28 what happened to the woman’s daughter?

o   Her daughter was healed at that moment.

 

15)   In what way did the woman get to know Jesus better?

o   The woman did not know whether Jesus would

§  Help her.

§  Or not.

o   When

o   She approached him.

o   To her great joy Jesus crossed the

§  Social.

§  And racial barriers to help her.

o   When

o   She had the faith to cross those barriers to ask him for help.

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Matthew 15:21-28

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