PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 7:24-30
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” (Mark 7:27)
Why does he compare this woman to a ‘dog’… not a very Jesus-like thing to say?
It seems to me Jesus usually shapes how he works with people according to their needs.
What if he knows that this is how the non-Jews and Jews felt about each other.
It would be like the attitude found today between Jews and Palestinians.
“It is from a person’s heart that malice, slander and arrogance come…” (Mark 7:21-22)
Like a surgeon, he cuts into her unhealthy attitude, using her words to humble her.
Based on her response, the woman knows it too and her heart is humbled.
Jesus doesn’t mean to demean her; he loves her and wants to help her and her daughter.
I believe Jesus speaks personally to each one of us, addressing our issues and sins.
Jesus knows the thoughts and attitudes that are hurtful to myself and others.
As a Jesus follower, this passage is meant to speak to me, to expose my attitudes.
Is the Spirit challenging how I think about people of other faiths, cultures, lifestyles?
Am I demeaning others by labeling them, treating them as less than God’s children?
Does my heart need to be humbled, to see that I am not better than others?
PRAYER
Lord, you are speaking to my heart, gently but firmly calling me to repent too. Help me to see that when your words are sharp, they are a surgeon’s knife, cutting away something unhealthy.
I’m thinking how humble this woman was and what love she had for her daughter – she knew that she was not a Jew and that Jews looked down on her people – but to consider herself as a ‘dog’ under a Jewish table: “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Jesus saw this tremendous humility and love for her daughter, that He gave her what she desperately wanted for her daughter! Similarly, I have no right to be called a ‘child of God’ – I am only because of Jesus – nothing of my own that I deserved it! Thank you Jesus for saving me and help me to help anyone who is seeking and even if they are not – help me to be open to share!
I too am in need of the mercy of the Lord as was this Gentile woman. Jesus is Lord and He is Lord over all. He is my Lord and my hope. In faith I too approach Him with my daily needs through the blood of Christ. My life is dependent upon Him daily as I live for Him. My faith looks unto Thee.
1 My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
take all my guilt away;
O let me from this day
be wholly Thine.
2 May Thy rich grace impart
strength to my fainting heart,
my zeal inspire;
as Thou hast died for me,
O may my love to Thee
pure, warm, and changeless be,
a living fire.
3 While life’s dark maze I tread,
and griefs around me spread,
be Thou my Guide;
bid darkness turn to day,
wipe sorrow’s tears away,
nor let me ever stray
from Thee aside.
4 When ends life’s transient dream,
when death’s cold, sullen stream
shall o’er me roll,
blest Savior, then in love,
fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above,
a ransomed soul.