THE STORY OF THE SYROPHOENICIAN WOMAN--Challenging Authority to do what is Right and Just, not what Power allows to be done; Jesus came to offer the fulfillment of the Covenant first to the Jews, but whatever they rejected falls from their laps to be claimed by Others.

22 A Canaanite woman from the region came and began to cry out, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed."

And His disciples came and implored Jesus, saying to Him, "Send her away—because she keeps shouting at us."

26 To this Jesus answered, “It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

27 But the woman said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."

28 Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish."

And He had entered a house wanting to keep his presence quiet yet He could not escape notice.

25 Upon hearing that Jesus was there, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet.

26 This woman was a Gentile of the Syrophoenician race and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

27 To this Jesus answered her, "Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

28 But she answered Jesus, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children's crumbs."

29 And Jesus said to her, "Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter."

30 Upon the woman’s return to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left.

The passage in the Gospel of Mark that precedes the story of the Syrophoenician woman is a teaching by Jesus about things clean and unclean.

1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and

2 saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were unclean, that is, unwashed.

3 Of note: The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.

And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.

5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with unclean hands?"

6 Jesus replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

8 “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

9 And He said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!

10 “For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,’ Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16 and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9

11 “But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban'—that is, a gift devoted to God—

13 “Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down.

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.

17 After He had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable.

"Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him unclean?

19 “For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body."

21 “For from within, out of men's hearts, comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,

This teaching is underlined next by Jesus going into unclean territory—areas largely populated by Gentiles. According to Mark, Jesus was seeking privacy but word of him had spread, even in those foreign parts, and He couldn’t be alone. A woman tracked him down, bowed before him, and asked that he cure her ailing daughter. Jesus replied—“Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” Mark 7:27

These are startling and confronting words. Who is this harsh uncompromising Jesus? Why would the Christian church have accepted a story that seems to throw Jesus in such a bad light? Matthew also includes the story and his version is no prettier than Mark’s version. The children are the Jews of the tribes of Israel. And the dogs are the non-Jew Gentiles. The use of the word dog was a deliberate derogatory term meant to insult. To the Jews, dogs roamed wild, scavenging for food, and were unclean.

This woman—this dog—Matthew calls a Canaanite. Matthew 15:22 That labeled her immediately not just as an outsider but as one of the ancient enemies of the people. She was a Greek—a Syrophoenician—by race. This suggests she was well-to-do. Greek culture was more influential among the upper classes than among the peasants. As well, she was a woman and in both Mark and Matthew she appears alone—which is contrary to the rules of Jewish society. No Jewish male, especially a religious teacher or rabbi, would have expected to be approached by a woman unless she were a prostitute. Here in this circumstance is Jesus—male, Jewish, teacher, and carpenter by trade. This meeting is a clash of cultures—gender, culture, class, language, history, and religion.

Initially it appears that Jesus rejected her and all she stood for. He seems to turn away from the woman and to snub her. The Jewish faith would require a male in the position of Jesus to do so. But such rejection is counter to the common image of Jesus as a perfect human filled with compassion. It needs to be noted that the picture of the perfect Jesus comes to us through the lens of Greek philosophy which looked to the divinity of Jesus. The Hebrew lens looked to the humanity of Jesus. Somewhere between the two is Christ—the redeemer, the healing one, the one who transforms our lives, and the one whose words may offend us as they expose our deepest secrets.

This woman was challenging how Jewish society treats her. The story in the Gospel of Matthew has Jesus ignore her until she pesters Him into a debate she wins. The exchange is brief and exact. Jesus replied, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” Jesus appears to dismiss her. But she takes the words and applied further logic, saying, “Dogs, we may be but we can still eat the leftovers that fall from the children’s table.” The woman is making the argument for Jesus—the healing you offer and the food of life you bring can be for us too. Jesus played the foil so that those who witnessed the exchange could see that tender humanity is for all persons. No group held preference of favor.

This moment caused the witnesses to face a choice. For whom would they side in this situation? Would they choose the ways of Jewish culture and the traditions of the religion that condemned the woman as unclean, alien, and not of God’s chosen people? Or would they cast off their prejudices in favor of compassion and humanity—to do what faith and an understanding of God told them was right? It was a choice between good and evil. This foreign woman served to show what was wrong with the Jewish world—racism and exclusion. This was the moment when faith and action must coincide. It is an application of the Epistle James 2:

2 Suppose a person comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes.

Would you say to the poor person, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet"?

12 Speak and act like people who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.

14 My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people claim they have faith but don't act like it?

16 Suppose you say to them, "Go. I hope everything turns out fine for you. Keep warm. Eat well."

Jesus made the choice to do what is right in the eye of God. He was called into action in the name of Faith. Jesus did not turn His back on the woman; he turned His back on the racism and exclusionary practices of Jewish culture. He honored the Faith this outsider had in Him and her daughter was healed.

There also is a second point to this story. The Syrophoenician woman did not allow any of the social strictures against her to deter her from her purpose. She was advocating for her daughter’s life so she broke social taboos. The woman spoke directly to a Jewish man. She knew exactly what she wanted and did not mince her words. She spoke Truth to a figure of power and received what she sought. It required that the figure of power to whom she appealed break social taboos and conventions.

Note carefully the actions of Jesus. His choosing to break social taboos and His choosing Faith over prejudice honored the woman’s open and direct behavior. This is consistent with all His dealings with women recorded in the Bible. Jesus always honored and encouraged openness. Martha challenged Jesus for not being present when Lazarus died. John 11:21 The result was not a rebuke from Jesus but an open theological discuss that revealed that Christ is the resurrection and life—that all who believe in Him will live and never die. John 11:25-26 Then there is the incident in which Martha’s sister—Mary—chose to sit and listen to Jesus as he taught others instead of Mary helping her sister Martha provide hospitality. Jesus would not let Martha coerce Him into criticizing Mary, but defended Mary. Luke 10:38-42 Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well and allowed her to engage Him in theological debate. John 4:1-42 He defended the woman who anointed him with fragrant oil from those who condemned her for extravagance. Matthew 26:6-13 He didn’t rebuke the woman with the hemorrhage who touched the hem of His garment—taking for herself a blessing. Mark 5:25-34

Jesus honored and respected the open direct behavior of all these women. He worked only in those things that heal and transform us and draw us to Him on the path to holiness in God. And He understood that the misuse of power damages and cripples our souls. Jesus condemned power used to control or put down others. He condemned desire for power for status and condemned covert and dishonest power used to manipulate others because these forms of power lead to bullying. Jesus would not collude with any of these wrongs. Consider His words regarding authority and places of prominence.

37 They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right hand in your glorious kingdom.

She said, "Promise me that one of my two sons may sit at your right hand in your kingdom.

These are challenging words. Who among us doesn’t appreciate and seek to use advantages that exist that we can use for our benefit? We seek affirmation and recognition. Speaking the Truth often can cause us to lose face or lose the power we hold. Jesus came to tell us that, “Might does not make right.” He said exactly what He believed and He expects the same openness, directness and honesty. Jesus wants those things that cause healing, transformation, integrity, and genuine Christian love to flourish. We are called to honor the image of God in each of us. We are to speak the Truth to everyone in our lives including the powerful ones whom we fear might threaten or reject us—just as the Syrophoenician woman did.

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John 4:1-42

Jesus Talks with a Woman from Samaria

1 The Pharisees heard that Jesus was winning and baptizing more disciples than John.

2 But in fact Jesus was not baptizing.

His disciples were.

3 When the Lord found out about all this, he left Judea.

He went back to Galilee again.

4 Jesus had to go through Samaria.

5 He came to a town in Samaria called Sychar.

It was near the piece of land Jacob had given his son Joseph.

6 Jacob's well was there.

Jesus was tired from the journey.

So he sat down by the well.

It was about noon.

7 A woman from Samaria came to get some water.

Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?"

8 His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew.

"I am a Samaritan woman.

"How can you ask me for a drink?"

She said this because Jews don't have anything to do with Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered her, "You do not know what God's gift is.

"And you do not know who is asking you for a drink.

"If you did, you would have asked him.

"He would have given you living water."

11 The woman said, "Sir, you don't have anything to get water with.

"The well is deep.

"Where can you get this living water?

12 "Our father Jacob gave us the well.

"He drank from it himself.

"So did his sons and his flocks and herds.

"Are you more important than he is?"

13 Jesus answered, "All who drink this water will be thirsty again.

14 "But anyone who drinks the water I give him will never be thirsty.

"In fact, the water I give him will become a spring of water in him.

"It will flow up into eternal life."

15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water.

"Then I will never be thirsty.

"And I won't have to keep coming here to get water."

16 He told her, "Go. Get your husband and come back."

17 "I have no husband," she replied.

Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband.

18 “The fact is, you have had five husbands.

"And the man you have now is not your husband.

"What you have just said is very true."

19 The woman said, "Sir, I can see that you are a prophet.

20 “Our people have worshiped on this mountain for a long time.

"But you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."

21 Jesus said, "Believe me, woman.

"A time is coming when you will not worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.

22 “You Samaritans worship what you do not know.

"We worship what we do know.

"Salvation comes from the Jews.

23 "But a new time is coming.

"In fact, it is already here.

"True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.

"They are the kind of worshipers the Father is looking for.

24 "God is spirit.

"His worshipers must worship him in spirit and in truth."

25 The woman said, "I know that Messiah is coming—He is called Christ.

"When He comes, He will explain everything to us."

26 Then Jesus said, "I, the one speaking to you, am He."

The Disciples Join Jesus Again

27 Just then Jesus' disciples returned.

They were surprised to find him talking with a woman.

But no one asked, "What do you want from her?"

No one asked, "Why are you talking with her?"

28 The woman left her water jar and went back to the town.

She said to the people,

29 "Come. See a man who told me everything I've ever done.

"Could this be the Christ?"

30 The people came out of the town and made their way toward Jesus.

31 His disciples were saying to him, "Rabbi, eat something!"

32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."

33 Then his disciples asked each other, "Did someone bring him food?"

34 Jesus said, "My food is to do what my Father sent me to do.

"My food is to finish His work.

35 "You say, 'Four months more, and then it will be harvest time.'

"But I tell you, open your eyes!

"Look at the fields!

"They are ripe for harvest right now.

36 “Those who gather the crop are already getting paid.

"They already are harvesting the crop for eternal life.

"So those who plant and those who gather can now be glad together.

37 "Here is a true saying: One plants and another gathers.

38 "I sent you to gather what you have not worked for.

"Others have done the hard work.

"You have gathered the benefits of their work."

Many Samaritans Believe in Jesus

39 Many of the Samaritans from the town of Sychar believed in Jesus.

They believed because of the woman's witness.

She said, "He told me everything I've ever done."

40 Then the Samaritans came to him and tried to get him to stay with them.

So he stayed two days.

41 Because of his words, many more people became believers.

42 They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said.

"We have now heard for ourselves.

"We know that this man really is the Savior of the world."

Matthew 26:6-13

A Woman Pours Perfume on Jesus

6 Jesus was in Bethany.

He was in the home of a man named Simon, who had a skin disease.

7 A woman came to Jesus with a special sealed jar of very expensive perfume.

She poured the perfume on His head while He was at the table.

8 When the disciples saw this, they became angry. "Why this waste?" they asked.

9 "The perfume could have been sold at a high price.

"The money could have been given to poor people."

10 Jesus was aware of this.

So He said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman?

"She has done a beautiful thing to me.

11 “You will always have poor people with you.

"But you will not always have me.

12 “She poured the perfume on my body to prepare me to be buried.

13 “What I'm about to tell you is true.

"What she has done will be told anywhere this good news is preached all over the world.

"It will be told in memory of her."

Mark 5:25-34

25 A large crowd followed and pressed around Jesus.

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.

26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.

27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,

28 because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed."

29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him.

He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

31 The disciples answered, "You see the people crowding against you, and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?'"

32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it.

33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.

34 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."