THE CANAANITE WOMAN: A Mother With Great Faith

 

It was rare for Christ to be impressed by a person’s faith. In fact, the Gospels record only two moments where He openly praised someone and said they had great faith. Just two people. The first was the Roman centurion (Matt. 8:5–13; Luke 7:1–10). The second was the Gentile—or Canaanite—woman (Matt. 15:21–28; Mark 7:24–30).

Their stories stand out among all the miraculous encounters with Christ because both displayed remarkable trust in Him.

THE GENTILE WOMAN

Jesus encountered this woman when He went to the region of Tyre (Matt. 15:21; Mark 7:24). Tyre was a major city in Syrophoenicia, a wealthy port city known for its trade—often at the expense of neighboring towns.

Matthew identifies her as a Canaanite (Matt. 15:22), a people the Jews regarded as “cursed” (Gen. 9:25). Mark describes her as a Greek, meaning a Gentile citizen and part of the ruling class in that area (Mark 7:26). From these details, we can picture her as wealthy, privileged, and respected in society. Yet despite her social standing, she was still outside God’s covenant with Israel.

Out of desperation, this Canaanite mother came to Jesus for the sake of her suffering daughter (Matt. 15:22; Mark 7:26). She addressed Him as “Lord” and “Son of David” and even bowed in worship. She knew who He was.

THE RESPONSE OF CHRIST

Jesus’ first response was silence (Matt. 15:22)—a test of her faith. His disciples urged Him to send her away (v. 23). Like many Jews of their time, they were uncomfortable with Gentiles, especially women (see John 4:27). They simply wanted her gone. Jesus replied, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” (Matt. 15:24), and again, “First let the children eat all they want” (Mark 7:27). Then came His striking statement: “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs” (Matt. 15:26; Mark 7:27).

To Jewish ears, this sounded harsh. Dogs were considered unclean animals, often used as an insult for Gentiles. Some argue that this means Jesus shared the same contempt as the Jews. But was that His intent?

There are good reasons to think otherwise. First, Jesus did not directly call her a dog—He used an illustration. More importantly, He was speaking to a Gentile woman, not to Jews. His words carried meaning as she would understand them. And indeed, Gentiles had a different perspective. Unlike Jews, they raised dogs in their homes. Jesus used the Greek word kunarion, meaning “house dogs,” or “puppies.” This nuance explains why the woman replied the way she did: “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” In Jewish households, such imagery would make no sense—but in Gentile homes, it was normal. So while Jesus’ words may sound rude at first reading, we notice that He also addressed her respectfully as “woman” (Matt. 15:28)—a term equivalent to “ma’am” or “madam.” It’s the same word He used for His own mother, Mary (John 2:4; 19:26).

What was His point, then? Jesus was emphasizing the order of His mission. His earthly ministry was first to Israel. “First let the children eat all they want” (Mark 7:27) acknowledges that the blessings of the Messiah were to come to the Jews first—yet it also implied that there would be a time for Gentiles to receive them as well. This was not favoritism but divine order. The children of Israel would later become a blessing to all nations (Matt. 28:19–20). Christ came because God loved the world (John 3:16), and He is the “light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32). Still, the gospel was to be proclaimed to the Jews first, then to the Gentiles (Rom. 1:16).

THE REPLY OF THE WOMAN

She answered, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table” (Matt. 15:27). Jesus was amazed. He declared that she had great faith (v. 28)—a commendation He gave only twice in Scripture.

What made her answer so amazing? Her words showed persistence, humility, and even wit. She did not argue against Jesus. Instead, she built on His illustration, drawing her response from His own analogy. She accepted her place, yet still appealed to His mercy. She believed that even the smallest portion of His blessing would be enough. For someone from Tyre—a city known for exploiting others’ resources—her humble and submissive reply was extraordinary. It revealed a heart that trusted Jesus completely. And He granted her request.

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In a pagan land far from God, the faith of this woman surpassed that of many religious Jews. Tested directly by Christ, she passed the test. We, too, can relate to the Gentile woman. We are undeserving of anything from the Master—just crumbs from His table. Yet Christ, in His mercy, not only gives us crumbs—He welcomes us to His table to feast with Him. Her story is not only about the great faith of a mother. It is also about the compassionate Savior who never turns away anyone who comes to Him. Stay Curious.