Rev. Roland J. Wells, Jr. - Pastor

thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost - August 18, 2002

Lessons: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8; Romans 11:1-12; 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28

"A Welcome to All People"

Introduction:

We spent the last two weeks in Alaska, seeing where Tim worked this summer. We have all come home now, ready for the fall. We traveled a lot of miles, saw a lot of beautiful wilderness, but it's good to be home!

I) Journeying Jesus Meets Gentle Gentile

A) Off in Gentile Territory

Jesus wasn't quite that far from home when he had the encounter our Gospel text talks about today. He's traveled a bit of a way from home, up into the Lebanon area, near the famous cities of Tyre and Sidon. These cities had been the home of much immorality in the OT times, and Jesus' very presence in that area would seem to show that he had a very vital concern in his heart for these non-Jewish people.

Then a woman comes to Jesus begging him for help. She is a woman. Good Jewish women didn't do that sort of thing. She wasn't Jewish, what they called a "gentile". There was little expectation that she would be a part of the faith heritage of the people of God, but she has the guts to break in on Jesus and make a plea to him.

B) A Surprising Address

Her daughter was demon-possessed. She begins her request with interesting words, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me." "Lord" was used in the Greek world like we use "mister", but a bit more respectful. To a Jew, it meant much more. "Lord" was a name they used for God. Did she know that? She continues on by adding, "Son of David" showing her to understand a bit more. "Son of David" had messianic overtones. At that time, it was as much as calling him "messiah". This woman called Jesus "God" and "Messiah". I don't believe anybody else had gotten that right yet in Matthew's gospel. Not the disciples, not the religious leaders--but she does.

C) Chesed Again?

Then comes a very important phrase, "have mercy on me." A few weeks ago we said that the theme of this gospel are Jesus words, quoting the OT, "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice." We talked about the Hebrew word Jesus refers to here, "Chesed" which can be translated "mercy" or "lovingkindness" or "steadfast love" or even "grace". The non-Jewish, Canaanite woman is the first one to put it all together: "Lord, Son of David, have chesed on me!". She calls Jesus to remember the covenant of God--in the original covenants of God to Noah, and then to Abraham, God promises to bless all people. Even though she was not a daughter of the covenant with Israel, somehow she knew of the God of Israel, and came to Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, proclaiming these faith-filled words.

D) Fitting Us In

This passage makes an important point in Matthew's Gospel. Matthew is writing to a Jewish audience who are trying to understand how Christianity can be the logical continuation of the historical faith of Israel. One sticking point by the time we get to 85 AD, when Matthew's gospel was written down, is what about all these non-Jews who have become Christians? How do they fit in to the faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? --and how do we fit in to the OT faith?

The story continues: [22b] My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." [23] Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." Jesus' disciples have no time for her. But Jesus doesn't answer yet. He sees a great teaching opportunity. He sets them up:

[24] He (Jesus) answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." That indeed is his call. But isn't that exactly the question here, what is to be the relationship of the Jewish messiah to all the people of the world? Isn't that what Isaiah had promised? Isn't that what Abraham was promised by God himself? Why else was Jesus out there in Gentile land?

E) A Hard Saying

[25] The woman came and knelt before Jesus. "Lord, help me!" she said. [26] He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." This is a hard saying. It sure sounds like Jesus isn't being very nice! At the table, the children's food is for the children, not for the pets. You feed the children with their food. Jesus is telling her that she is requesting something which is not rightly hers, and she has no right to ask for it. Not because of heritage.

It sounds to us like a real put down, which it is. To the Jews, the surrounding gentiles were considered "dogs". They were enemies, they were hated and most of all they didn't serve the God of Israel. But Jesus is testing her, so that he might give a greater teaching. Interestingly, Luke, writing for Gentiles, leaves this whole section out in his Gospel. It has more impact for Jewish people.

F) A Teaching on Grace

The spunky woman presses on: [27] "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." "Jesus, even dogs can eat the crumbs. All I need is a crumb. Please heal my daughter." We might say, "Isn't there enough grace for a "doggy bag?" We know lots of people who don't even have dogs ask for doggy bags, for the overflow of the table. We're not really talking about dogs here, are we Jesus? Aren't there any leftovers? Is there a enough grace for a doggy bagful? [28] Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

II) A God for All People

With this situation and these words, Jesus taught a very important lesson. The promises of the Old Testament were true. The God of Israel desired to bring all people to himself, to a restored relationship with their Creator. He is a God of all people, who revealed himself through history to and through Israel. That was specific. That was his desire. But that was not all. The living God is a God for all peoples. He is a God for all times. He is a personal God who keeps his covenant, not only to Abraham, but to Noah as well.

Jesus taught an amazing lesson here. God's hearing of your prayers isn't a matter of the right heritage. It's not a matter of the right customs. It's a matter of trust and persistence. Jesus comments on one thing, the woman's faith. She showed her faith and understanding, even though unappreciated or grasped by the disciples, with her first words. They didn't understand yet.

I don't think she changed Jesus' mind. I believe he know all along what he was going to do. But he had some things to do first. This was a "teachable moment". This was a time when he could show his disciples that there was room for the gentiles in the family of God, and show them how. Bringing the gentiles in wasn't taking bread from the children; bringing the gentiles in wasn't going to cost the Jews anything--it was the simple overflow of grace. The grace of the covenant was so full, so free, so overflowing that there was enough for all. The Gospel is a welcome to all people That's the message of the Kingdom.

III) A God Who Hears Your Prayers Too!

And there's enough grace for you. You have a Lord who hears your prayers. He loves you. He wants to answer you. It may take time--hang in there. There is spiritual warfare involved in prayer. Spiritual battles are being fought as you pray God's will into being. But like the Canaanite woman, keep asking. God's timing is often a little different from ours. Keep praying.

No matter how little you feel you are, no matter how unimportant, even the pups are cared for. Your prayers will be heard. No matter how unworthy, how guilty you feel, your Lord is eager to hear your voice and answer. He has promised us to give us whatever we ask in his name, as long as it glorifies the Father in heaven, and it is consistent with our abiding in him.

He promises: (John 14:12-14) "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

Conclusion:

That's the kind of Lord we have. He has invited us to come to him in prayer.

The fall program is about to start. This needs to be bathed in prayer.

You too have needs. Health, jobs, family, questions, doubts and hassles are all very real. Every person here today hurts somehow. Every person here today needs to be reminded of a Lord who is there, waiting to hear your prayer. Invitation. Amen.

Pentecost 10 - July 28, 2002 Pentecost 13 - August 18, 2002

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8

This is what the LORD says:

"Maintain justice and do what is right,

for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.

[6] And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him,

to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him,

all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant--

[7] these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer.

Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar;

for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."

[8] The Sovereign LORD declares-- he who gathers the exiles of Israel:

"I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered."

Romans 11:1-2a; 29-32

I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. [2] God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew.

[29] for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. [30] Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, [31] so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. [32] For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Matthew 15:21-28

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. [22] A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."

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

[24] He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

[25] The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.

[26] He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."

[27] "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

[28] Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.