Devotional

Matthew 15:21-28

Mat 15:21-22  Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  (22)  And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”  

I find it interesting that this gentile woman from a region of Tyre (Lebanon today) knew that HE was the SON OF DAVID, a title of the coming Messiah! Yet HIS own people of Nazareth referred to HIM as the carpenter’s son!

Mat 13:55-56  Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?  (56)  And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”

Mat 15:23-24

But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”  (24)  But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  

Most likely HIS disciples were asking HIM to give her what she is asking so she can leave, that is why HE responded “I WAS NOT SENT EXCEPT TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL”.

She wasn’t thrown off by what seemed like his lack of interest, But was more determined to get HIS attention.

As Augustine says, ‘The Word spoke not a word,’ and that was so unlike him. He who was always so ready with responses to the cry of grief had no response for her.” (Spurgeon)

Mat 15:25-27

 (25)  Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”  (26)  But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”  (27)  And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”  

“This wasn’t Jesus being harsh with the woman, nor was it a matter of Him only helping His own people—after all, He also healed the Roman centurion’s servant when he pleaded for his servant (Mat 8:5)”. What seemed cold and callous was actually wisdom from above, JESUS knew something about her and used this method to draw out her faith.  She didn’t argue or get offended, but actually agreed with HIM. All she wanted was a little crumb of the blessings that was promised to HIS people Israel that most rejected!

Mat 15:28

(28)  Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

This woman is a great example for us on how to intercede for others. She didn’t say, heal my daughter, but have mercy on me verse 22, and help me in verse 25. Obviously, she was tormented seeing her daughter being tormented! Just like it hurt the centurion seeing his servant suffer was also being tormented himself, because of their love for them! JESUS said

Joh 13:35  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

When our brothers/sisters are hurting, it should also affect us, and we must earnestly pray for them, and not be deterred if we don’t get a response! HE knows what HE is doing, and HE wants us to get involved!

Matthew 15:1-20

The religious leaders in HIS day were upset that JESUS’s disciples transgressed their tradition of not washing their hands when they eat bread!

At work I sometimes eat without washing my hands because there is no place to wash them! But GOD is more concerned of what comes out of our mouth than what comes in!

JESUS said “HEAR AND UNDERSTAND”

Matthew 15:11 NKJV

Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Matthew 15:15

Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” 

Peter apparently thought it was a parable but it’s just simple truth!

Matthew 15:16-20 NKJV

So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? [17] Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? [18] But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. [19] For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. [20] These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

What comes out of our mouth always says more about us than anything else! We need to always be mindful of what we say! 

I know I’m guilty of saying wrong things at times, and I notice that once it comes out of my mouth I know I shouldn’t have said it!!

Proverbs 6:14-15 NKJV

Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord. [15] Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

When JESUS heard that they had beheaded John the Baptist HE wanted to be alone to pray and seek comfort from the FATHER!

Matthew 14:13 NKJV

When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.

But when JESUS got to that deserted place HE saw a great multitude!

Matthew 14:14 NKJV

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

HIS work had to continue despite the circumstances!  HE healed the sick and feed them!  After that long day of work HE sent the multitudes away.

Matthew 14:23 NKJV

And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

As servants of GOD, JESUS will always be our example.  When we’re tired and just want to rest and be alone, HIS work must continue to be our priority! JESUS after a long day work finally got the comfort HE needed from HIS FATHER!

Matthew 20:28

JUST AS THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Remember, HIS work should always be our priority! And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men!

Matthew 13:54-57 NKJV

When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 

[55] Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 

[56] And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” 

[57] So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”

Those that new JESUS from a youth and HIS family were offended because of hey thought they new HIM! He is just a carpenters son how can he teach us!!  

We may been idiots in the past and those that knew us then can only see what we did in the past!  What they don’t see is the work of GOD in our lives! 

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Don’t dwell in your past but look towards your future with HIM! We are a new creation in HIM!! 

Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. [19] Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

Mat 13:31-33 

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,  

(32)  which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”  

(33)  Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.”

The seed is the word of GOD, but this seed is specifically called a mustard seed which is very small? Verse 32 states that it is the least of all the seeds, can it be that this man who sowed the seed to his field used a small amount of the word?  In other words, not teaching the full council of GOD but only bits of it?  The results of this practice had tremendous, supernatural growth with a lot of corruption!  The birds are not removing the seed (their doctrine), but are resting in it; apparently o threat to the birds (the enemy)!

Verse 33 seems to confirm it because leaven is primarily used to describe sin! 

We need to teach the full council of GOD, not doing so can lead to corruption and leading people further from GOD!

Acts 20:27-28 NKJV

For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. [28] Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Just contemplating over these verses?!?

Mat 13:24-26  Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;  (25)  but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.  (26)  But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.
The seed is the word of GOD, and the wheat is the people of GOD! The tares resemble believers speak like believers and pray like believers but in their hearts they are not! The church will always be filled with true & false believers, until we are seperated by GOD HIMSELF!

Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ‘ ” 

It’s not always possible for us to discern who is a true believer in God; (1 Timothy 5:24-25) , some people’s sins are obvious and go before them, while others remain hidden. At times, someone might appear to be living like an unbeliever—but it could simply be that they’re still learning and growing in their faith. Who are we to seperate anyone; it is not our role in life but it is the role of GOD to do the seperating at the Harvest!

It is the work of GOD that has put wisdom in the mind and understanding in our hearts (Job 38:36), but fools truely don’t give HIM access to their hearts or mind they simply have no time for HIM!

As believers we need to keep following the LORD and trusting HIM for everything! HE is faithful, and HE knows our hearts!