Event 7 – A Syrophoenician woman’s Faith

Matthew 15:21-28 – Mark 7:24-30

^M Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ^K He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a ^M Canaanite woman from that vicinity ^K whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. ^M crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” ^K The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

^M 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.”

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

^K “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s ^M crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” ^K “For such a reply, you may go, the demon has left your daughter.” ^M And her daughter was healed from that very hour. ^K She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.