Friday May 19, 2023
Matthew 15:23
But He answered her not a word.
It is as though we do not recognize Jesus in this account. The unhappy mother stands there and prays so humbly for her child. But he does not answer a word. Then the disciples begin to help her. And not until then does He reply that He has nothing to do with the Gentiles.
Still, He had made exceptions to this rule. The centurion of Capernaum, for instance, received help. Why did He not make an exception also of this unhappy mother?
She does not yield, however, but falls down at His feet and says despairingly: “Lord, help me!” Then He meets her with the harsh words about the dogs. The Jews looked upon the Gentiles as dogs. And He does not help her until she takes Him at His own word and tells Him that it is not necessary for Him to take the bread away from the children; for the little dogs can get along with the crumbs that fall from the table. All she asks for is such a crumb.
We, too, experience similar silence on the part of Jesus.
Distress drove you, also, to Jesus. You pleaded very humbly. Perhaps you, too, like the woman, prayed for a sick child. But you received no help. All He had to do was to move a finger and your child would have been well. But He did not. It was that which was so hard. Perhaps you began to murmur against God.
Our passage today tells us that Jesus saw your distress and suffered with you.
“But why did He not help me, then?” you ask.
What is hardest for Him also is that He does not dare to help you out of your temporal need. You would forget Him again. He has brought you to a point where you will listen to Him, and there is something He must tell you. He must get an opportunity to speak to you about the needs of your soul, which are greater than the temporal distress from which you are asking Him to save you.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 