THE JEWISH KING AND THE GENTILE MOTHER

Mark 7:24-30

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

The account of this mother and the Lord Jesus is told in the first 2 Gospels we come to in the New Testament. In Matthew 15:21-28 there is a more detailed account than in the other, mainly because Matthew presents Christ as the King of the Jews and the Holy Spirit had him highlight Jesus treatment of this Gentile woman. Mark, who presents the Saviour as the Perfect man, the man Adam should have been, the man we should strive to be, gives a shorter account. We can learn many lessons from the Master Teacher if we but open our ears, our eyes, and our hearts.

 

I. WRONG IS NEVER RIGHT [Mt. 15:21-22]

 

1. She had Heard [Mk. 7:24-25, Rm. 10:17]

 

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

2. She had Hope [Mt. 15:22]

 

3. She had Honesty [Mt. 5:22b] you may as well tell God your heart- He knows it anyway

 

How have others approached the Lord- Pharisee, Cain, etc.

 

II. WAITING IS NOT REJECTION [Mt. 15:23-24]

 

1. Jesus did not Respond to her prayer [v. 23a]

 

2. Jesus did not Respond to the disciples’ prayer [v. 23b]

 

3. Jesus did Respond with Instruction [v. 24]

 

David learned this with the ark, Paul with the thorn in the flesh, thief on the cross

 

III. THE WAY IS NOT RACIST [Mt. 15:25-28]

 

1. She Changed her Approach [v. 25]

 

2. Jesus Challenged Their Thinking [v. 26]

 

3. Jesus Cares for People [v. 27-28, 2 Timothy 2:13]

 

If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.