Matthew 15:23-27

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 15:21-28

We have here that famous story of Christ's casting the devil out of the woman of Canaan's daughter; it has something in it singular and very surprising, and which looks favourably upon the poor Gentiles, and is an earnest of the mercy which Christ had in store for them. Here is a gleam of that light which was to lighten the Gentiles, Luke 2:32. Christ came to his own, and his own received him not; but many of them quarrelled with him, and were offended in him; and observe what follows, Matt.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 15:21-28

15:21-28 And Jesus left there, and withdrew to the districts of Tyre and Sidon. And, look you, a Canaanite woman from these parts came and cried, "Have pity upon me, Sir, Son of David! My daughter is grievously afflicted by a demon." But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and asked him, "Send her away, for she is shrieking behind us." Jesus answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." She came and knelt in entreaty before him. "Lord," she said, "help me!" Jesus... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 15:21-28

There are certain things about this woman which we must note. (i) First and foremost, she had love. As Bengel said of her, "She made the misery of her child her own." Heathen she might be, but in her heart there was that love for her child which is always the reflection of God's love for his children. It was love which made her approach this stranger; it was love which made her accept his silence and yet still appeal; it was love which made her suffer the apparent rebuffs; it was love which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 15:23

But he answered her not a word ,.... Not that he did not hear her, or that he despised either her person or petition, or that he was not moved with it; but to continue her importunity, and try her faith, and make it manifest: for like reasons the Lord does not always, and immediately, answer the requests of his people. This giving her no answer, either that he would, or would not help her, carried in it a tacit repulse of her, and a denial of assistance to her; and it seems as if she did for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 15:24

But he answered, and said ,.... To his disciples, who knew how limited their commission was, that they were not to go into the way of the Gentiles, not to preach to them, nor perform miracles among them; and therefore could not reasonably expect that either the woman, or they, on her behalf, should succeed in this matter. I am not sent, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel ; as a priest, or as a Saviour and Redeemer, he was sent to make satisfaction and atonement for the sins of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 15:25

Then came she and worshipped him ,.... She followed the disciples into the house; and perceiving another repulse by Christ's answer to them, she pushes on, through all discouragements; her faith grows stronger, and her importunity greater: she had called Christ Lord, and the son of David before, but now she worships him as God: Saying, Lord help me ; a short petition, but what fully and fitly expressed her case: the object she prays unto is the Lord, by which she owns his sovereignty,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 15:26

But he answered, and said ,.... To the woman, as the Persic version reads it, and the sense requires: it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs ; which he said, to try her faith the more, and make it the more illustrious; and that not so much from his own sense of things, as in the language of the Jewish people, and which she might not be a stranger to. By "the children", are meant the Jews, to whom the adoption belonged; who, as a nation and people, were the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 15:27

And she saith, truth, Lord ,.... She owns all that he had said to be true, that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel: that she was indeed but a dog, a poor sinful creature, and unworthy of any favour; and that it was not right and fitting that all the children's bread should be taken from them and given to dogs: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table . The Syriac and Persic versions add "and live": thus she wisely lays hold upon and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:23

He answered her not a word - Seemed to take time to consider her request, and to give her the opportunity of exercising her faith, and manifesting her fervor. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 15:24

I am not sent but unto the lost sheep - By the Divine appointment, I am come to preach the Gospel to the Jews only. There are certain preachers who should learn a lesson of important instruction from this part of our Lord's conduct. As soon as they hear of a lost sheep being found by other ministers, they give all diligence to get that one into their fold: but display little earnestness in seeking in the wilderness for those that are lost. This conduct, perhaps, proceeds from a consciousness... read more

Group of Brands