Matthew 15:22

A woman of Canaan - Matthew gives her this name because of the people from whom she sprung - the descendants of Canaan, Judges 1:31 , Judges 1:32 ; but Mark calls her a Syrophenician, because of the country where she dwelt. The Canaanites and Phoenicians have been often confounded. This is frequently the case in the Septuagint. Compare Genesis 46:10 , with Exodus 6:15 , where the same person is called a Phoenician in the one place, and a Canaanite in the other. See also the same version in Exodus 16:35 ; Joshua 5:12 .

The state of this woman is a proper emblem of the state of a sinner, deeply conscious of the misery of his soul.

Have mercy on me, etc. - How proper is this prayer for a penitent! There are many excellencies contained in it;

1. It is short;

humble;

full of faith;

fervent;

modest;

respectful;

rational;

relying only on the mercy of God;

persevering.

Can one who sees himself a slave of the devil, beg with too much earnestness to be delivered from his thraldom?

Son of David - An essential character of the true Messiah.