Ep4. How To Exegete Matthew 15.21-28 Web V

Matthew 15:21-28

An Exegesis by Peter Percy (with Paul Burgess) February 2009

Mat. 15:21-28

The TEXT

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “ Lord Son of David have mercy on me. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.” 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 last sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me,” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed form that very hour.

The UNITS of THOUGHT Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “ Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.” 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 last sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me,” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed form that very hour.

The STRUCTURE Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “ Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.” 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 last sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. she said. “Lord, help me,” He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” she said, “Yes, Lord,” “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed form that very hour.

The CONTENT Rudyard Kipling wrote: I keep six honest serving-men (They taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who. ( - The Elephant’s Child) (Rudyard Kipling was a Lahore Newspaper journalist, as well as a writer of stories, in the days of the British Raj)

The CONTENT

This involves noting (with colours or other markings):       

WHO is involved (persons) WHAT is happening (verbs) WHAT else is mentioned (things and ideas) WHERE the action is taking place and WHEN and WHY and HOW These ‘six honest serving-men’ can help us become more aware of significant details

Content Analysis: Who is doing what, when, where, how, why? Leaving that place, Location (WHERE) Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Participants (WHO) A Canaanite woman from that vicinity (WHO) came to him, crying out, “ Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me. My daughter is suffering terribly (WHO - HOW) from demon possession.” Jesus did not answer a word, Reaction so his disciples came to him (WHO) and urged him, “Send her away, Reaction for she keeps crying out after us.” (WHY)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

He answered, “I was sent only to the last sheep of Israel.” Reaction The woman came and knelt before him. Reaction she said. “Lord, help me,” He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread Reaction and toss it to their dogs.” Analogy she said, “Yes, Lord,” Reaction “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith. Reaction Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Result

(WHO) (WHAT)

(WHY) (WHAT) (WHEN)

The TOPICS Leaving that place, Location Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity

– Gentile area

came to him, Messiah language crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me.

A great need My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.”

Jesus’ strange Reaction – ignoring her Jesus did not answer a word,

Disciples’ self-centred Reaction so his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

The TOPICS (cont.) Jesus’ 2nd strange Reaction He answered, “I was sent only to the last sheep of Israel.”

The Woman’s perseverance The woman came and knelt before him. she said. “Lord, help me,”

J’s impolite analogy takes moral high ground He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” she said, “Yes, Lord,”

The Woman’s perseverance “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

Jesus’ insight: the woman’s faith Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith.

Jesus’ positive response Your request is granted.”

The desired Result And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

The Over-All SUBJECT

With so many themes present finding the over-all subject might seem difficult. Ask yourself:  Does the pasage have any dominating theme?  Where does the emphasis fall?

The Over-All SUBJECT

Suggestions    

Perseverance? Faith? Faith of an outsider? Genuine faith?

Rating ** * ** **

 Testing genuine faith? ****  

Persevering faith? Faith rewarded?

*** *

The Over-All Subject

Testing genuine faith

Teaching on O/A Subject: Testing genuine faith

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

* Genuine faith is not limited to ”God’s people” A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him,

*

Outsiders can recognise Jesus

crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me.

* & bring their needs to Him

My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.”

* Jesus tests genuine faith Jesus did not answer a word,

Teaching on O/A Subject: Testing genuine faith (cont)

* Jesus’ followers don’t always encourage outsiders 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 last sheep of Israel.”

* Genuine faith perseveres

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

* Genuine faith must be ready for hard knocks He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”

* Genuine faith can argue with God

she said, “Yes, Lord,” but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

Teaching on O/A Subject: T esting genuine faith (cont) * God recognises great (genuine) faith

Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith.

* Genuine faith gets its reward in the end Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

The Main Lessons of the passage

   

Outsiders with needs can have genuine faith in Jesus Professions of faith must be tested, not dismissed Genuine faith will overcome difficulties Genuine faith perseveres until God meets the need

The Heart-beat

(core message) of the passage – two suggestions:

A. (O/A subject: Testing genuine faith)

Test outsiders; don’t just dismiss them!

The Heart-beat

(core message) of the passage – two suggestions:

B. (O/A subject: Persevering faith)

True faith in Jesus never quits! The Canaanite woman never gave up – neither should we!

Exegesis………..Exposition

 Here the EXEGESIS of the text ends and  The Exposition of its message begins:  Working back from the heart-beat to the teaching of the passage about its over-all theme, this teaching is arranged in an order that will meet the requirements of the sermon:  Faithfulness to the message of the passage  Clarity of concept  Relevance to the congregation’s experience

The End