Matthew 15:21

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

I gather from Matthew’s use of the word “withdrew” that Jesus needed a break from his intense and not very successful back and forth with the Jewish teachers. As we read we rightly wonder how they could be so blind as to reject practically everything Jesus said and taught. We recall that some among them determined to actually kill Jesus.

In any case, he withdrew into Gentile territory north of Palestine where he had probably hoped to have some time for prayer and reflection.

So Matthew is amazed by what happened. In that area was a Canaanite woman, a Gentile, who sorely needed someone to cast out a demon from her daughter.  She persisted in her complaint, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus discerned a faith in her that was directly opposite the unbelieving Jews he had recently been talking to. And, behold, she was a Gentile!  Even while Jesus tried to explain to her that he was sent to the Jews, not to the Gentiles, she protested heatedly. Seeing her faith, Jesus relented, cast out the demon from her daughter, not because she was a Jew but because she was a believer.

As far as I know, this was the first time that Jesus truly blessed a Gentile, because of her faith.

I love his words, “Woman, you have great faith. Your request is granted.” v 28