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10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” 12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” 13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.” 21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” 23 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.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. (Matthew 15:10-28 NIV Bible)
The Jews were, or attempted to be, clean people in all areas of their lives, especially their dietary practices, and it was interesting how that influence made its way into even into our families. Nellie clearly remembers her Mother being very strict about which pans could hold milk and which could not. The pan dedicated to the heating of milk could only be used for that and nothing else. It was their form of kosher. For the Jews in Jesus' day, purification was very key to their daily life. To prepare to receive and enjoy a meal they had to wash their feet, because they usually sat at tables close to the floor, and they had to eat their hands. Of course, all eyes were always on Jesus and His disciples and the religious leaders noticed that on one occasion, the disciples, being very hungry, helped themselves to grain and did not wash their hands. The religious folk got to some of the disciples and told them they were offended by that, and so this passage begins with Jesus addressing that concern.
Jesus said it's not what goes into your mouth that makes you unclean (defile), but what comes out of your mouth; that is what defiles you! After the teaching on this the disciples told Jesus about that offending the Pharisees; to this Jesus says the Pharisees were "blind guides," with the old adage of "the blind leading the blind." The blind will lead the other blind into a pit. Peter, speaking possibly for the twelve asks to have this explained. Jesus says that whatever goes into the mouth as food which goes into the stomach and then out of the body. But what is terrible are the things that come out of some mouths! These things, says Jesus, are coming out of what's in their heart. Let us hear His list: Evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. This, Jesus explains, is far worse that thinking that unclean hands are bad.
Jesus goes to a another place and there He is met by a Canaanite woman begging for her daughter to be freed from a demon-possession and all the torment that was causing her. Jesus did not say a word about this and the disciples thinking that was Jesus' way of not wanting to do anything for this woman and so they say, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." Jesus' answer is, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel," which could be taken as I'm not here for Canaanites, just Jews, but some have said that Jesus is saying it in a way that challenging that very statement, for we know that He did do something for her. But, it was also the woman's responses to Him that led to her finding help in Jesus. His remark about "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs," allows her to counter, "Yes it is, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." This moves Jesus to say, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was freed that instant.
Friends, It's crucial for us to understand that Jesus wasn't prejudiced; rather, He used this scenario to reveal the depth of this "foreigner's" faith to those around Him, especially the religious leaders. Like the good parent that will do anything for their child, this Canaanite woman's faith moved her beyond cultural barriers and personal pride. She knew Jesus' authority and ability to help, even if it meant taking a seemingly lower position, and she was willing to be there to get the help she knew that only Jesus could supply.
This passage invites you and me to examine our own hearts. Are we focused on external appearances or rituals, neglecting the true condition of our hearts? Are we willing to persist in faith and humility, even in the face of challenges or apparent silence from God? Just as the Canaanite woman's faith led to the healing of her daughter, our genuine faith can lead to spiritual breakthroughs in our lives. We must persevere!
In our journey of faith dear friends, let us remember that it's not the external trappings that matter, but the purity of our hearts and the depth of our trust in the Lord. Let us cultivate a faith that moves mountains, a faith that persists even in the face of challenges, and a faith that humbly surrenders to God's will. Just as Jesus commended the Canaanite woman, may He also say of us, "Great is your faith!" Indeed.
PRAYER: Loving God, move me beyond what I perceive as necessary to the realm where You expect purity; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Examine your heart. Are you pure yet?
Receive my blessings of peace and love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
