As far as most Mothers are concerned; children never get to old or to important for some loving concern and advice.

According to a Knoxville newspaper, police chief Phil Keith was in a city council meeting when his pager beeped.

He was startled to see the call was from his mother.

So he immediately called her.  The concerned mom said’’ Phil Keith are you chewing gum’’?

Mr. Police Chief said””yes Ma’am”

His mother said” It looks awful spit it out”

He removed his gum and went back to the meeting.

Mom had been watching the city council meeting on Cable T.V.

Regardless of age or position …Mother knows best

The Bible records acts of love and concern of many mothers.

We can’t study all of them today.

So let’s take a look at a mother who remains nameless but was a woman of great love, concern and faith.

We will just call her the CANAANITE MOTHER.

In this message we will see a LOVING MOTHER who had a daughter with a serious problem.

This Mother knew where to go to get her problem solved.

She was not ashamed or afraid to take it to Jesus.

WE will see a LOVING SAVIOR who is able and willing to be our help in a time of trouble.

We must remember we all have a problem that only He can solve.

SCRIPTURE READING MATT 15:21-28  [ see also Mark 7:24-30]

Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. ²²And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. ²³But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. ²⁴But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ²⁵Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. ²⁶But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. ²⁷And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. ²⁸Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

This passage can be hard to understand because of some of the things Jesus did and said.

We must remember that Jesus could read this woman’s mind.

He knew her every need and thought.

Jesus knew exactly what was needed to bring her to a saving faith.

I THE LOVING MOTHER ..15:21-23

Verse 21 The place…Matt. 15:21 (KJV)

Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

The coasts…means ports or borders..this is Gentile country

Here He could find freedom from the crowds.

He could prepare Himself and the disciples for the end.

Jews were not likely to go into Gentile territory.

Verses..22-23 The problems. Matt. 15:22 (KJV)

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

Matt. 15:23 (KJV)

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

WE can see seven problems this mother has to deal with.

She was a CANAANITE..bitter enemies of the Jews.

She was a woman in a man’s world.

She was a Gentile.

She called Jesus the SON OF DAVID, limited concept.

Her daughter was very sick.

At first Jesus did not talk with her.

The disciples wanted to send her away.

Probably most fathers would have given up..but not MOM.

II THE LOVING SAVIOR…15:24-28    

Verses 24-26.. The announcement..Jesus came unto His own

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

Jesus reminded the disciples of the  reason He came.

He had come to offer His own people the kingdom.

 The kingdom promised through David in the Davidic covenant.

Still this MOTHER was not discouraged.

Her next plea was LORD HELP ME.  No Messianic titles.

She came as a helpless..hopeless sinner, depending only on Jesus.

 DOG is not used in the way the Jews used it to refer to Gentiles.

Dog as used here refers to pet dogs..not the scavenger dogs.

The children  are the people of Israel.

Verse..27..A persistent mother …

And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

This persistent Mother is willing to take the crumbs from the table.

This mother needed a blessing and she was willing take leftovers.

She realized that only Jesus could fill her needs.         

Verse..28.. The Reward

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Jesus acknowledged this humility and called it great faith.

The MOTHER kept asking and trusting.

She went to the right for person help.

She went with at least seven strikes against her.

Note…before her daughter was healed…before her pleading and prayer was answered SHE WORSHIPED JESUS.

Summary/ Application

In this passage of scripture we have looked at a loving mother who had the determination to do what needed to be done.

She needed salvation… and a greater understanding of Jesus.

She needed a miracle for her daughter.

Because she was obedient to God she got both and a lot more.

We have also seen a LOVING SAVOR who is able and willing to provide a Mother’s need…a father’s need and the needs of the kids.

S0 what do you need today?

Remember….SALVATION MUST COME FIRST.

Prayer

Invitation