THE WOMAN OF CANAAN.

: New Testament Stories

Jesus came unto the borders of Tyre and Sidon, where the people were

not Jews, but Gentiles. And there came to Him a woman of Canaan, who

cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou son of

David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." She besought Him

to cast out this evil spirit from her daughter. But He answered not a

word, and His disciples counselled Him to send her away. Then He told

her He w
s not sent unto the Gentiles, but unto the lost sheep of

Israel; meaning the Jews. This was said to try her faith. Then she

came and worshipped Him, saying, "Lord, help me." But He said, "It is

not meet to take the children's food and to cast it to dogs;" meaning

that His help was due rather to the Jews than to the Gentiles. And she

said, "Truth, Lord, yet the dogs sometimes eat of the crumbs which

fall from their masters' table;" meaning that, though she was a

Gentile, she believed in Him as the Son of God.



Then Jesus answered, and said unto her, "O woman, great is thy faith;

be it unto thee even as thou desirest. Go thy way; the devil has gone

out of thy daughter." And when she was come to her house she found her

daughter made whole and laid upon the bed.



Jesus, with His knowledge of our hearts, knew the faith this poor

woman had, and tried it so that it might shine the brighter. Then He

granted her the blessing she had asked Him for; and how she must have

rejoiced when she reached home and found her daughter quite well and

restored to her right mind.



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