THE WOMAN OF CANAAN.
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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.