Audio Download

Matthew 15:21–39 The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

[Study Aired July 21, 2025]

The study for today is focused on the faith of a Canaanite woman, the healing of many with diverse issues near the sea of Galilee and the feeding of the four thousand. 

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

Mat 15:21  Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 
Mat 15:22 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.

It is important to note that Jesus coming into the coast of Tyre and Sidon is significant in the sense that this is the first time that Jesus’ ministry stepped outside the boundaries of Israel. As we are aware, Jesus’ ministry was centered on Israel. In other words, He came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. His coming to Tyre and Sidon is therefore, to show us that the Gentiles, or those who are not of Jewish descent, are also going to be part of the commonwealth of Israel. 

Eph 2:11  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 
Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 
Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

Spiritually, we can say that both Tyre and Sidon were part of the multitude that sought after Jesus.

Mar 3:7  But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, 
Mar 3:8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.  

As indicated in previous studies, the multitudes represent our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world who are not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. We were part of the multitude until Jesus came and dragged us to Himself and therefore we became part of the church of the firstborn or the Jerusalem above. 

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

As stated in verse 2, the woman of Canaan was from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon and therefore was part of the multitude. The woman therefore represents the church of the Lord’s elect during our captivity in Babylon or the churches of this world. When Christ came our way during this period of our walk, we were tormented by a demon, and therefore we pleaded with the Lord to have mercy on us. To be tormented by a demon means we were tortured by our false doctrines. The doctrine of burning forever in the lake of fire, the giving of tithes, the prosperity doctrine, etc., all served to torment us. We opened our mouth wide to receive the blessings of the Lord but nothing happened. We kept on failing to live righteously and were therefore worried about going to hell. 

Psa 81:10  I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
Psa 81:11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. 

Our lives in the churches of this world were therefore characterized by torment because of our false doctrines. 

Act 15:10  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 

Mat 15:23  But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 
Mat 15:24  But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

Jesus not answering the woman in verse 23, implies that during this period of our walk in the churches of this world, we were not able hear from the Lord since our eyes were closed and our ears were dull of hearing. 

Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 
Mat 13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

As shown in verse 23, the disciples at this time of their walk with Christ, did not know Him, and therefore they represent our leaders in the churches of this world who send us away because we questioned them about our belief system, just as the woman cried after them. 

In our desperation, the Lord came to us to make us understand that His focus is on the lost sheep of the house of Israel. That was when we came to know that there is a special group of people to whom the Lord is ministering, but unfortunately, we were not part of this group. This reminds me of what happened to Elijah, when in his desperation, he told the Lord that he had been very jealous of Him, and He was the only one left. That was when the Lord told him that He has reserved 7,000 of His elect who had not bowed their knees to the doctrines of the church system of this world.

1Ki 19:14  And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 
1Ki 19:15  And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 

1Ki 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. 

Coming back to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, we need to understand that it was the sheep which left the 100 sheep and got lost that the Lord pursued after, while leaving the 99 sheep in the wilderness without a shepherd. That one sheep is the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The fact that it was only one sheep means that those whom the Lord is dragging to Himself all have one mind and one judgment. 

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

Remember that the number one means unity. The fact that it was only 1 out of 100 sheep that got lost and was saved means that those who are being saved by the Lord in this age are few. The 99 sheep represent our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world who think they are all right and therefore need no repentance.

Luk 15:4  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 
Luk 15:5  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 
Luk 15:6  And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 
Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Mat 15:25  Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 
Mat 15:26  But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 
Mat 15:27  And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

The woman coming to worship the Lord and asking for help from the Lord means that we came to see at a certain stage of our walk that without the Lord’s intervention, we could not help ourselves. That means we were helpless in pleasing the Lord. 

Psa 51:16  For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 
Psa 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 
Psa 51:18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 

The Lord’s answer to the woman that it was not right to take the children’s bread and to cast it to the dogs is to show us that during our time in the churches of this world, we were dogs. Being dogs means that we were evil workers who walked according to the law of Moses. In other words, we tried to die to our flesh by our own effort, but we were not successful.

Php 3:2  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 
Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.  

In verse 27, the acceptance of the woman that she was indeed a dog is to show us that we must humble ourselves before the Lord to accept the fact that we had gone astray at a certain stage of our walk with Christ. Our acceptance of the fact that we have been receiving crumbs or pieces of His words during our time in the Babylonian system is what paves the way for us to start enjoying children’s bread, that is, the truth of His words. 

Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 
Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 
Gal 3:28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Mat 15:28  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.

We know from the sum of the word of the Lord that the woman’s great faith is the Lord’s faith given to us as we leave Babylon to become part of the church of the first born or Jerusalem which is above.

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

We must understand that Christ’s faith comes to us by hearing the truth of the word of the Lord.

Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  

In verse 28, the Lord told the woman that what she wanted will be done for her. In this case, the woman wanted the Lord to deliver her daughter from being tormented by the devil. Indeed, the false doctrines in our heavens are being dealt with by the truth of His words in our lives, as we grow to know Him and experience the power of His resurrection in our lives.

Isa 28:17  Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.   

Jesus Heals Many

Mat 15:29  And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. 
Mat 15:30  And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: 
Mat 15:31  Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus departing from Tyre and Sidon and going near to the sea of Galilee where a great multitude came to Him where He healed them of all kinds of disease indicates that the Lord will surely save our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world who are represented by the multitude. At a certain stage of our walk with Christ, we were part of this multitude. The fact that these multitudes are closer to the sea of Galilee shows us that they were influenced by the deeds of the flesh of mankind. That is another way of saying that they are dominated by the flesh. This was our situation when we were part of the church system of this world. We could not please the Lord as we were captivated by the things of the flesh.

Rom 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 
Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

In verse 30, we are shown the consequences of focusing on the flesh. We became lame. Being lame means that we had difficulty walking due to a condition affecting our legs or feet. Spiritually, this implies that we were not able to please the Lord with our walk because of our flesh dominating us.

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 
Gal 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 
Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 
Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  

We are also told in verse 30 that among those brought to Jesus were the blind. We were spiritually blind at a certain stage of our walk with Christ, and therefore we could not understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. This is what the Lord says about our condition when we were under the yoke of our flesh:

Isa 42:18  Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.
Isa 42:19  Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD’S servant? 
Isa 42:20  Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
Isa 42:21  The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. 
Isa 42:22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. 

The third condition described in verse 30 is that we were dumb. In other words, we could not open our mouth to speak about the truth of His words. Although we are designated as His elect or watchmen before the foundation of this world, we were made dumb by the Lord when we were under captivity of the evil one in the churches of this world.

Isa 56:10  His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

Psa 38:13  But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

The last condition described in verse 30 is being maimed or wounded. It was because our sins had increased that was why the Lord wounded us.

Jer 30:14  All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.

The Lord used the very people who should have been our watchmen, to wound us when we were in the churches of this world.

Son 5:7  The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.

In the fullness of time, the Lord came to us while we were part of the church system of this world to heal us of all our diseases so that we can serve the Lord in spirit and in truth. That was when we started to glorify God with our members.

1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

Mat 15:32  Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. 
Mat 15:33  And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? 

In verse 32, we see the Lord showing compassion to the multitude because they had been with Him for three days without food. It is reassuring to note that the Lord was determined not to send the multitude away without food. The Lord’s compassion never fails and is available not only to us, His elect, but the whole of humanity who are His children.

Lam 3:22  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 
Lam 3:23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

As we have indicated earlier, the multitude represents our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world. This verse therefore shows us that in the fullness of time, the Lord will show mercy to our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world and all of humanity as He heals them of every disease of the flesh. That is to say that the salvation of the Lord will also be theirs. 

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 
Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 

What is said in verse 32 is in direct opposition to the false doctrine of Babylon which says that the Lord will burn all of humanity who do not know Him. The number three means the process of spiritual maturity through judgment. Jesus being with the multitude for three days therefore refers to the process of the second death through judgment in the lake of fire age, designated for all humanity including our brothers and sisters in the churches of this world. It is reassuring to know that in verse 32, the Lord has given His word that He will not send them away without food, lest they faint along the way. That is to say that all humanity shall come to know Christ through His word (food for the multitude).

1Ti 2:3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 

1Ti 4:9  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. 

With our carnal minds, the thought of the Lord saving the whole of the human race is impossible because our minds cannot perceive how all humanity, including Satan and His cohorts, will come to know the Lord. That was demonstrated clearly by the disciples as they questioned Jesus in verse 33 of how they could have bread in the wilderness to feed the multitude. In other words, they wondered how the whole of humanity shall be fed with the word of the Lord. Remember that the disciples at that point in time were not converted and therefore behaved like us during our time in Babylon.

Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 
Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 

Mat 15:34  And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. 

The seven loaves that the disciples had means that the Lord’s elect shall be equipped with the complete knowledge of His word to be able to become saviors of humanity. Remember that the number seven means complete, and the loaves represent the word of the Lord.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

Fishes signify mankind as shown by the fact that Jesus likened the kingdom of God to a dragnet cast into the sea that gathered fish of every kind – both good and bad fishes. In His interpretation, Jesus said that at the end of the age, His angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous. 

Mat 13:47  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 
Mat 13:48  Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 
Mat 13:49  So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 
Mat 13:50  And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 

The few little fishes that the disciples had therefore means that at that time, they considered themselves too little or incapable of being saviors of the whole of humanity. When we look at ourselves, we do not see how we shall rule the nations and become saviors of all humanity. However, with God, all things are possible. These fishes being few means that those whom the Lord is saving in this age to become saviors of humanity are few.

Mat 15:35  And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 
Mat 15:36  And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 

The Lord commanding the multitude to sit down implies that we must be at rest if we are to receive from the Lord. It is when we are at rest that we cease from using our own effort and depending on Him only. 

Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 

It is instructive to note that the seven loaves and the few little fishes must be broken by the Lord, and given to the disciples first, before the multitude are given their share through the disciples. As indicated, the loaves represent the word of the Lord which must be broken by the Lord. Breaking the loaves means rightly dividing the word of truth. By implication, this means making us understand the mysteries of the kingdom of the Lord. The Lord giving the broken loaves to the disciples first is to show us that in this age, it is only the Lord’s elect who are given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom. 

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

The few little fishes were also broken and given to the disciples first. This symbolizes that the elect shall be judged first in this age. Just as horses have to be broken before they submit, we, His elect, must go through the Lord’s judgment or suffering as the Lord puts our rebellious flesh to death.

Later, in an age to come (the lake of fire age), the whole of the Lord’s creation shall also be given to know the mysteries of the kingdom through us, His elect, as we share the broken loaves of bread to them. That is the period when they shall be broken or judged. In the final analysis, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord.

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Mat 15:37  And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. 
Mat 15:38  And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. 
Mat 15:39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala. 

Everyone shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord in the fullness of time.

Hab 2:14  For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 

The fragments of seven baskets that remained signify the complete false doctrines in the hearts and minds of all humanity which shall be destroyed by the truth of the word of the Lord. 

The number of those fed was four thousand men. The number four thousand consists of four times three tens (4,000 = 4x10x10x10). The number four means the whole of the matter under discussion, and the number 10 signifies the fullness of the flesh. The three tens refers to the process of our spiritual maturity through judgment. The number four thousand therefore shows us that it is when the whole of the flesh of humanity has reached its fullness or their sins have reached the heavens, that the Lord will come to judge them in the lake of fire age, to become His children.  

The fact that the children were not counted implies that all will mature to become sons of the Lord and therefore there will not be children, who are tossed by every wind of doctrine, to be counted. 

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

The women who were not counted indicates that there will be one church as all humanity shall have the same mind and the same judgment. 

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

In this age, however, the Lord is sending the multitude away as He goes to Magdala which means a tower. This implies that the Lord is focusing on His elect in this age as He becomes like a strong tower for us to run into, to become safe in this life.

Pro 18:10  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. 

May His name be glorified in our lives. Amen!!