The King who Judges the Heart
It is a very unsettling thing when you become aware that someone can see right through you. There are some people who seem to have an uncanny knack for doing that. In conversation, their gaze is penetrating – you just sense that they are evaluating you on a deeper level – and it seems rather hard to hide from them what you are really thinking.
In Matthew 15, the Lord Jesus Christ demonstrates his penetrating, divine insight into the people around him, and as he engages with them he reveals their heart. In verse 21, we learn that Jesus “withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” This is a woman approaching Jesus in a society where men are so often treated with preference. Jesus is in a Gentile territory – Tyre and Sidon. These cities were known as wicked cities in the Old Testament. Jesus had spoken of them as examples of wickedness back in Matthew 11. And while he is in this ungodly place, a Canaanite woman approached him. The Canaanites were the historical enemies of Israel, from whom the Lord took the land of promise. She is a total outsider.
In the eyes of ritualistic religion, the Canaanite woman could not be more unclean if she lived inside a sewage treatment plant. She carries an aura of defilement all about her – she glows with spiritual radioactivity. But here is the remarkable thing about her: she came to Jesus in a way that none of the religious people did. She came to him not in proud criticism, but in genuine humility: “have mercy on me”. But more than that, she calls upon Jesus as the Messiah-king of Israel: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David.” She is not an Israelite, but she knows that the Scriptures promised a King in David’s line who would save and redeem and rule – a Messiah. And while the religious leaders seem blind to it – she sees it.
The religious people around this woman – hearing and seeing who she was – would plug their nose and walk the other way. And it seems that the disciples had something of that reaction themselves – they begged Jesus (v. 23) to send her away. But Jesus patiently draws out what is within her heart. His response seems chilly, even harsh – but it is calculated to reveal her heart. As verse 24 details, “He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ And he answered, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the masters’ table.’” Her response shows profound humility before Jesus. It shows evidence that she really believes that he is the Messiah, the Saviour, with power to intervene – to save. She declares, “Give me but a crumb, and that will be enough, Jesus!”
Her heart has been revealed – a heart of faith is now on display. And so Jesus responds, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.” (v. 28) Jesus has revealed, with penetrating insight, that this woman has a humble heart of faith. Jesus is the only king who can truly judge the human heart. May our hearts be found to be humble and faith-filled today.