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My flesh fights humility like it’s toxic.
Every inch of my being wants to stand up to fight for my rights, for respect, for glory.
But my loving God knows that to follow him – the path to true glory – I need to be humbled.
Pride is toxic.
So let’s talk about humility. What does true humility look like and why do we fight it? The story of the Canaanite woman from Matthew 15 is a great place to start.
I talked about this story yesterday. And then I talked about dogs. (If you know me in real life you knew that a post about dogs was inevitable.)
If you love dogs like I do, you probably thought that was pretty cool and found my observations to be helpful. But if you don’t love dogs, you might have thought, “Girl, you read that story in the Bible and THAT was your takeaway?”
I hear you, non-crazy-dog-loving friends! So this one’s for you. Today, let’s take a another look at the story of the Canaanite woman and see what other non-dog-related lessons God has for us in it.
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.“
Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Matthew 15:21-28 NIV
Now let me be honest here. Is it just me or does Jesus sound like he’s being just a little bit mean in this story? First he ignores the woman, then he insults her.
Does it make you nervous to hear me say that out loud? But you were thinking it, right? It’s okay, because we know that Jesus is good and if it looks like he isn’t being good then we must have misunderstood something.
Interpreting Difficult Scripture Passages
Lesson #1:
Always interpret unclear passages using clear ones.
Lesson #2:
Consider that it might not be saying what you think it’s saying.
So, was Jesus a racist who only came to save Israelites like himself? I’ll run through this one quickly: No, he wasn’t. (Samaritan woman, John 4; Centurion, Matthew 8; See also Isaiah 42:6 and John 10:16)
Jesus had a purpose in this interaction with this Canaanite woman. He was directing this conversation to work for the good of every one of his people, his disciples, the Canaanite woman, and us. (Romans 8:28-30)
By drawing out this interaction with the Canaanite woman, Jesus ensured that his disciples were paying attention, so they would see that by faith even a Canaanite woman would be saved.
By his questions, Jesus prompted the woman to explore the depth of her own faith and discover what she believed. You see, even our faith comes from God (Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 12:2). It’s possible that the woman didn’t fully realize what she believed until she heard herself say it. I think she was deeply strengthened and encouraged by this conversation.
And finally, by engaging in this conversation the way he did, Jesus brought this story down through time so we could learn about true humility.
The True, Saving Humility of the Canaanite Woman
Look again at this conversation between Jesus and the Canaanite woman:
The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Matthew 15:25-28
Jesus basically said to the woman, “You aren’t good enough.” Ouch! Put yourself in this woman’s shoes. How do you think you might have responded?
Potential Response A: Injured Pride
How do you respond when someone thinks you aren’t good enough? I respond with pride. My pride wells up, “How dare you! I demand respect!”
In my pride I move away from the other person – I reject them so that their rejection doesn’t hurt me.
But my pride can’t save me; only Jesus can.
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6 ESV
If the Canaanite woman had responded in pride, she would have missed out on the gift of salvation for the humble.
Potential Response B: Despondency
The Canaanite woman, upon hearing Jesus’ hard proclamation could have turned around, tail between her legs (dogs again!), and given up.
She could have said, “My unworthiness is too much. No one can help me.”
This is pride masquerading as humility. But it leaves you in the same lost and desperate place as pride.
False humility can’t save us; only Jesus can.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 ESV
The Woman’s Response: True Humility
The Canaanite woman kept her eyes locked on Jesus every moment. As he pushed her she never turned her eyes inward. Her pride never welled up and demanded respect. False humility never knocked her down, begging for false assurances.
She looked at the face of Jesus and said, “There is enough mercy at the Master’s table for me.”*
Confidence in her Lord. Pride in her Savior!
“Lord, I have given up my pride
and turned away from my arrogance.
I am not concerned with great matters
or with subjects too difficult for me.
Instead, I am content and at peace.
As a child lies quietly in its mother’s arms,
so my heart is quiet within me.
Israel**, trust in the Lord
now and forever!”
Psalm 131 Good News Translation
Think It Through
Has this world come after everything that gave you purpose? Are you struggling to find your meaning? Have you been shamed by your mistakes?
Is God humbling you right now?
How will you respond?
Will you gird up your pride? (“I am better than this! I can DO This!”) Will you fall into despair? Or will you turn your eyes in true humility to the face of your Savior, the Master who has enough mercy at his table for you?
*I heard this beautiful quote in a sermon by Timothy Keller from Gospel in Life.
**All Christians are adopted into the family of God and are “Israel.”
