Jesus is showing us that prayer is not a cute, Precious Moments figurine in serene meditation, but a grueling wrestling match He wants you to win!
Of this week’s reading, Martin Luther says provocatively, “This Gospel is not treating of a trifling, insignificant matter, but of an especially important and crucial teaching concerning faith’s life and death struggle before God. From it we are to learn that nothing, not even the throes of death, must deter us from calling upon God in prayer—even though he has already said ‘No.’”[1]
I think of Luther’s sermon on this text often, especially when I hear popular teachings about prayer. When questioned by someone who is wondering about how God answers prayer, if you are anything like me, I am sure you have said something along the lines of, “God’s answers are either ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ or ‘wait.’” Though there is wisdom in such a response, this week’s text makes me wonder if we let God off the hook too easily with such a response. After all, we read about this remarkable Canaanite woman who refuses the “No” of her Lord. Though she is made to wait, she will not let go of Jesus until she hears His “Yes.”
In preaching this text, it is crucial to recognize how familiar the Canaanite woman’s experience is. There are many people in your congregation who have cried out to God for mercy, only to receive His silence or His rejection. Just as the Canaanite woman was praying for something good, namely, the healing of her daughter, so have the people in your congregation prayed for good things. They have prayed for their children who have left the faith, for God’s Kingdom to come and drive out the evil in the world, for healing and forgiveness in broken relationships, and for relief from the Devil’s attacks and temptations to appealing sins. In response? Heaven has seemed vast, void, and silent. Or worse, matters only got more severe, as though God was giving an emphatic, “No.”
In the face of such a trial, the Lord Jesus has given us this Canaanite woman to teach us to persevere in prayer, even when His own response feels cold and heartless. He forces the question on us: Will you give up in light of your circumstances? Or, will you hold Me to My Word like this dear, faithful woman? Jesus is showing us that prayer is not a cute, Precious Moments figurine in serene meditation, but a grueling wrestling match He wants you to win!
To preach this text, I would discuss three challenges we face in our prayers (I am taking much of this from Luther’s Reminiscere sermon from 1534 found in the fifth volume of the Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, which I cannot recommend highly enough).[2]
The first challenge is the fear that God does not deem us worthy to pray. Many believe they are too sinful or not among the elect or God does not listen to those who lack a certain level of holiness. If anyone had cause to believe her prayers would not be heard because of who she was, it was the Canaanite woman. She was a Gentile, which meant she had no business talking to a Jewish rabbi. What is more, she was not just any kind of Gentile, but a Canaanite! She was the sort of Gentile the Israelites were supposed to wipe out in the Old Testament. She had the Law of God itself telling her she was not among the elect. But, she knew who Jesus was, the Lord, the Son of David! He was the one who had come to drive out the Devil, the very devil beguiling her daughter. With no regard for her person and trusting only in Jesus, she approaches.
Here, the Canaanite reminds us that we do not pray based on who we are or because of anything inside of us. Rather, we pray based on Christ’s command and promise. You may be a Jew, a Gentile, a sinner, whatever. You have the call to pray. Christ’s death has removed anything that would keep you from entering your Father’s presence in prayer. With His shed blood, Jesus purchased access to His Father’s ear for you and commands you to pray. Regardless of who you are, you can pray because of Christ’s command and promise. It is the Devil who says otherwise.
Regardless of who you are, you can pray because of Christ’s command and promise.
The second challenge we face is God’s silence. The woman did not get a response from Jesus when she initially cried out to Him. What is more, even when the disciples entreated Jesus to send her away for her persistence, Jesus would still not address her directly. “Jesus answered [His disciples], ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel’” (15:24).
Here, the woman experienced that painful silence from God. She even witnesses Him engage with His disciples! Others receive the words of Christ, but the woman in need hears nothing for herself. How often do we see others rejoicing in God’s blessings even while we cry out for God to listen? Roy Harrisville says of this, “He who is speaking fills up 66 books and didn’t have a word for her.”[3]
At this point, acknowledge the pain of God’s silence. Do not heap guilt on anyone’s head for the struggles they face in the silence of God. At the same time, point them back to the woman who will not let go of Jesus.
Finally, the woman is faced with the third challenge, God’s “No!” The woman chases Jesus into the house and kneels before Him and continues to cry out. He says, shockingly, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (15:24). Make no mistake, this is no term of endearment. Jews would deride the Gentiles by referring to them as dogs. Jesus’ words seem so out of character, almost cruel! This is more than a “No.” This is an insult!
And our remarkable Canaanite takes it! She will take any Word from Christ. And then she does something even more shocking, she wins this prayerful wrestling match against Jesus with His own words! “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table” (15:27). She is saying, “Yes, Lord! You are the Son of David, the King of Israel! You are here for their good. Serve them! But, you are so abundant in your mercy, even a lowly Canaanite dog like me will benefit from Your work!”
Luther says, “Thus, she catches Christ in His own words, and He is happy to be caught... So, she catches Christ, the Lord, in His own words and with that wins not only the right of a dog, but that of the children. Now then, where will He go, our dear Jesus? He let himself be made captive and must comply. Be sure of this: That is what He most deeply desires.”[4]
This is proved true by the delight in Jesus’ response, “‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly” (15:28). Jesus delights in the prayers of His people. He may not always be quick to answer. His delay may even be good for us as it teaches us to persevere in our faith. But, He has promised to answer and loves it when we hold Him to His promises. His “Yes” will come sooner, later, or even in the resurrection. It may even come in a way that is beyond what you prayed for. So, do not let Him off the hook!
God has promised to be faithful. He has promised to hear our prayers. “Ask and it will be given to you,” Jesus promised. So, this text is given to us as an example of how we are to hold Christ Jesus to His promises even, and perhaps especially, when He seems to be acting contrary to them. Luther says, “Let us, therefore, never doubt that we have a “Yes” in Heaven, imbedded in the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His Father’s, and that in His time it will be revealed.”[5]
God bless your preaching!
--------
Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out 1517’s resources on Matthew 15:21-28.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching Matthew 15:21-28.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
[1] Luther, Martin. “Sermon for Reminiscere Sunday—Second Sunday in Lent” in The Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, vol. 5, ed. Eugene Klug. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000. 321
[2] Luther. Sermon for Reminiscere. 321-328.
[3] Quoted by James Nestingen in his lecture Handing Over the Goods found in Handing Over the Goods: Essays in Honor of James Arne Nestingen, ed. Steven D. Paulson and Scott L. Keith. Irvine: 1517 Publishing, 2018. 257.
[4] Luther. Sermon for Reminiscere. 325.
[5] Luther. Sermon for Reminiscere. 327.
