Message Notes

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 14 January 2024
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 15
Subject: “Great Faith”

INTRODUCTION

1. The Lord turned His attention to people outside Israel

2. He went to the region of Tyre and Sidon

3. This region was not typically Judean

21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”
23 But He answered her not a word.
And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”
24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”
26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Matthew 15:21-28

1. Great Faith

a. The story of the Centurion Matthew 8:5-13

b. The Faith of a Roman centurion praised

“Assuredly, I have not seen such great faith, not even in Israel”

Matthew 8:10

2. Little Faith

a. The Disciples in great fear amidst a storm

b. The little faith of the Disciples

“Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”

Matthew 8:26

A MAJOR FOCUS OF THE LORD JESUS

1. To help people find Faith

2. To help people build Faith

MANY THINGS WERE DONE

1. Preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God

2. Healing of the sick

3. Encouraging of the people

4. Teaching of the Disciples

RESISTANCE MET

1. Scribes and Pharisees

2. Conflict

3. Hypocrisy

LEAVING ISRAEL FOR TYRE AND SIDON

1. A Canaanite woman

a. Her problem

b. Her cry for help

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

Matthew 15:22

2. The seemingly negative response of the Lord Jesus

a) Silence Matthew 15:23

b) A strange reply

“I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Matthew 15:24

c. Another puzzling word

“It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

Matthew 15:26

3. The Faith of the Canaanite woman

a) Her persistence

b) Her humility

“Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

Matthew 15:27

4. A Commendation from the Lord Jesus

a) “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.”

Matthew 15:28

b) And her daughter was healed from that very hour

VITAL LESSONS

1. Great Faith

a) This is to be desired

b) But it takes more than desire to develop it

2. The challenge

a) To develop great Faith

b) To be determined to discover how this can be done