We live the consequences of the choices we make

MATTHEW 15:10-20, 21-28

Preached at Grace, August 11 and 14, 2005

Several years ago, a book came out entitled The Hard Sayings of Jesus—Matthew 15: 26 was one of them.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO A MAN WHO CALLS A WOMAN AND HER DAUGHTER “DOGS”?

Matthew’s Gospel calls the woman a “Canaanite”; whereas the Gospel of Mark uses a later term and describes her as a “Syrophoenician.” Today, we would call her “Syrian,” and she would most likely be Muslim.

Which makes it a little clearer. It wouldn’t surprise us too much to hear, even today, a Jew call a Muslim a “dog.” But this Jew is Jesus! How are we to respond to Jesus when he talks like that?

It’s confusing: It’s not that he won’t do miracles in Syria. Chapter 4 of Matthew says that Jesus’ “fame spread through out all of Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them.” So we expect Jesus to cast out the poor daughter’s demon post haste. That’s why his harsh, almost sarcastic reaction is so surprising. It disturbs us.

Notice, too, that Jesus’ disciples join in demeaning and dismissing this pleading woman—“Get her out of here,” they say to Jesus; “she’s bothering us!” Nice guys.

And here is this Canannite, Syrophoenician, Syrian woman—humble and deperate. Her daughter is under the control of a demon. So, this women, the very picture of persistent and unshakable confidence in Jesus, appeals to him three times:

First, she calls Jesus “Lord” and “Son of David”—showing respect and recognition of the fact that he was in divinely-appointed authority over her;

Then, she lowers her body before him to worship him, calls him “Lord” again and asks for his help;

And a third time, she calls him “Lord,” persisting in faith, despite his dismissive words.

Finally, Jesus is so impressed by her faith that he heals the woman’s daughter. But he never apologies for calling them “dogs,” for, in his words to her, it is the Israelites who are God’s “children.” In his words to and about this woman, Jesus unblushingly confirms that Israel has priority. His is apparently saying that the Messiah was sent to the Jews. Or, as people of that day understood it (and many today would agree), Jews are God’s favorites.

How should we respond to this?

Well, most of the time we ignore it. As Christians living two thousand-plus years since Jesus spoke these words, we like some of Jesus’ other words better because they seem to favor us: When his disciple Thomas questions him, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father (in other words, no one gets to heaven) except through me”; and to Nicodemus, he says, “God so loved he world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” Based on these words, we assume that non-Jews are just as important as Jews, if not more so, because most Jews have rejected Jesus as Messiah while Gentiles have responded “yes” to him in much greater numbers. Jesus seems dismissive of this non-Jewish woman, but we have a reverse prejudice: Salvation is only for those who believe in, have faith in, are baptized in Jesus. Even if we don’t actively think in such terms, isn’t that what we believe? Christians are God’s favorites.

SO, WHO ARE GOD’S FAVORITES?

But wait a minute—many people these days would say—“Can’t we all just get along?”

People are so tired of war, of arguments, of fussing and feuding over religion, that tolerance and acceptance have become more important than God: If we just hold hands and smile, we can create peace on earth. They say, “Just believe whatever—whatever works for you.” “If it’s true for you, it’s true.” “God is happy as long as everyone is sincere and tries to be good.”

Doesn’t that sound nice. Doesn’t that sound non-judgmental and loving. Maybe so, but it’s wrong! We must stop glossing over the difference between truth and error. We must stop being silent simply to be nice.

There is One Way, One Truth, and One Life that pleases God.

Every idea isn’t true—even if it’s held very sincerely by very nice people.

Please hear what I’m saying: Every idea doesn’t represent truth:

Jesus is God. And he did die for our sins. And he did come back to life so that we can live eternally in His presence. Christians don’t worship the same God that Muslims and Jews worship. Scientology and Buddhism and Kabbala are not acceptable substitutes for Christianity in the eyes of God. Wiccan isn’t a game and it isn’t a God-pleasing religion. Just because some believes something with passion and personal conviction doesn’t make it true. And it certainly doesn’t make it God-pleasing.

So, am I called by God to go around pronouncing judgment on everyone who doesn’t agree with me? By being certain of my faith in Christ, am I in possession of a list of who’s going to heaven and who’s headed for hell?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Please hear me: Believing rightly does not give me or you the right or the responsibility to judge, condemn, or dismiss others—collectively or individually. “Who is God’s favorite?” That’s God’s business! God is mercy, and His supreme intention is grace. God elects; God chooses; God includes.

God has never put you or me in the judge’s seat! Instead, the Bible tells us that we are called to sit, not in the judge’s seat, but in the witness’s box.

PLEASE HEAR THAT AGAIN: God has never put you or me in the judge’s seat! Instead, the Bible tells us that we are called to sit, not in the judge’s seat, but in the witness’s box.

Romans 10:9 tells that us to be saved, we must “believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead” and confess with our lips “that Jesus is Lord.”

In other words, each and every Christian is commanded by God to witness to what we know about Jesus—with our actions but also with our words.

Of course, the key here is that you can’t witness to something you don’t actually know.

The very word “witness” comes from a word that means “to know”— to know first-hand, to know because you were there, to know from your own experience. So, if you don’t actually know Jesus first-hand, of your own experience with him, you can’t witness. You have nothing to witness about.

So, since you have heard the Gospel, how do you get “to know” Jesus?

Well, the first step is to believe he is who he says he is: God the Son, who died because of your sin—who died and rose back to life so that you and I could be forgiven and have eternal life.

Then, just like you get to know anyone else, you spend time with Jesus.

Talk to him, listen to him;

Get to know Jesus by studying about him and worshipping him.

And live what Jesus taught, serving others, especially those who don’t know the Truth.

Then and only then will you have something to witness about!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life.”

We have been given that message to share with the world. So, as we witness, let us pray for the day when all people—Jew & Gentile, Sikh & Zen, Muslim & Mormon, Confucianist & Taoist, Animist, Hindu, and all others—come together to celebrate the liberating and transforming grace of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!

AND ALL GOD’S PEOPLE SAID—AMEN!