Canaanite Woman ~ Facing Barriers or Bridges?

Laura slipped into the crowded church foyer and found an empty seat. Finally! Hoping to overcome the barriers to find God. “Can you tell me how to be a Christian?” she whispered to the woman next to her. Like the Canaanite woman, Laura was searching for God.

After hearing about Noah in her undergrad English class, Laura wanted to know more about God. When she returned to her mainland Chinese hometown, she rushed to a church to buy a Bible. But they refused, saying she wouldn’t understand it. Then the next church said the same. Eventually, her uncle agreed to buy one in Hong Kong. However, when she read it, the words made no sense. The barriers to finding God seemed insurmountable.

As Laura and I talked, she described her search for God and the barriers she’d faced. “I read the Bible but don’t understand it. I feel as if I’m standing outside the door and think I could understand more if I came inside.” 

Laura isn’t the only person who’s had to overcome barriers to find God. The Canaanite woman in Matthew 15 faced the same challenge.

Boundaries and Barriers Facing the Canaanite Woman

In first-century Judaism, purity codes defined the boundaries of who and what was clean or unclean. The Pharisees believed God’s blessings were only for those who were clean, those who kept the law and the traditions of the elders (i.e., those who were like them). When Jesus and his disciples ignored the handwashing tradition, the Pharisees accused them of being unclean. Their concern? Ritual purity, not cleanliness. But, Jesus said, defilement comes from the heart, not the hands. His next interaction with the Canaanite woman was, for his disciples, an extension of the clean/unclean discussion.

When Jesus and his followers withdrew to a Gentile/unclean area, a woman begged Jesus to cleanse her daughter. To the disciples, the woman was unclean and unwelcome. The barriers of race, religion, and gender were impregnable.

“Lord, Son of David,” she called, indicating she, an unclean woman, recognized Jesus as Messiah even though the Pharisees didn’t. The disciples urged Jesus to send her away. Instead, after a confusing conversation (at least to us), he healed her daughter. Did Jesus think his mission was only to Jews? Did the woman enlarge his understanding? Was he rude to her or testing her? Or did they engage in a typical first-century honor competition through challenge and response?

Building Bridges through Challenge and Response

Jesus was neither confused nor rude. By redefining clean/unclean, he removed barriers in his disciples’ definition of who could be clean. Familiarity with the steps of challenge and response can increase our understanding.

• Honor claim: The Canaanite woman knew Jesus’ identity and his unspoken claim to honor.

• Honor challenge: She issued a positive challenge, seeking to force Jesus to live up to his reputation and give her what she wanted.

• Response: Jesus first resisted her request with silence since acknowledging her would require him to respond. Those listening understood accepting her challenge would be shameful. In his silence, he defended his honor.

But when the woman knelt pleading, Jesus changed his approach. His response could’ve been a question. “Is it right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs?” Bread was necessary for life, and the disciples believed bread, like honor and blessing, were limited goods. Sharing with her meant less for them. What barriers, whose barriers did Jesus address? Was he trying to stretch the disciples by exposing their thoughts?

Offering no hint she was offended, the woman retorted, “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Her reply evidenced her faith (even crumbs were enough) and became a bridge to the blessings of God’s kingdom. 

• Public verdict: In conclusion, Jesus said, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” Jesus turned the disciples’ classification of clean/unclean upside down, removing the barriers of race, religion, and gender. God’s blessings are available to all who believe in Jesus. 

What Are We Building?

What barriers block people from God today? After church ushers in Calcutta refused entrance to Mahatma Gandhi because of his skin color, he said, “I’d be a Christian if it were not for the Christians.” If we want the world to know our Redeemer, we must act like redeemed people or risk becoming barriers. Our lives can be bridges that connect a hurting world to a loving Savior or barriers that keep them away. Are you a bridge or a barrier to Jesus?