The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 327

content to take the place of dogs under the table; she was satisfied with the crumbs that remained after the children had got their full share. It was as if she said -Iowa i my inferiority ; I am not a descendant of Abraham, nor a daughter of Israel ; do not claim equal privileges or equal dignity with one of that highly favoured race. I onl• ask the position which a kind master allows his dog that is under the table, and th~ friendly treatment which such a master is in the habit of granting to his canine favourite; and that is to be fed from the children's crumbs, as the source (cl1rb) of their nourishment. A crumb is all I crave. One crumb from my Master's table will comfort me and cure my child. VIII. THE REWARD OF HEB PERSEVERANCE AS AN EXAMPLE AND ENCOURAGEMENT. We have seen bow, in the _f~ce of what seemed contemptuous silence, of positive refusal -a refusal made more positiv_e by the strong reason alleged in its support-of apparent reproach and dcprec1at10n, this woman kept to her purpose, convertiug a slight into a soun~ ~gument. By firmness of pur(?Ose, by s~rength of will, by great humility, by aston1shmg earnestness, above all by vigorous faith, she held on, and, like Jacob with the angel, she did not let the Saviour go until she obtained the blessing which she sought. What a pattern of faith and patience combined this woman exhibits I She had made probably a long journey, undergone much fatigue, spared no pains, shrunk from no toil, till she reached Jesus; and,after going so far and doing so much to reach him, she seems doomed to disappointment; and is treated with silence, with sternness and with something like scorn; and yet by a quick instinct she makes that scor~ helpful to her suit. And now at last she has her reward. Not only does she gain thA object about which she was so earnestly solicitous, but she receives the cordial com- mendation of our Lord. " For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy <laughter;" or, as St. Matthew has it, "0 woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee e~en as thou wilt. A.nd her daughter was made whole from that very hour." IX. PRACTICAL LESSONS. I. We learn from this most interesting and encouraging narrative the power effaith and its prevalence. If" all things are possible with God"- and we a.re sure they are-" all things a.re possible to him that believeth." It was faith brought her to Christ; it was faith kept her close to Christ, in spite of so many and so ~reat discouragements; it was faith obtained the blessing from Christ; it was faith called forth the commendation of Christ, for in that faith he recognized the gracious principle he had himself implanted in her soul. Accordingly, it was her faith he so commended. He did not say," Great is thy humility," and yet she displayed the grace of humility in an eminent degree; nor " Great is thy fervency," and yet she was uncom- monly fervent in her petitions ; nor " Great is the love thou bearest thy child," and yet she was a model at once of womanly tenderness and motherly affection; nor "Great is thy patience,'' and yet her patience had few parallels ; nor "Great is thy perseverance," and yet her perse,erance commands our admiration, even a.cross the centuries. No; but " Great is thy faith." It was the mother grace and parent of all the rest. Lord, grant each of us like precious faith I 2. Our duty to our children, and to the young in genera.I, is strikingly taught us here. Taking this woman for a pattern, we should plead with God frequently, fervently, and faithfully on behalf of our children, until Christ be formed in their heart. And oh, if any of them should be a victim of the evil <me, and possessed by some evil passion, some sinful propensity, some destructive lust- in case any should be thus "grievously vexed with a devil "-how anxious, how laborious, how perseveringly prayerful we should be on their behalf I and how we should imitate this woman's importunity, and, like her, make their case our own until we obtain for them the blessing I 3. A further lesson is to go to Christ in every season of distress, nor despair, however long he is pleased to keep us waiting. Here are two lessons put together, for they properly go together. Whatever be our distress-whether personal affliction or domestic trial, whether the undutifulness of children or the godlessness of their lives, whether it be hostility of foes or the coldness of friends, whether it bo worldly loss or sore bereavement-we should go and tell Jesus, acknowledging his all- su.fliciency, spreading the whole case before him, confessing our great unworthiness, and pleading earnestly with him for mercy and help. And here another and a kindred lesson suggests itself, and that is firmness and freedom from despO'll,dency_ in trial. It pleaaed the Saviour to try the woman of Canaan severely and long; but 1t was for her iood, for the glory of his grace in her, and for a pattern to ourseh cs. lie proved her cu. vn.1-37.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK 325