Ver. 26.-lmportunity and q1nck-wittedmn. Importunity: "Lord, help me." Quick-wittedneee: "Truth, Lord: yet the rloge eat of the crumbR which fall from their masters' table." The strangeness of our Lord's dealing with this woman bas often been pointed out, But the story needs to be read in the light of the fact that our Lord's supreme work was work in character. In doing anything for the bodies of men our Lord really worked for their souls, and tried to make his healing bear 8. crracions influence on the minds, hearts, and dispositions of those whom be healed. And be seems to have kept the further aim before him of making the manner in which hie miracles were wrought parts of his training of bis disciples for their futnre mission. Those disciples learned so much just by watching how their Master dealt with individuals, such as this woman of Canaan. I. OUR LORD BOUGHT TO BRING OUT IMPORTUNITY. This explains delay and seeming refusal. Remember how much our Lord thought of importunity. He commends it in prayer, by bis parables. 1. It is a valuable sign of character. There is something in a man who can persist; who can set an aim before him, and refuse to be discouraged, It is all the nobler when the aim concerns the well-being of another. 2. It is one of the best expressions of faith. The woman could not have kept on her plea if she bad .not fully believed that the Lord both could and would help her. So Jesus, by bis mode of dealing with her, brought out to view her faith. 3. It is one of the best indications of the value of the thing desired. If we do not care much about a thing, we soon give up our pursuit of it. If it is to us a "pearl of great price," we keep on until we get it. 'l'be woman had all her heart in this healing for her daughter. Then how importunate in seeking salvation we should be I "It is not a vain thing for you ; it is your life." II. OuR LORD WAS GRATIFIED WHEN HE BROUGHT OUT QUICK-WITTEDNESS. The woman's answer is an exceedingly sharp and clever one. She skilfully turned our Lord's reason for refusing into a reason for granting. Her word for "dogs" was cleverly chosen; it meant the "pet dogs of the house." They have a claim on the children's crumbs. And she pleads just for the crumbs for her "little pet dog." It will not take anything from the "children" to send her a crumb of blessing. Jesus seemed really pleased with the woman; there was a most gracious tone in bis final reply. See how his dealing brought her character out; and showed the disciples how to deal with people so as to be the fullest possible blessing to them.-R. T. Ver. 28.-The praise of faith. There were several occasions on which onr Lord specially praised faith; we may note what were the peculiar features of the faith which received these unusual commendations. Olshausen says, "Overcome as it were by the humble faith of the heathen woman, the Saviour himself confesses,' Great is thy faith,' and straightway faith received what it asked. This little narrative lays open the magic that lies in a humbly believing heart more directly and deeply than all explanntions or descriptions could do. In this mode of Christ's giving an answer to prayer we are to trace only another form of his love. Where faith is weak, he anticipates and comes to meet it; where faith is strong, he holds himself far off in order that it may iu itself be carried to perfection." I. OUR LORD'S NOTICING THE SIGNS OF FAITH WITHOUT SPECJI.A.L PR.A.ISE. A speci- men case is the net of the four friends who carried the helpless paralytic on to the roof to ensure bis getting into the presence of Jesus. It is said of them, "Jesus seeing their faith." On another occasion it is said of Peter, looking on the lame man, "perceiving that he bad faith to be healed." The apostles follow the Master in looking for and recognizing faith. And this we fully understand when we regard faith as thti necessary state of spiritual recipiency for Divine help and blessing. II. OuB LORD'S NOTIOING THE SIGNS OF FAITH WITH SPECIAL PRAISE. Two illus- trative cases m'ay be given. And it is remarkable that they both concern aliens, and not Israelites. This probably accounts for our Lord's feeling surprise, and giving it expression, The first is the Roman centurion, who sought Christ's healing for a servant. Everybody then, even those who believed in Christ's power, thought it essential that Christ should tu11ch the sufferer. The centurion had faith to believe that Jesus could act through a sin.pie commanding word. So of him Jesus ~a.id," Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." The other case is 128 THE GOSPEL ACOORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [ou xv, 1--89.
that B.SBociated with our text. The Canaanite woman showed her strong faith by her per- eist~ncy in overcoming obstacles; and of her Jesus se.id, "0 woman, great is thy faith," In conclusion, the reasons for praising such faith may be given. 1, Full trust honours God. 2. Active and persistent faith reveals a state of heart that fits for receiving Divine healing and salvation.-R. T.