|
| |
Matthew 15:10-28
 |
Reading the Text:
|
|
Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
 | The
Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto. |
| "Good
and Evil," Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities
of Spirit. |
|
At Mahlon H. Smith's (Rutgers University)
Into His Own: Perspective on the
World of Jesus:
 |
Beggar
At A Banquet
(Babylonian Talmud, Berakoth 31b) |
| Comparative texts about
Spirit
Possession and Exorcism, and comparative primary texts about
Purity and Social Relations, from
Philo, Josephus, Lucian, Pseudepigrapha, Babylonian Talmud, Midrash,
Philostratus. |
| Comparative texts about
Pharisees
& Sadducees from Josephus, Tosefta, Mishnah & Babylonian
Talmud. |
|
|
"Of
David's Lineage,"
"What Goes In," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of
the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C.
Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation. |
|
Chapter XI,
The
Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians,
Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110).
(Longer Version - 4th cent interpolation) |
|
XX.35-38, 41,
45-46, 49-55, 57; Tatian's
Diatessaron
(c. 150-160). |
|
Chapter
VI, On Prayer,
Tertullian
(c. 199) |
|
I.3,
II.1,
II.6,
Paedagogus,
Clement of Alexandria (c 200) |
|
II.11,
Stromata,
Clement of Alexandria (c 200) |
|
Chapter III,
Chapter VIII,
Chapter XIV,
The Prescription of Heretics,
Tertullian (c.
200) |
|
IV.7,
Against
Marcion,
Tertullian
(c. 210) |
|
VII.XXXIII,
VIII.XXIX,
Against Celsus,
Origen.
(c.246) |
|
XI.12-17,
Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew,
Origen. (c.247) |
|
On the
Unity of the Church,
Cyprian
of Carthage (c. 250) |
|
Epistle XXXIX
-- Epistle
XLVIII --
Cyprian of Carthage
(c. 251) |
|
Epistle LXXII
--
Cyprian of Carthage (c.
256) |
| Homilies on the Gospel of St. Matthew, St. Chrysostom (c.
380):
|
|
Chapter IX, Historia
Calamitatusm: The Story of My Misfortunes,
Pierre
Abélard / Peter Abelard,
c. 1140. |
| From the
Catena
Aurea, Patristic Commentary by St Thomas Aquinas. |
|
"The Faith of the Syrophonecian Woman," Martin Luther, c. 1522. |
|
From the
Geneva Notes.
| "In that Christ sometimes shuts his ears, as it were, to the prayers of his
saints, he does it for his glory, and our profit." |
|
|
From
Matthew
Henry's Commentary.
| "Nothing will last in the soul but the regenerating graces of the Holy
Spirit; and nothing should be admitted into the church but what is from
above." |
|
|
From
Wesley's Notes.
| "Thy faith - Thy reliance on the power and goodness of
God." |
|
|
From the
Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
| "...nothing which enters from without can really defile us; and that only the
evil that is in the heart, that is allowed to stir there, to rise up in thought and
affection, and to flow forth in voluntary action, really defiles a man!" |
|
|
From
The People's
New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
| "We can see how greatness of faith is manifested: (1) She came to Christ
under difficulties. (2) She persevered when her prayer seemed to be denied. (3) She still
pleaded when obstacles were presented. (4) She waited at the feet of the Lord until he had
mercy. Such faith always prevails." |
|
|
"The
Perserverance of Faith; Matthew 15:28," Charles H. Spurgeon, 1892.
| "...faith alone can keep a soul seeking after Christ under
discouragement." |
|
|
|
Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
|
Commentary,
Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28, Marilyn Salmon, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org,
2008. |
|
"Faith to Fire Back,"
Blogging toward Sunday, Trygve David Johnson, Theolog: The Blog of The Christian Century, 2008.
| "Maybe this is why she was so
persistent. She had faith in Jesus as the Lord. She allows Jesus the
freedom to speak and act as the Lord." |
|
|
"The
Canaanite Conquest of Jesus," Grant LeMarquand, Trinity Episcopal
School for Ministry.
| "Theologically, the presence of
the conquest narratives in the scriptures is perhaps the most
difficult of apologetic problems. This article does not solve the
“problem” of the Canaanite genocide. I do hope that this reading of
the story of the Canaanite woman allows us to see that, at least in
this one place, the conquest has been turned on its head."
|
|
|
"Gathering Others,"
Daniel Deffenbaugh, Seeds of Shalom, 2008.
|
"After seeing this
film [Lars and the Real Girl], I could not help but wonder what rich
personal realities have gone unexplored on account of the seemingly
customary exclusion of the 'dangerous others' who petition us for
our care and attention." |
|
|
"Yelping Puppies, The Canaanite Woman," Gospel Analysis, Sermons from
Seattle,
Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle,
Washington. Detailed background and exegesis.
| "It is the Jewish gospel of Matthew
that underscores this woman was a Canaanite which meant that she was
symbolic of abominable and detestable religious practices." |
|
|
"Overlooked and Under-Considered," Rev. Todd Weir, bloomingcactus.
| "This text prepares us to come to the
communion table. How do you come to this table? Do you come as a
confident insider like the disciples and simply assume God's favor? Or do
you come wondering where you stand with God, longing for the divine
presence, yet feeling like an outsider? " |
|
|
"Faith to Fire Back," Blogging toward Sunday, Trygve David Johnson, Theolog: The Blog of The Christian Century, 2008.
| "I struggle with the story of
Jesus encountering the Canaanite woman. I don’t know if it’s the
lack of compassion in Jesus’ voice or the exploitation of power or
the tone of condescension, but if this were the only story I knew of
Jesus I’d be turned off." |
|
|
Comments
(commentary) and
Clippings
(technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican
Diocese of Montreal. |
|
Dylan's Lectionary Blog,
Proper 15. Biblical Scholar
Sarah Dylan Breuer looks at readings for the coming Sunday in the lectionary
of the Episcopal Church.
| "She challenged
him, and by answering, Jesus made her his equal in the eyes of the
crowd. But then, after acknowledging that she is not an Israelite,
Jesus engages her in more argument ..." |
|
|
"First
Thoughts on Year A Gospel Passages in the Lectionary," Penteocost
14, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
| "What extraordinary power
the woman exercises - over Jesus! But then Jesus came to enable us to learn from others
and discern God's call and not to assume we can never learn or that we know it
all." |
|
|
"Dogging Jesus," Peter S. Hawkins, The Christian Century,
2005.
| "What do you do with a pushy
Canaanite woman who won’t shut up?" |
|
|
Matthew in the Margins, by
Brian McGowan, Anglican priest in Western Australia. |
|
"Igniting the Imagination of Jesus," Mary Hinkle, Pilgrim Preaching.
| "I have thought that fear makes it impossible to
imagine things. 'Perfect fear casts out all imagination,' I have thought.
But you were afraid—you must have been afraid of the demon and of your
daughter’s suffering. You could be afraid and see a new thing—healing—at
the same time. You saw it and you showed it to Jesus and the rest of us." |
|
| Exegetical Notes
by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.
| "She didn't move a mountain. She
probably had never been to church in her life. She certainly had never
read the Bible. What's so great about her faith?" |
|
|
Sermon
Preparation Thoughts and Questions by Wesley White, 2005.
| "Even
crumbs of goodness are available to go in the mouths of dogs. Will we not
diligently be about the business of seeing goodness, food, go into the
mouths of all as well as seeing evil, poverty, kept from the mouths of
all?!" |
|
|
"A Woman's
Faith," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible
Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed
textual notes.
| "Our passage for study has held an
important place in the life of the Christian church. The Clementine
homilies (late 2nd century) even went so far as to name the woman
Justa and her daughter as Berenice." |
|
|
Wellspring of
the Gospel, Ordinary 20A, Catherine McElhinney and Kathryn
Turner, Weekly Wellsprings. |
|
"Prejudice and Faith,"
Larry Broding's
Word-Sunday.Com: A
Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel. Adult Study, Children's
Story, Family Activity, Support Materials.
| "Are you at ease in today's
multi-cultural climate? Or, do you find your dealings with people of
other cultures difficult? (Be honest!)" |
|
|
"True Grit," John Ortberg, The Christian Century, 2003.
| "The story of this woman shows what we are all so slow
to grasp: that the most desirable society in the cosmos turns out to be
the humblest. Father, Son and Spirit are determined that the circle of
love they share from all eternity should be ceaselessly, shamelessly
inclusive. None are left out except those who refuse to enter." |
|
|
"The Savior and the Dog: An Exercise in Hearing," Word & World,
1997.
| "Was it simply by chance that the Canaanite woman
responded to Jesus' rejection by speaking of the 'dogs who eat the
crumbs that fall from their master's table'? ... Or was she diving
deep into the poetic rhythms and images of scripture?" |
|
|
"Even
the Dogs,"
Jerry Goebel, One
Family Outreach. "Focus on scripture from a justice perspective." Exegesis, study, and teen study
and activities.
| "Isn’t it strange how quickly the disciples became 'the
oppressor' when among foreigners? Isn’t it frightening how quickly they
became self-righteous? But, isn’t it wondrous how Jesus takes all of these
horrible factors—prejudice and pride—and turns them into heavenly glory?" |
|
|
Reflection on
Matthew 15:21-21, Rev. Wanda Copeland. At
Environmental Reflections, Lectionary
Year A, Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota, Environmental Stewardship Commission.
| "It is not enough to just ask Jesus
to come to us and help fix our brokenness. We are then called to
walk as he did and share our healing with others as he did." |
|
|
"The
Syrophoenician Woman in Mark 7:25-30/Matthew 15:21-28,"
James Still, at
Internet
Infidels.
| "We do know that first-century
Jews (the 'children' in this passage) referred to the pagans as dogs because of their
failure to observe ritual purity laws (Downing, 1992: 137)." |
|
| "Scraps from the
Table," Kenneth W. Collins, at Ken Collins' Web Site.
| "We have a lot to learn from the
Canaanite woman’s style of prayer." |
|
|
| Articles & Background:
|
"Ritual Cleanliness,"
"Feeding the Dogs," wikipedia. |
|
"Can We Free Ourselves for Transformation?" Elaine Wainwright.
| "In this paper, I seek to explore some of the
diverse stories which we tell and how these together with the
symbols and images they carry can either stifle our imagination or
can evoke new possibilities for a future which will enable the full
human/spiritual potential of each person who calls Australia home." |
|
|
"Jesus, Healer of the Canaanite Woman's Daughter in Matthew's Gospel: A
Social-Scientific Inquiry," Stuart L. Love, Biblical Theology
Bulletin, 2002.
| "The purpose of this study is to assess
the historicity of the healing story of the Canaanite woman's daughter
in the Gospel of Matthew (15:21-28) primarily by means of a
cross-cultural anthropological analysis." |
|
|
"Spirit, Mercy, and the Other," Judith Gundry-Volf, Theology Today, 1995.
| "This triumph is portrayed as
coming about through a Gentile woman's bold and persuasive insistence
that God's mercy is not doled out along ethnic, gender, or
socio-cultural lines." |
|
|
"Jesus
and Women in Matthew," Jane Kopas,
University of Scranton. Theology Today, 1990.
| "The Canaanite woman who seeks
a cure for her daughter is not put off by the apparent rebuff Of
Jesus (15:21-28). Since she is not only a foreigner but also a
woman, the nature of their dialogue is remarkable…. It is not only
the gentiles but mothers and daughters and other marginalized people
or outsiders who get a special hearing from Jesus, Not only do they
receive a special hearing, but they seem to hear and see the
possibilities in his mission beyond what others see." |
|
| "Meals, Food and
Tablefellowship." Jerome H. Neyrey, in The Social Sciences and New Testament
Interpretation, 159-82. R. L. Rohrbaugh, ed. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1996.
| "How
can readers understand the particular ceremony of meals and table fellowship? Why are
meals so important as symbols of broader social relationships? How can we peer below the
surface and grasp the social dynamics encoded in meals and commensality, what
anthropologists call "the language of meals"?" |
|
| "Miracles,
In Other Words: Social Science Perspectives on Healings,"
Jerome H. Neyrey,
University of Notre Dame, 1995.
| "...we should attend to the
institution in which the healing takes place, either kinship or politics. What roles does
the family have in an illness? How are they socially and economically affected? What role
do they play in the seeking of a cure? What costs do they pay or debts to they incur? What
if the healing occurs in the political realm, even if this is a healing shrine such as the
temple of Asclepius at Epidaurus? Healings, moreover, might have important political
implications, for "prophets" arose, echoing themes of liberation and freedom.
The political significance of the account of the healing by the Jewish Eleazar before the
emperor Vespasian and his retinue should not be discounted (Josephus. Ant.
8.45-48)." |
|
|
"Magic, Miracles, and The Gospel," L. Michael White. PBS From
Jesus to Christ.
| "Probably in some ways, and more than any other
issue within the development of early Christianity and the gospels
tradition, miracles present one of the problematic areas." |
|
| "Clean/Unclean,
Pure/Polluted and Holy/Profane," Jerome H. Neyrey, in
The Social Sciences and
New Testament Interpretation, 80-104. R. L. Rohrbaugh, ed. Peabody, Mass.:
Hendrickson, 1996.
| "The specific use of the two anthropological models
of (a) "clean" and "unclean" and (2) body symbolism can equip a reader
to understand a wide but interconnected series of issues, such as dietary concerns (Acts
10-11), mission to "unclean" people (Mark 5; Acts 8), sexual morals (1 Thess
4:1-9), and hand washings (Mark 7). A reader
knowing this material has a firm basis for sympathetically understanding the conflicts
between Jesus and Pharisees which run through the gospel stories." |
|
|
"Did Jesus Oppose Purity Laws?" Paula Fredriksen,
Boston University, Bible Review, 1995.
|
| "On the Dignity and
Vocation of Women," Pope John Paul II, September, 1988.
| "And finally, there
is the Canaanite woman, whom Christ extols for her faith, her humility and for that
greatness of spirit of which only a mother's heart is capable. 'O woman, great is your
faith! Be it done for you as you desire.'" |
|
|
| Articles in
ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are
subscribed
and logged in to ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology
Journals.):
| Burkill, T.A., "The Historical Development of the Story of the Syrophoenician Woman,"
Novum Testamentum, 1967.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Dahlen, Robert W., "The Savior and
the Dog: An Exercise in Hearing," Word & World, 1997.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Derrett, J., Duncan, "Law in the New Testament: The Syro-Phoenician Woman and the Centurion of
Capernaum," Novum Testamentum, 1973.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Dube, Musa W.,
"Consuming a Colonial Cultural Bomb: Translating Badimo into 'Demons'
in the Setswana Bible (Matthew 8.28-34; 15.22; 10.8)," Journal for
the Study of the New Testament, 1999.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Dube, Musa W., "Readings of Semoya: Batswana
Women's Interpretations of Matthew 15:21-28," Semeia, 1996.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Gingrich, Rhonda Pittman, "Gathering
Up the Crumbs," Brethren Life and Thought, 2005. (Sermon)
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Guardiola-Sáenz, Leticia A.,
"Borderless Women and Borderless Texts: A Cultural Reading of Matthew
15:21-28," Semeia, 1997.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Gundry-Volf,
Judith, "Spirit, Mercy, and the Other,"
Theology Today, 1995.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Harrington, Daniel J., S.J.,
"Problems and Opportunities in Matthew's Gospel," Currents in
Theology and Mission, 2007. See especially section on this text
beginning on page 421. See entire issue of
Currents in Theology and Mission 34, image focus on Matthew's
gospel.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Harrisville, Roy A., "The Woman of
Canaan, A Chapter in the History of Exegesis," Interpretation,
1966.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Haughey, John C., S.J.,
"There's No 'Them' There," The Living Pulpit, 2004.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Hawkins, Peter S., "Dogging Jesus,"
The Christian Century, 2005.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Ortberg, John, "True Grit," The
Christian Century, 2003.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Meier, John P., "Matthew 15:21-28,
Expository Article," Interpretation, 1986.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Perkinson, Jim, "A Canaanitic Word in the Logos of Christ; or The Difference the
Syro-Phoenician Woman Makes to Jesus," Semeia, 1996.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Scherer, Paul E.,
"A Gauntlet with a Gift in It: From Text to Sermon on Matthew 15:21-28 and
Mark 7:24-30," Interpretation, 1966.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Scott, J. Julius, Jr., "Gentiles and the Ministry of
Jesus: Further Observations on Matthew 10:5-6; 15:21-28," Journal of
the Evangelical Theological Society, 1990.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Scott, J. Martin C., "Matthew 15:21-28: A Test-Case
for Jesus' Manners," Journal for the Study of the New Testament,
1996.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Senior, Donald, C.P., "Between Two Worlds: Gentile and Jewish Christians in Matthew's Gospel,"
The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1999.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Thompson, Mark C., "Matthew 15:21-28, Expository
Article," Interpretation, 1981.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Wiles, Virginia, "Just a Mother," Brethren Life
and Thought, 1989. (Sermon, Mother's Day)
Image Browse -
PDF |
|
| Reviews:
|
Review:
Glenna Jackson, 'Have Mercy on Me': The Story of the Canaanite Woman in
Matthew 15.21-28. (Sheffield Academic Press, 2002) Review by Pd Dr.
Luzia Sutter Rehmann in SBL's Review of Biblical Literature. |
|
Reviews:
Frances Taylor Gench, Back to the Well: Women's Encounters with Jesus in
the Gospels. Westminster John Knox, 2004. Reviews by Orysya Hachko,
Kelly Iverson, and Betsy J Bauman-Maring in SBL's Review of Biblical
Literature. |
|
| Sermons:
|
"Who Gets
to Enter the Temple?" the Rev. William Blake Rider, Day 1, 2006. |
|
"Letter to a Canaanite Woman," Mary Hinkle, Pilgrim Preaching. |
| "Kyrie,
Eleison,"
Jim Sturges, Today's Gospel
Insights. |
|
"Crumbs from the Master's Table,"
13 Pentecost - 14 August 2005, Hubert Beck, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the
RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors. |
|
"Crumbs from
the Table,"
"Overcoming Barriers," Richard J. Fairchild, Sermon & Lectionary
Resources. |
|
"Yelping Puppies - The Canaanite Woman,"
Sermons from Seattle,
Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle,
Washington. |
|
"Sermon for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost," Bishop Steven
Charleston, Day 1, 2005. |
|
"God of
Mongrels," the Rev. Dr. Gail Ricciuti, 30 Good Minutes,
Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2001. |
| Father
Andrew M. Greeley, "Priest, Author, Sociologist," Commentary and Homily:
|
|
| With Children:
|
"A Clean Heart,"
and "Crumbs from the
Table," Charles Kirkpatrick, Sermons4kids.com. |
|
"Woman's
Faith,"
Fr. Max
Bowers, Kid's Church. |
|
"What
Is Clean in the Site of God?"
"A Greek Woman
Asks Jesus' Help for her Daughter," Sunday School
Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc. |
|
| Drama:
|
"Foreign Dogs," from
A Certain Jesus by
Jose Ignacio and Maria Lopez Vigil. Ideal for catechetical and liturgical
dramatization of today's gospel. Claretian Publications. |
|
| Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
|
Clip Art, Matthew 15:28, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators. |
|
"Crumbs from the Master's Table," Scripture Pics - graphics
relating to RCL texts, Matt Baker, Germantown UMC, Ohio. |
| Clip Art Images:
Matthew 15:21-28, Misioneros Del Sagrado Corazón en el Perú. |
|
Matthew 15:21-28,
Matthew 15:21-28,
Matthew 15:21-28, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora,
Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use
these for free.") |
|
Matthew 15:21-28, at
Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration.
Liberation emphasis. |
|
| Hymns and Music:
|
| Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's
Art Index:
|
| Movies scenes with the following themes,
listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
|
| Study Links and Resources for the Book of Matthew |
|
