Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWilliam Burkitt Notes and Observations - Mark 7:24 - 7:24
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
All along in the history of our Saviour's life, we are to take notice how he went about from place to place doing good. Being now come into the borders fo Tyre and Sidon he finds a poor woman of the race of the Canaanites, who becomes first an humble supplicant, and then a bold beggar, on the behalf of her possessed daughter.
Where observe, 1. That though all Israel could not example the faith of this Canaanite, yet was her daughter tormented with the devil.
Learn hence, That neither truth of faith, nor strength of faith, can secure against Satan's inward temptations, or outward vexations: and consequently, the worst of bodily afflictions are not sufficient proof of divine displeasure.
Observe, 2. The daughter did not come to Christ for herself, but the mother for her. Perhaps the child was not so sensible of its own misery, but the mother feels both the child's sorrow and her own. True goodness teaches us to appropriate the afflictions of others to ourselves, causing us to bear their griefs, and to sympathize with them in their sorrows.
Observe, 3. The seeming severity of Christ to this poor woman; he calls her not a woman, but a dog; and, as it were, spurns her from the table. Did ever so severe a word drop from those mild lips? What shall we say? Is the Lamb of God turned a lion, that a woman in distress, imploring pity, should be thus rated out of Christ's presence?
But hence we learn, How Christ puts the strongest faith of his own children on the severest trial. This trial had never been so sharp, if here faith had not been so strong: usually, where God gives much grace he tries grace much.
Observe, 4. The humble carriage of this holy woman; her humility grants all, her patience overcomes all, she meekly desires to possess the dog's place; not to croud to the table, but to creep under it, and to partake of the crumbs of mercy that fall from thence. Nothing is so pleasing to Christ as to see his people follow him with faith and importunity when he seems to withdraw himself from them.