Monday 27 October 2025

Psalm 89:1-18

Background
Today we pick up Word in Time's continuous reading of Matthew’s Gospel from chapter 12 (6 October) through to the end of chapter 20 (15 November), after which Jesus enters Jerusalem for the final drama.

These middle chapters of Matthew are rich with parables and miracles, and explore the developing conflict with the Pharisees and Scribes. By the time we reach today’s passage we’ve already had many of the great parables (eg the Sower, the Mustard Seed) and miracles, such as Feeding the 5000 and Jesus walking on the water. Now there’s a crescendo, with the central question “Who is this?” and increasing recognition of divine presence in Jesus. These themes reach their climax at Caesarea Philippi (Friday’s reading) and the Transfiguration, which appropriately falls on All Saints Day on Saturday.

Having given quite an extended discourse setting the purity laws in their place and probably infuriating the Pharisees and Scribes in the process, Jesus moves to a different region and encounters a Canaanite woman asking him to heal her daughter. (This seems to be the same story as we find at Mark 7:24-30 where the women is said to be Syro-Phoenician.) She is persistent despite being ignored at first and then subject to what sounds horribly like racist comments. The conversation between the unnamed lady and Jesus is extraordinary.

It’s hard to know whether to try excusing Jesus, so to speak, or face up to the possibility that, as a man of his time and particular religious culture, he was expressing a common attitude to Gentiles (non-Jews). Those who wish to emphasise the humanity of Jesus may even find comfort in this uncomfortable story as Jesus is revealed as more ordinary than is usually acknowledged. But the quality of his humanity (?and divinity) is such that he doesn’t send her away; he grants her wish and praises her faith, agreeing to her request which, in effect, has recognised him as Messiah. “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David” is her opening gambit. And his laying aside of conventional wisdom in an act of compassion sums up much of what has been said already in the controversies with the Pharisees.

To Ponder:

• How can we reconcile this story with the familiar claim that Jesus Christ was like us in every way yet without sin?
• The Canaanite woman’s faith opened the way to healing. Do we have faith like that which shows itself in great courage and persistence?

Prayer
Lord of healing and grace, inspire me to cut through prejudice and tradition when they obstruct compassion and love. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Alan Bolton
Alan Bolton is a supernumerary presbyter in the High Wycombe Circuit, having sat down in 2018. He preaches regularly round the Circuit. His other occupations are family, music, model railways, walking and reading, with a close interest in politics.