Matthew 15:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What significance does this remarkable action of Jesus hold? He includes the Jews and the ungrateful, calls out those who slander Him, and does not dismiss those who test Him. However, He chooses not to respond to the one who approaches Him, seeks Him, and prays to Him, even though this individual was unfamiliar with the law or the prophets yet exhibited profound devotion. Who would not be tempted to question Jesus when witnessing such behavior that seems at odds with the rumors about Him? It was commonly known that He traveled through villages healing the sick, yet here He turns away someone in need. Who could remain indifferent to the deep anguish displayed by the mother pleading for her tormented daughter?

However, the Lord did not respond to her, not out of disdain but because His primary mission was among the Jews. He aimed to leave no opportunity for their accusations, so they could not later claim that He had shown preference to the Gentiles; simultaneously, His silence served to demonstrate the woman's steadfast faith. The disciples, burdened by her pleas, urged the Lord to dismiss her, essentially trying to convince Him to grant her request. They acted not from a lack of empathy, but rather with the intention of encouraging the Lord to show compassion towards her.

This was not motivated by the pride typically seen in the Pharisees or the arrogance of the scribes, but rather to avoid contradicting His own counsel: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter the city of Samaria” (Matthew 10:5). He sought to prevent giving those who spoke ill of Him any justification for their words and chose to delay the ultimate salvation of the Gentiles until after His suffering and resurrection.

The Canaanite woman from her homeland approached and cried aloud, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, son of David, my daughter is severely afflicted’ (Matt. 11:12). Indeed, she seized the kingdom with determination, unyielding in her supplications, astute in her responses, and demonstrating profound faith in her pleas. She calls out to the one who walks by, seeks the attention of the silent, appeals to the one who avoids her, and humbly bends toward the one who rejects her. Does it not strike you as akin to theft when she succeeds in obtaining what is withheld from her, reclaiming for herself what was meant for others?

She raises her voice to express the anguish concealed within her soul, yet Christ remains silent, allowing her faith, humility, and wisdom to be fully unveiled, which He typically accomplishes in various manners. Conversely, He aims to illustrate His attitude toward the Jews, for upon their simple request, He promptly heals their afflicted, and at times, they do not even need to ask. However, He does not extend the same grace towards the Gentiles. His disciples approached Him and implored Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us.” They interceded, meaning they sought His help. Referring to the woman, it is noted that she entreated Him to deliver her daughter from the demon.

This woman sought the Lord on behalf of her daughter, representing the Church of the Gentiles. However, He did not respond to her at all. The reason was not a lack of desire to heal, but rather a desire to reveal her profound faith and humility. Moved by compassion, His disciples began to intercede for her, urging the Lord to grant her request, saying, "Let her go, for she is crying out after us." Yet, He replied, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel," Matthew 15:24. He spoke this to the multitude of Jews to prevent them from claiming on the day of judgment that He had come to the Gentiles and neglected them.

He brought the widow's son back to life at the gates of Nain (Lk. 7:11), halted the flow of blood from a woman (Mk. 5:29), granted sight to a man who had been blind since birth (Jn. 9:6-7), and at the Pool of Bethesda healed the limbs of a paralyzed individual (Jn. 5:6). Moreover, He cured a multitude suffering from various ailments, all without any requests being made. Why did He remain silent before the grief-stricken mother of the Canaanite woman, who implored with deep faith and reverence, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me"? His disciples, too, were taken aback by His lack of response; they approached Him, urging, "Send her away, for she is shouting after us.

It is indeed the case that she has yet to be denied, yet she receives no word of solace from Him, as though He has turned His face from her: BUT HE HAS NOT ANSWERED HIM A WORD. What does this unusual and remarkable action of Jesus signify? asks St. Chrysostom. He reaches out to the Jews and those who revile Him, and He does not forsake those who challenge Him; yet the one who approaches Him in supplication, who petitions and prays—someone unfamiliar with the Law or the prophets, yet demonstrating profound faith—He does not see fit to respond to her at all.... Who among us would not feel challenged regarding Jesus, witnessing such a seemingly contradictory action in light of the reports about Him? Who could remain unmoved by the sorrow of a mother imploring for her daughter?

When the woman beheld Jesus from a distance, she called out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David, for my daughter is severely tormented.’ Yet He did not respond to her at all. This silence was not indicative of a lack of compassion for the afflictions of the woman and her daughter but served as a way to test her faith. Although initially hesitant to approach Jesus directly, she continued to cry out and implore Him, fervently hoping for His attention. Her persistent and loud prayers for her daughter’s healing prompted the apostles to approach Jesus and request that He send her away.

The Savior did not respond to her entreaty immediately, but recognizing the depth and vigor of the faith possessed by this Canaanite woman, He intended to manifest it more clearly to His disciples through a test. Initially, He offered no reply to her appeal. Nevertheless, the Canaanite woman persisted. Frustrated by her insistence, the disciples eventually urged Him to dismiss her. “I am sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” the Master replied, and then, addressing the sorrowful woman, coldly remarked, “it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.”

He did not respond a word: the Lord's silence serves to test the woman's faith, revealing its depth (cf. Theophilus), and demonstrating to His disciples and followers the profound outcomes of fervent and unwavering prayer. The Lord's subsequent replies in Matthew 15:24 and 26 aim toward the same purpose, as evidenced by His final remarks to the woman in Matthew 15:28. - ‘Allow her to go’: say something to her that might either comfort her, fulfill her request, or deny it. - ‘Crying out after us’: imploring insistently and powerfully.