Why was her faith so great?

[JohnD]

God does want the world to be saved / that no one perishes, but understand, he gave us choice and he must honor that choice. I know the hyper-Calvinists hate it and will go off on this topic, but it is true. And that doesn't make one an Armenian anymore than not liking Star Trek makes one a Klingon.

 

Sorry, the quote function is slowly driving me mad 

I loved your response brother, I just couldn't figure out what you meant by the above in bold.  Could you explain please?  I just couldn't get the analogy lol.  Thanks

 

An exaggeration on my part to disprove the argument that Calvinism and Armenianism are the only two options in the debate on whether or not we actually have choice.

God bless.

[*Zion*]

Ah... I have never heard of Armenianism.  I will look it up 

[thereselittleflower]

The Canaan woman in Matthew 15:21.   Was it because of her persistence that proved she knew He could do it?  Was it because she believed He had so much power from the almighty God that a few crumbs were enough to heal her child? Why did Jesus say her faith was great?  There has to be something a little more.  All I see is her desperation to deliver her child from this, but obviously something more to it then.  Was she risking something? Jesus had no qualms healing the Roman centurians servent, but made her beg, they both being gentiles.

I've often wondered why He said her faith was great.

 

Faith is hope in what is not seen as the Bible states. But clearly it is acceptance of the sovereignty of God (choosing whom he will and accepting one is a dog not a child of the king) as the Canaanite woman displayed, AND it is understanding (which the Centurian displayed when he said he himself was a man under authority meaning Jesus was in authority from God). "Not in all Israel have I seen such faith." Jesus said to the Centurian.

When we who have what those people did not have (the Bible and the Holy Spirit) put our hope and trust in God, accept his word and not try to deny it or redefine it, and we understand by learning all we can about God and his plan, then we will have great faith.

I agree.  All the more so because she was not of the people who were supposed to have faith in Jesus, as He came for the Jews first.  Although, not many of them at all proved to have any faith, for as a people they cried out for him to be killed.  Maybe He was testing her faith, somewhat?  He was challenging it at least.  But I am sure He must have loved her, God who is love and came that NONE should perish and all have eternal life.  I often wonder in what tone of voice He said some of the things He did.  Tone says a lot, lol

Well said.

Understanding is what the cursing of the fig tree was all about (Mark 11:13-23 and parallel passages). That and concluding the old covenant. Jesus sought pre-seasonal fruit (i.e. anyone who understood) which is rare but does appear on fig trees and is particularly sweet. He found none. And in the curse / conclusion he said "No man eat fruit from you again forever." 

 

Yes, Jesus was looking for the presagings of faith when he looked for fruit on the fig tree  - not the actual mature fruit.

[Pamelasv]

God does want the world to be saved / that no one perishes, but understand, he gave us choice and he must honor that choice. I know the hyper-Calvinists hate it and will go off on this topic, but it is true. And that doesn't make one an Armenian anymore than not liking Star Trek makes one a Klingon.

 

Sorry, the quote function is slowly driving me mad 

I loved your response brother, I just couldn't figure out what you meant by the above in bold.  Could you explain please?  I just couldn't get the analogy lol.  Thanks

 

An exaggeration on my part to disprove the argument that Calvinism and Armenianism are the only two options in the debate on whether or not we actually have choice.

God bless.

wow, it is quoted above in all these posts (just randomly picked this one) that I said that.  Those were not my words.  How did that happen. ?

[JohnD]

God does want the world to be saved / that no one perishes, but understand, he gave us choice and he must honor that choice. I know the hyper-Calvinists hate it and will go off on this topic, but it is true. And that doesn't make one an Armenian anymore than not liking Star Trek makes one a Klingon.

 

Sorry, the quote function is slowly driving me mad 

I loved your response brother, I just couldn't figure out what you meant by the above in bold.  Could you explain please?  I just couldn't get the analogy lol.  Thanks

 

An exaggeration on my part to disprove the argument that Calvinism and Armenianism are the only two options in the debate on whether or not we actually have choice.

God bless.

wow, it is quoted above in all these posts (just randomly picked this one) that I said that.  Those were not my words.  How did that happen. ?

Jedi mind trick.

[Ezra]

Ah... I have never heard of Armenianism.  I will look it up 

Armenianism means looking for Noah's Ark on Mt Ararat (in Armenia).  Arminianism means opposing Calvinism.

[gdemoss]

The Canaan woman in Matthew 15:21.   Was it because of her persistence that proved she knew He could do it?  Was it because she believed He had so much power from the almighty God that a few crumbs were enough to heal her child? Why did Jesus say her faith was great?  There has to be something a little more.  All I see is her desperation to deliver her child from this, but obviously something more to it then.  Was she risking something? Jesus had no qualms healing the Roman centurians servent, but made her beg, they both being gentiles.

I've often wondered why He said her faith was great.

 

 Good question Pamela .  Her faith was great because she faithfully sought him though it was difficult on her part.  She acknowledged him as the Son of David calling him Lord.  

An interesting note concerning the text is that Jesus did not bring up the analogy of the dog until after she had worshipped him after the manner of a dog by kissing his hand as a dog does its masters.  So not only did she call him master she displayed it in actions.  How great a faith does it take to humble yourself before another and beg this way for help?  You nust be very certain that they both can and will preform the task.

Thank you for asking sister! 

[Pamelasv]

Where does it say she kissed His hand? 

[JohnD]

Where does it say she kissed His hand? 

It says she worshiped him in Matthew 15:25. The word for worship in the Greek according to Strongs:

4352 προσκυνέω [proskuneo /pros·koo·neh·o/] v. From 4314 and a probable derivative of 2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); TDNT 6:758; TDNTA 948; GK 4686; 60 occurrences; AV translates as “worship” 60 times. 1 to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence. 2 among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence. 3 in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication. 3A used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank. 3A1 to the Jewish high priests. 3A2 to God. 3A3 to Christ. 3A4 to heavenly beings. 3A5 to demons

James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995).

[JohnD]

Ah... I have never heard of Armenianism.  I will look it up 

Armenianism means looking for Noah's Ark on Mt Ararat (in Armenia).  Arminianism means opposing Calvinism.

Thanks for the correction.

I meant Arminianism of course.