Two Authors, Two Names:

A Story of one Woman’s faith and her purple

passion

Bible StudyCBC WLA

July 25, 2008

Faith of the Canaanite Woman

Phoenician

Matthew 15: 21-28

Mark 7: 24-30

Learning Objectives

1. Why did Jesus go to tyre?2. Why the two ethnic origins for the

woman?3. Why did the Disciples ask Jesus to

send the woman away?4. What do you think of Jesus’ words in

Matt. 15:24?5. What do you think of Jesus’ words to

the woman?6. How did the woman demonstrate her

faith?

Tyre & Sidon: cities of Phoenicia

Tyre

Sidon

Learning Objectives1. Why did Jesus go to tyre?2. Why the two ethnic origins for the

woman?3. Why Did the Disciples ask Jesus to

send the woman away?4. What do you think of Jesus’ words in

Matt. 15:24?5. What do you think of Jesus’ words to

the woman?6. How did the woman demonstrate her

faith?

Capernaum

Gerasa

Capernaum

Gerasa

Capernaum

Gerasa

Capernaum

Nazareth

Gerasa

Capernaum

Nazareth

Gerasa

Capernaum

Nazareth

Bethsaida

Gerasa

Capernaum

Nazareth

BethsaidaGennesaret

Gerasa

Capernaum

Nazareth

BethsaidaGennesaret

Tyre

Why did Jesus go to Tyre?

• Mark 6:30-34

• Jesus realizes that his disciples needed time to rest.

• From Jesus’ own ministry, we see the importance of physical and spiritual rest when serving in God’s ministries.

Learning Objectives

1. Why did Jesus go to tyre? Why did Jesus go to tyre? To rest2. Why the two ethnic origins for the

woman?3. Why Did the Disciples ask Jesus to

send the woman away?4. What do you think of Jesus’ words in

Matt. 15:24?5. What do you think of Jesus’ words to

the woman?6. How did the woman demonstrate her

faith?

Canaanite & Phoenician

Possible explanations:

1. Two different woman; two different events?

2. One of the author (Mark or Matthew) made a mistake?

3. Canaanite = Phoenician?

Who were the Phoenicians?

Phoenicia

1. Modern-day Lebanon2. Major cities include Tyre and Sidon3. Famous for sea travel and trade4. Civilization lost - a mysterious people

In 1600B.C. the Phoenicians gave

the Greeks the alphabet, which

later became Latin and the modern English

alphabet.

A Phoenician Legend

In 1636, Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens depicted the legendary discovery of murex by the Phoenician god Melcarth who was strolling along the shore when his dog began to play with a murex snail, staining his muzzle.

Murex-dyed Textile

Name of Phoenicia

1. Greeks named these sea-faring merchants “phoinikes” or “phoinix”.

2. “Phoinix” means “purple-red”.

What did the Phoenicians call

themselves?Can’ani

And their land: Canaan

The Hebrew name for Phoenicia: כנען

In Akkadian, kinahhu means “purple colored wool”.

In Hebrew, Canaan could mean “land of Purple”.

Biblical Origins of Canaan

The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.)

Genesis 9:18

Canaan was the father of sidon his firstborn…

Genesis 10:15

The Gospel according to Matthew

1. Main purpose is to prove to his Jewish readers that Jesus is their Messiah

2. Concern with fullfillment of the OTA. Has more quotations and allusions to

the OT than any other NT author

The Gospel according to Matthew

1. Main purpose is to prove to his Jewish readers that Jesus is their Messiah

2. Concern with fullfillment of the OTA. Has more quotations and allusions to Has more quotations and allusions to

the OT than any other NT authorthe OT than any other NT authorB. Validation of Jesus’ descent from

Abraham

The Gospel according to Matthew

1. Main purpose is to prove to his Jewish readers that Jesus is their Messiah

2. Concern with fullfillment of the OTA. Has more quotations and allusions to Has more quotations and allusions to

the OT than any other NT authorthe OT than any other NT authorB. Validation of Jesus’ descent from Validation of Jesus’ descent from

AbrahamAbrahamC. Uses Jewish terminology (“kingdom of

heaven”, “Father in heaven”)

The Gospel according to Matthew

1. Main purpose is to prove to his Jewish readers that Jesus is their Messiah

2. Concern with fullfillment of the OTA. Has more quotations and allusions to Has more quotations and allusions to

the OT than any other NT authorthe OT than any other NT authorB. Validation of Jesus’ descent from Validation of Jesus’ descent from

AbrahamAbrahamC. Uses Jewish terminology (“kingdom of Uses Jewish terminology (“kingdom of

heaven”, “Father in heaven”)heaven”, “Father in heaven”)D. Emphasis on Jesus’ role as “Son of

David”

The gospel according to Mark

• Target audience: the church in Rome and/or Gentile readers.

1. Explains Jewish Customs (7:2-4, 15:42)

2. Translates Aramaic words (3:17, 5:41, 7:11,34; 15:22)

Matthew

Target readers: Jews

Uses the Hebrew word: Canaanite

Mark

Target readers: Rome

Uses the Greek word:

Phoenician

Learning Objectives1. Why did Jesus go to tyre?Why did Jesus go to tyre? To rest2. Why the two ethnic origins for the Why the two ethnic origins for the

woman? woman? Same ethnic origin; two languages3. Why Did the Disciples ask Jesus to

send the woman away?4. What do you think of Jesus’ words in

Matt. 15:24?5. What do you think of Jesus’ words to

the woman?6. How did the woman demonstrate her

faith?

Learning Objectives1. Why did Jesus go to tyre?Why did Jesus go to tyre? To rest2. Why the two ethnic origins for the Why the two ethnic origins for the

woman? woman? Same ethnic origin; two languages3. Why Did the Disciples ask Jesus to Why Did the Disciples ask Jesus to

send the woman away?send the woman away? They were tired? She was a gentile?

4. What do you think of Jesus’ words in Matt. 15:24?

5. What do you think of Jesus’ words to the woman?

6. How did the woman demonstrate her faith?

Matthew 15:24

He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

What did Jesus mean?

Aren’t we glad we’re not like the disciples?

• Jesus was expressing what the disciples had been thinking - up to this moment in their ministry, they had not understood that Jesus came for the whole world - to both Jews and non-Jews.

• Mark 8:14-21

• Ephesians 3:6• Matthew 28:19-20• Mark 16:15-16• Luke 24:46-47• 2 Cor 5:19• 1 John 2:1-2• Romans 1:16• Romans2:9-10• Romans 3:29• Romans 9:24• Romans 11:11-12• Isaiah 42:6

• Isaiah 29:22• Acts 9:15• Acts 10:45• Acts 11:18• Acts 13:46• Acts 14:27• Acts 22:21• Acts 28:28• 1 Timothy 2:7• 2 Timothy 4:17• Romans 15:9• Luke 2:32

Hope and Salvation for the whole world

Learning Objectives1. Why did Jesus go to tyre?Why did Jesus go to tyre? To rest2. Why the two ethnic origins for the Why the two ethnic origins for the

woman? woman? Same ethnic origin; two languages3. Why Did the Disciples ask Jesus to send Why Did the Disciples ask Jesus to send

the woman away?the woman away? They were tired? She was a gentile?

4. What do you think of Jesus’ words in What do you think of Jesus’ words in Matt. 15:24? Matt. 15:24? Jesus was reading the disciples’ minds.

5. What do you think of Jesus’ words to the woman?

6. How did the woman demonstrate her faith?

Jesus the master teacher

1. Jesus tests the Canaanite woman’s faith.

2. Jesus teaches his disciples that faith is not a Jewish birthright.

3. Jesus teaches us that faith is a relational - God knows how much faith you have and He tests you so that your faith may increase.

Learning Objectives1. Why did Jesus go to tyre?Why did Jesus go to tyre? To rest2. Why the two ethnic origins for the Why the two ethnic origins for the

woman? woman? Same ethnic origin; two languages3. Why Did the Disciples ask Jesus to send Why Did the Disciples ask Jesus to send

the woman away?the woman away? They were tired? She was a gentile?

4. What do you think of Jesus’ words in What do you think of Jesus’ words in Matt. 15:24? Matt. 15:24? Jesus was reading the disciples’ minds.

5. What do you think of Jesus’ words to the What do you think of Jesus’ words to the woman?woman? Same words, three lessons

6. How did the woman demonstrate her faith?

Asking God in Faith

How does God see prayer?Matthew 7:7-11 God is generousGod is generousMatthew 17:17-20 must ask with faithmust ask with faith

What is faith? Hebrews 11:1, 6

Faith & Perseverence go hand in handLuke 18:1-8 ask and ask again in faithask and ask again in faithHebrew 12:1-2 perfecting our faithperfecting our faith

Result of praying with faithPhilippians 4:6-7 filled with peacefilled with peace

Learning Objectives1. Why did Jesus go to tyre?Why did Jesus go to tyre? To rest2. Why the two ethnic origins for the woman?Why the two ethnic origins for the woman?

Same ethnic origin; two languages

3. Why Did the Disciples ask Jesus to send Why Did the Disciples ask Jesus to send the woman away?the woman away? They were tired? She was a gentile?

4. What do you think of Jesus’ words in What do you think of Jesus’ words in Matt. 15:24?Matt. 15:24? Jesus was reading the disciples’ minds.

5. What do you think of Jesus’ words to the What do you think of Jesus’ words to the woman?woman? Same words, three lessons

6. How did the woman demonstrate her faith?How did the woman demonstrate her faith? She believed Jesus would say yes, she persevered, she was filled with peace even before seeing her request granted.

Application

Share one experience you have about a prayer request you have where God has told you to persevere.

Pray for each other’s request and faith in God’s generosity and kindness.