In Matthew 15:22, a Canaanite woman addressed Jesus as the “Son of David,” recognizing His authority and kingship. This acknowledgment was profound, as she was a Gentile, yet she discerned His divine power and position—something the religious leaders of the time stubbornly refused to do. Ironically, while these leaders rejected His kingship, Pilate, the Roman governor, publicly proclaimed it by inscribing “King of the Jews” on the cross where Jesus was crucified. The humility of the Canaanite woman and even Pilate’s unwitting recognition sharply contrasted with the hardened hearts of the religious elite, who rejected both Jesus and His teachings.
In Matthew 15:27, the woman humbly said, “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Earlier, in verse 26, Jesus had referred to bread, which in the Bible often symbolizes truth or God’s word. This Gentile woman valued even the smallest portion of truth more than God’s chosen people valued the abundant truth they already possessed. This invites us to reflect: How much do we value even a small fragment of truth? Do we overlook those who seem unfit for heaven in our eyes, while they praise God for the smallest blessings and treasure the “crumbs” of truth they receive?
The Canaanite woman demonstrated remarkable faith in Jesus, even though she knew little about Him. This is in stark contrast to Jesus’ disciples, who lived and walked with Him but often struggled with doubt—like Thomas, who doubted even after Jesus’ resurrection. In response to the woman’s humble faith, Jesus said, “O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt” (Matthew 15:28). Her faith, though small in knowledge, was immense in trust.
Later, in Matthew 17:20, Jesus explained to His disciples that faith as small as a mustard seed could move mountains, but He first rebuked them for their unbelief. Faith was a recurring theme in His teachings. In Matthew 14, Jesus said to Peter, “O thou of little faith.” In Matthew 16, He repeated the same reproof to His disciples: “O ye of little faith.” Yet this Canaanite woman, though young in her faith, was commended by Jesus for her great trust.
It is also worth noting that in Matthew 15:26, Jesus referred to His people, the Jews, as His “children.” They had every advantage—they were surrounded by truth and meant to be led by God’s Spirit. Yet their faith often fell short of this Gentile woman’s. According to Strong’s Concordance, the Greek word Jesus used for “dog” actually means “puppy.” This subtle distinction shows that Jesus spoke to the woman with tenderness, which gave her the confidence to respond boldly. She may have been a “puppy” in her faith, but her belief was great.
The Canaanite woman’s story is a powerful reminder that those who seem far from God may possess greater faith than those who are closest to Him in knowledge or opportunity. In verse 30, we read that Jesus healed multitudes of people who were lame, blind, dumb, or maimed. Yet even John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, struggled with doubt while in prison. In Luke 7:22, Jesus pointed to His miracles to reassure John of His identity as the Messiah.
The faith of the Canaanite woman served as an example to Jesus’ followers She believed in who He was, and it didn’t take much to prove it to her. This teaches us that even with limited knowledge of truth, faith can be powerful. You can possess crumbs of truth, but if you believe in it with all your heart, great is your faith.