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Explanation for:
Matthew
15
:
23
Who answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying: Send her away, for she crieth after us:
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"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. His disciples approached Him, urging, “Let her go, for she cries out after us.” At that moment, the disciples, unaware of the deep truths of the Lord, interceded for the Canaanite woman—referred to as the Syrophoenician woman in another Gospel (Mark 7:26)—either out of compassion or in an effort to be freed from her persistent pleas, as she continued to shout, not as if appealing to a compassionate healer, but as if to a steadfast physician."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"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? She recognized her unworthiness and did not presume to demand a right; rather, she sought His compassion, articulating only her suffering, yet her plea went unanswered. Many present may have faltered in their faith at this moment; however, she remained steadfast. And as for those who observed this scene, it is likely that even the disciples were affected by the sorrow of the mother and felt distressed. Yet, despite their concern, they hesitated to beseech Him on her behalf, saying instead, \\"Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.\\" Similarly, we often express our desires in ways that do not convey our true intentions. To this, Christ replies, \\"I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24).\\n\\nFurthermore, to illustrate that God not only desires to bless and bestow His gifts but also seeks to elevate those who receive them, consider how He interacted with the Canaanite woman. Although He seemed slow and hesitant in responding to her plea, His purpose was to make her testimony known throughout the earth. When she approached Him, crying out, \\"Have mercy on me, O Lord, son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon” (Matthew 15:22), the compassionate and loving Lord, who always anticipates our needs, chose not to answer her immediately. The disciples, unaware of the Lord's intentions and how He cares for His creation, did not respond to her because He wished to preserve her dignity. They, wishing to appear more empathetic, urged, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us,” as if indicating her persistence had become burdensome. They said this not out of concern for her struggles or the validity of her request, but because her cries disturbed them. \\n\\nYet, the one who knows our deepest thoughts remains silent, withholding an answer and showing no immediate compassion for the woman’s plight, though she approaches Him with heartfelt cries. He pauses, intending to reveal the hidden treasure within her. He recognized the precious quality in her spirit and did not want it to remain unnoticed. Thus, He delayed and chose not to respond right away, allowing her remarkable faith to serve as a lesson for future generations. The goodness of God is truly beyond expression. \\"But He answered her not,\\" says Scripture. The disciples, thinking they were being more merciful than He, did not feel able to say outright, \\"Fulfill her request, have mercy on her,\\" but instead declared, \\"Send her away, for she cries out after us,\\" as if to avoid her continued pleas.\\n\\nIf our requests go unmet, we persist in prayer; yet when they are fulfilled, our prayers continue unabated. God does not postpone granting our requests for any reason other than to encourage us to pray without ceasing. It is through this delay that God compels us to return to Him and remain steadfast. This mirrors the actions of loving parents: when they see their children becoming distant and distracted by peers, they may provoke a fright to draw their children back into their embrace. In a similar manner, God sometimes warns us, not intending to carry out His threats, but to bring us closer to Him. Thus, when we turn to Him, His intensity dissipates, revealing His unfailing love."},{"author-name":"Ambrose of Milan","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88871ceef8c96e0998cd0_Ambrose%20of%20Milan.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"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?"},{"author-name":"Epiphanius of Pavia","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":6,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"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. The term 'pray' primarily indicates to ask, but it can also imply to beseech, as seen in the example where one says, \\"I pray you, have me excused\\" (Luke 14:18); there are instances where it indicates a command, as when He instructed, \\"Launch out into the deep\\" (Luke 5:4). As a teacher, Christ issued commands, underscoring the authority with which He spoke."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Nicephoros (Theotokis)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8958407451968d9c204fb_Nicephoros%20(Theotokis).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":18,"exegesis-text":"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. If You will not show compassion to this one seeking Your mercy, let her go, that she may not follow us in vain.\\" They expressed these sentiments, believing that such words would persuade the One who deeply loves humanity to show mercy to His creation. Had the God-Man responded to the Canaanite woman and heard her pleas, it would have been understandable that His followers and those present would have been challenged, given her outsider status and faith unknown to them. Christ chose not to respond to her at all, intending for His silence to draw forth both her faith and her virtue. Thus, His silence served as the catalyst for showcasing the woman's faith and reverence, enabling her to overcome temptation. This is further evidenced by the subsequent words:"},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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? The disciples themselves were touched by her distress and troubled, though they did not dare to advocate for her. And when His disciples appeared, they only felt bold enough to make one request—they urged Him to release her... why? Because she cries out after us, she disturbs our peace; either grant her request or deny it altogether so that she does not continue to cry out. This appears to be a self-serving wish to relieve themselves of this bothersome supplicant as swiftly as possible, reminiscent of how the unjust judge granted the widow's request so that she would no longer trouble him."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"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.”"}]}
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