Spurgeon Morning and Evening March 27 PM

Biblical Context

The Gospel of Matthew gives us a story of Jesus’ life and teachings. Matthew, also known as Levi, was a tax collector called by Jesus to be one of His twelve disciples. He wrote this Gospel primarily for a Jewish audience, showing how Jesus fulfills prophecies from the Old Testament and is truly the promised Messiah. The book focuses on Jesus’ authority, His kingdom, and the importance of following His teachings, like those found in the Sermon on the Mount.

This particular story in Matthew 15, the account of the Canaanite woman, is set after Jesus has gone into the district of Tyre and Sidon, Gentile regions. It’s a striking moment where a Gentile woman shows remarkable faith, pushing the boundaries of what many might have expected for Jesus’ early ministry, which was primarily focused on “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24).

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word “crumbs” from our verse, Matthew 15:27. In the original Greek, this word is ψιχίων (pronounced *psikhion*). It means a small piece, a fragment, or a morsel. It’s often used specifically for little bits of food that break off or fall from a table during a meal. The woman uses this word to describe the smallest possible portion of blessing, showing her deep humility and her clear belief in Christ’s abundant provision, even for those she feels are furthest from the main table.

Thinking Great Thoughts of Christ

The woman in Matthew 15 gained comfort in her misery by thinking GREAT THOUGHTS OF CHRIST. She had a daughter suffering badly, with a devil cast into her, a situation that would break any parent’s heart. But instead of letting her pain swallow her, she turned her mind to who Jesus really is.

The Master had talked about the children’s bread, implying that His immediate focus was on Israel. But this woman wasn’t scared away. “Now,” argued she, “since Thou art the Master of the table of grace, I know that Thou art a generous housekeeper, and there is sure to be abundance of bread on Thy table.” You see, she wasn’t just asking for a handout; she was appealing to His very character. She believed He’s so good, so giving, that there’s always enough. She went on, “there will be such an abundance for the children that there will be crumbs to throw on the floor for the dogs, and the children will fare none the worse because the dogs are fed.”

She thought Him one who kept so good a table that all that she needed would only be a crumb in comparison. Think about that for a moment. What she wanted was to have the devil cast out of her daughter. This wasn’t a small request; it was a very great thing to her, something that felt impossible. Yet, she had such a high esteem of Christ, that she said, “It is nothing to Him, it is but a crumb for Christ to give.” This shows us something powerful about how she saw Jesus. Her problem was big, but her God was bigger.

The Royal Road to Comfort

This is the royal road to comfort. If you only focus on your sin, it will drive you to despair. Your mistakes, your guilt, your failures—they can feel overwhelming. But great thoughts of Christ will pilot you into the haven of peace. When you change your focus from how bad you are to how good He is, everything shifts.

My sins are many, but oh! it is nothing to Jesus to take them all away. You might feel the weight of your guilt pressing you down, like a giant’s foot would crush a worm. But to Him, that weight is no more than a grain of dust. Why? Because He has already borne its curse in His own body on the tree. He took it all on Himself. Because of what He did, it will be but a small thing for Him to give you full remission, full forgiveness, even though it will be an infinite blessing for you to receive it. What’s a huge deal for you is easy for Him.

She Won the Victory by Believing in Him

The woman opens her soul’s mouth very wide, expecting great things of Jesus, and He fills it with His love. This is a call for you, dear reader, to do the same. Don’t hold back your requests; bring them all to Him, no matter how big they feel to you.

She confessed what Christ laid at her door—His initial, seemingly harsh words about the children’s bread. But she didn’t give up. Instead, she laid fast hold upon Him, and drew arguments even out of His hard words. She took what seemed like a barrier and used it to strengthen her case. She believed great things of Him, and she thus overcame Him. SHE WON THE VICTORY BY BELIEVING IN HIM.

Her case is an instance of prevailing faith; it shows us what happens when you truly believe. And if we would conquer like her, we must imitate her tactics. Don’t let anything stop you from bringing your biggest needs to Christ. Believe He is more than enough. He’s a generous housekeeper with an abundant table. There are always crumbs for you.