Evening journal., 1910-06-11
Fl SsFzeoD-
<BIBKE% STUDIES
eA eRuMR IRON LIE cAlLpRgMs IAsLEH
Matthew 15:21-2

Great is thy faith; be it unto thee eV
en- as thou witty %.
God loves the faithful and delights to
have them trust in him. His chiefest bless
ings are for such. BY reason Of various
conditions connected with our birth. it is
not alike easy to all to accept the Divine
promises and to shape life according to
these. trusting that the rewards and
blessings of the future will more than of
set the sacrifices of the present. However
while only the faithful will attain the ex-
ceeding great and precious things Of Gods
promises in this present age. we are glad
that tho Creator has still in reservation an
inferior blessing for those who cannot ex-
ercisa faith now. but who must be dealt
with during the Mnlennial Age more along
the lines of sight. Our present study we'll
illustrates the Lord s grace towards those
who trust him.
The Canaanitish woman was heathen
woman one not an Israelite--one with
whom the Lord had no. entered into COW
enant relationship-one Of those who at
that time were without God and without
hope. because tho Divine provision for the
blessing Of the Gentiles was not yet open
ed up to them. When our Lord sent forth
his Apostles TO preach the Gospel. healing
all manner Of diseases and casting out de
wills. he instructed them to pass by an who
we're not Jews-Gentiles and Samarltans.
His words were. Go not into the way Of
the Clentnes and into any city Of the Sa-
maritans enter We not. for I am not sent
save 70 the lost sheep Of the house OF
Israel" with few exceptions our Lord IS
miracles were confined to tho Jews. They
alone were Gods convenanted people. For
this reason Jesus ignored the petition Of
the Cannanitish woman, crying Have
mercy on me. o Lord. Son of David My
daughter is grievously veNed with a
devil" And later on he explained. al am
not sent but 10 the lost sheep of the sousC
OF Israel" and 1T is not meet 10 take ths
childrens bread and cast IT to the dogs
The term dogs" was applied to IN,
Gentles by tho Jews as signifying theii
inferiority our Lord merely made use oi
an expression common i'm his day. and still
comon in Palestine. But note the woman'
faith. She replied. 'Yes. Lord. yet the
dogs eat Of the crumbs which fan from
the Master's table" What perseverance
what faith. was thus manifested How
! evidently she believed the Lord to he th'
promised Messiah the Heir Of the thron'
Of David. As esus intimated. she ha,
more faith than a majority Of the Jews
Her request was granted-"O woman
great is thy faith! BE It unto thee ever
as thou wilt" Her daughter was hesle'
from that hour.
There are several lesson for us in thi
study. However degraded We may he b.
nature by heredty, by environment: how
ever outcast from Gods favor we ma
stnl know Of the Divine compassion. Th
message is. God is Love" If he chos
first of all TO manifest his favor toward
Abraham's children. it did not signify tina
he had no love or care for the remainde
of mankind; merely that the Divine pun
pose must fow out TO mankind throug
DiNnely- appointed channels and I'm God
| due time. We may be sure that when "
! get to the standpoint Of perfect knoWledl
in the hereafter we shall see wisdom
every feature of the Divine program. FC
instance. from the human standpoint