The Perseverance of Faith

The Perseverance of Faith

(No. 2253)

INTENDED FOR READING ON LORD'S-DAY, APRIL 24, 1892.

DELIVERED BY C. H. SPURGEON,

AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON, ON THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER
30, 1890.

"Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is your faith:
be it unto you even as you will. And her daughter was made whole from
that very hour." Matthew 15:28.

I have frequently spoken to you concerning the faith of this Canaanite
woman–of the way in which Christ tried it and of the manner in which,
at length, He honored it–and granted all that the suppliant sought.
The story is so full of meaning that one might turn it this way, that
way and the other way, but always see jewels in it. But I am going to
use it with only one aim, namely, to encourage those who have faith
enough to seek Jesus, but have not yet, to their joy and peace, been
quite able to find Him.

This woman had come to her last word. I do not see what more she could
have said. When Christ had likened her to a dog, she had consented to
it and said, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall
from their masters' table." She had come to her last word and now
Christ gives her His best word. It is His way, sometimes, to make us
wait till we are completely exhausted and can say and do no more–then
He comes in with the fullness of His Divine Power and gives to us what
we have importunately sought at His hands. Our extremity is His
opportunity.

I. The first remark which I shall make and enlarge upon is that FAITH
ALONE CAN KEEP A SOUL UNDER DISCOURAGEMENT SEEKING AFTER CHRIST. Other
causes may send us a certain distance along the road, but only faith
will bring us to the goal of assured rest.

That which made this woman seek the Savior was, first of all, parental
love. She loved her daughter. She longed to have the devil cast out of
her, that her daughter might not be so grievously vexed. That started
her going and carried her some way towards the blessing–but she would
have stopped short of the blessing she desired if she had relied only
upon natural love.

Her earnestness, also, to a large extent, urged her forward. When she
desired healing for her daughter, she meant what she said. When she
cried, "Have mercy upon me, O Lord, You Son of David!" it was with a
shrill and piteous voice. She could not bear to be refused. Nobody ever
came to Christ who pleaded more from the heart than did this poor
Canaanite. She was not an idle repeater offorms of prayer. Her prayer
leaped, red-hot, from her soul–"Have mercy on me, O Lord, You Son of
David!" But her earnestness, alone, would not have upheld her under the
ordeal through which she was called to pass. It would have given way if
she had not had the believing conviction that Christ could heal her
daughter and that He would do so!

Her humility, also, helped her greatly. Had she been a proud woman, she
would have stood upon her dignity when she was called a dog–but
humility came to her help and she did not even resent the harsh words
the Lord used–but still pleaded for her poor child. Now, parental love
and earnestness and humility are good things, but they are not enough
to enable a soul to cling to Christ and never let Him go. Something
more is needed.

This Canaanite woman was a very sensible woman, wise and prudent. She
knew how to turn the hard words of Christ into arguments in her own
favor. She would not be put back. If He had not answered her, she would
have pleaded with Him again. When He did answer her and say that it was
not meet to give the children's bread to dogs, she found, even in that
dry bone, some little marrow on which to feed her heart. But wise as
she was, and prudent as she was, she would not have held out to the end
and obtained the blessing she desired for her daughter, if it had not
been for her faith.

We may be quite sure that the one thing especially noteworthy in this
woman's case was her faith, first, because we have Christ's word for
it. He said unto her, "O woman, great is your faith!" He did not say,
"Great is your love to your child." Nor did He say, "Great is your
earnestness." Nor, "Great is your importunity." But He put His finger
on the power that had urged her forward and He said, "O woman, great is
your faith!" And not in this case, alone, did Christ trace the blessing
to faith, but in nearly every instance where a suppliant obtained favor
from Him, faith was the medium of securing the mercy. Faith is mightier
than all other available forces!

Besides this, we know that faith supports the other Graces. If other
Graces can help a soul to plead with Christ, they all owe their power
to faith. If it had not been for the faith which she had to support it,
parental love would not have helped this woman much. If it had not been
for faith, she would not have been earnest and importunate. Faith hangs
on to Christ in the dark. It holds to a silent Christ. It holds to a
refusing Christ. It holds to a rebuking Christ and it will not let Him
go. Faith is the great holdfast that hooks a soul on to the Savior.

Faith is thus powerful because of its effects. Faith enlightens,
enlivens and strengthens. It is written of some of old that, "They
looked unto Him and were lightened." Faith shed a light upon many
things and lets us see that even if Christ has a frown on His face, He
has love in His heart. Faith looks right into the heart of Christ and
helps us to perceive that He cannot mean anything but mercy to a
seeking soul. Faith also enlivens and when the heart begins to faint,
faith brings its smelling bottle and revives it. David said, "I had
fainted, unless I had believed." Believing is the cure for fainting and
you must do one of two things–either believe or faint! Faith is thus a
great help to one who is seeking Christ because it both enlightens and
enlivens the soul. Faith also strengthens. It makes the lame take the
prey. Beloved, it is because faith thus enlightens and enlivens and
strengthens, that it is the Grace most useful to a soul that is seeking
to lay hold upon Christ and yet cannot get a comfortable look at His
blessed face.

Moreover, faith lays hold on Christ. It is like the Greek, Antisthenes,
who went to a philosopher to learn. But he was a dull scholar and the
philosopher bade him go away. The next time the class met, Antisthenes
returned and the philosopher thereupon sent for a man with a club to
drive the stupid scholar away–but he was overcome by his scholar, for
An-tisthenes said, "There is no club that was ever made that is heavy
enough to drive me away from you. Here I mean to stay, and learn
whatever you can teach me." Oh, may we have a faith like that! A faith
that will say to Christ, "I will not go away from You. I can but perish
if I stay with You, but if I go from You, I must perish! Therefore I
will abide with You always and learn all You will teach me!" Faith is
like the Greek, in the days of Xerxes, who seized the boat with his
right hand. When they chopped off his right hand, he seized it with the
left hand. When they cut off his left hand, he laid hold of the boat
with his teeth and did not let go until they severed his head from his
body. Soul, if you can lay hold of Christ with your right hand, or with
your left hand, it will be well with you! Cling to Christ and say to
Him with that holy boldness that is the result of faith, "I will not
let You go except You bless me." Faith, then, holds on to Christ.

Further, I would say that faith does this best without help. How often
we try to assist faith! We want faith to have some works, some prayers,
something or other of our own to help it. It is as if somebody were to
try and help me to walk by giving me a big chair to carry! I could not
walk so well with the burden, as without it! Have you ever heard this
parable concerning Faith? She had to cross a stream and the current was
strong. And there came one to her who said, "Faith, I will help you!
Come with me up the river till we can find a place where we can ford
it." Faith said, "No, I was bid to cross the river here." So another
came, and said, "I will build a bridge for you, that you may go over
the river with ease." And he laid hold of a few stones, but not much
ever came of it. Yet another said, "I will go and find a boat." But
there were no boats about and, therefore, they asked Faith to wait till
they built a boat for her.

What did she do? She took off her vestments and plunged into the water.
"Thank God," she said, "I can swim." And so she swam across and reached
the other side without boat, without bridge and without ford. That is
what I should like to see every sinner here do–begin to swim! Do not
wait for help. Cast yourself into the stream of everlasting Love.
Believe in Christ Jesus and have no more confidence in the flesh, with
its bridges and boats! Commit yourself to the stream of Eternal Grace
and swim across. Faith can enable you to do it! Nothing else can. Take
that lesson home to yourselves, you who are seeking to Savior at this
time.

The only thing that will help you to follow after Christ till you find
Him is faith. All your groans will not help you! All your doubts and
your trembling will be of no avail–your feeling that you are too vile
to be saved–and that faith would be presumption in such a sinner as
you are will not aid you! But believe that Christ can save you and
trust to His

power and love, and He will save you! Come to Him as the woman of
Canaan came, with her importunate cry, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, You
Son of David," and He will have mercy on you even as He had upon her!
Believe, believe, believe! You will never come into light by doubting
and fearing! The way to liberty lies through this one door of faith.
Therefore believe and live.

Thus much upon our first remark, that faith alone can keep a soul under
discouragement seeking after Christ.

II. Secondly, FAITH IS EXCEEDINGLY DELIGHTFUL TO CHRIST. What He said
to this woman began with an

exclamation, as if He were struck with something in her that delighted
Him. He said, "O woman, great is your faith!" Notice that He spoke of
her faith and of that, alone. He knew about her love. He knew about her
earnestness. He knew about her humility. But He said nothing at all
about them–His one word of commendation was for her faith. "O woman,
great is your faith!" That is what my Lord is looking for now! He comes
round and looks at you, who are sitting in these pews, to see whether
you have faith in Him. There are several thoughts suggested by this,
that should encourage you who are seeking Christ.

He can spy out the beginnings of faith. "If you have faith as a grain
of mustard seed," He will see it and He will accept it. If you have
only, now, begun to believe that Jesus is the Christ, and to trust
Him–though your faith is feeble as a babe that cannot stand and can
only cling to its mother's breast–Jesus will see the beginnings of it.
He is the "Author" as well as "the Finisher of our faith." Be you
comforted, then, concerning that tiny trust you have in Him!

Still, He is greatly pleased when He sees great faith. When a great
sinner says, "I believe that He is a Savior great enough to save me, it
brings joy to the heart of Christ! When an old sinner says, "I believe
that His precious blood can take away the sin of 70 or 80 years," the
Lord's heart is gladdened. Christ loves a great faith! He deserves
great faith and when He gets it, He is highly pleased. "O woman," He
said, "great is your faith!"

He is so delighted with faith, that He passes by other things for it.
If that woman's ears had been hung with rings, her neck had been decked
with pearls and her hands had been covered with diamonds, He would not
have cared about her ornaments and her beauty. He sees something that
He prizes more than any of these things and, therefore, He says to her,
"O woman, great is your faith!" He is charmed with that choice
decoration of her heart. By that treasure, "The king is held in his
galleries." Christ may say of faith, "You have ravished My heart with
one of your eyes." When we can but look straight to Christ and trust in
Him, He is charmed and carried away by our faith.

Why does Christ think so much of faith?

One reason is because faith glorifies Him. He thinks much of it because
it thinks so much of Him. Faith believes Him, faith trusts Him, faith
lives upon Him. He is "the chief among ten thousand" and the
"altogether lovely" to faith. Therefore, because faith highly esteems
Christ, Christ highly esteems faith.

Next, He loves faith because it is God's appointed way in which we are
to receive blessing. God might have appointed ordinances as the vehicle
of Grace, but, instead thereof, He has made faith to be the medium of
salvation. If you believe, you shall be saved. He that by faith lays
hold on Christ, has laid hold on eternal life! "He that believes and is
baptized shall be saved." To the awakened sinner our word is still,
"believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." Since God
has put faith into so eminent a place, our Lord Jesus Christ loves to
see it! He takes delight in that which pleases His Father!

Another reason why He loves it is because faith is the signal which
permits the train of mercy to come to us. Whenever unbelief holds up
its arms, the train of almighty Grace stands still. Of a certain place
it is said, "He did not many mighty works there because of their
unbelief." Their doubt blocked the way! But when faith lowers the
signal, the great Driver of Heaven's express says, "That road is
clear," and He delights to see it and drives right ahead. Oh, if you
can but let that signal go down, showing that the line is clear of all
obstructions, Christ will surely come to you! He is glad to come
wherever He can bring a blessing and He rejoices when faith reveals a
clear road to Him.

Besides, faith has open arms for embracing Christ. When He comes to our
door and finds it locked, He stands there till His bitter lament is,
"My head is filled with dew, and My locks with the drops of the night."
But when He comes and the door is open, the poor sinner is so taken up
with His beauty that He never thinks of shutting Him out. "Oh," says
the seeking soul, "if the Lord would but come in!" And as surely as
Christ finds the door open, He comes in and dwells there–and makes
that heart and that house happy with His Divine Presence. Christ loves
faith because faith gives Him a hearty welcome–faith receives
Him–faith embraces Him.

Oh, I would to God you would think of this and exercise faith in the
Lord Jesus! May you see that nothing delights Christ like a sinner
believing in Him! That nothing gives Him more joy than to have a saint
resting completely upon Him without doubt or fear!

Thus have we considered two points–first, that the only way to keep a
soul under discouragement seeking Christ is by faith. And, secondly,
that nothing pleases Christ like believing on His name.

III. The third point is that FAITH WILL, BEFORE LONG, GET A KIND ANSWER
FROM THE LORD JESUS.

This poor woman, at the first, received no reply to her petition, "Have
mercy on me, O Lord, You Son of David!" Then, when Christ did speak to
her, He gave her what seemed to be a rough answer. But, after a while,
these notes of heavenly music sounded in her ear, "O woman, great is
your faith; be it unto you even as you will!"

Now, someone here probably says, "I have been praying ever so long and
I have received no cheering reply." Well, if you believe in Jesus, you
shall have a good reply before long. If you can but hold on to Christ,
determined to plead with Him till He answers you, He will answer you
kindly before long. But keep on believing that He can and will give you
what you need and you shall not be disappointed. "Oh," says one, "you
do not know who I am! I am an outcast." So was the woman. She was a
Canaanite woman, yet she obtained a blessing from Christ! And you shall
get one, too, if you follow her in her faith. "Oh, but I do not think
that I am fit!" Did Christ ever say to you that you were a dog? He did
as good as tell this woman that–yet she held on to Him by faith and
prevailed. "Oh, but I have prayed in vain for such a long time!" So did
she. She prayed and, for a while, she received no answer. "Oh, but I
feel worse after I have prayed!" So did she, for, instead of getting a
comfortable answer, she heard Christ say, "It is not meet to take the
children's bread, and to cast it to dogs." You cannot be in a worse
plight than she was! "But the devil troubles me," you add. The devil
also troubled her. She pleaded about her daughter who was possessed
with a devil! And she kept on pleading and believing. She meant to have
Christ. I exhort you to come to the same holy determination! Oh, that
Almighty Grace might help you to do so, for in so doing you will surely
get an answer of peace! You will get a comfortable answer before very
long, probably much earlier than you have reckoned upon.

Remember that Christ delays in order to increase your faith. Your faith
will grow by exercise–therefore He tests it that you may use it and
that thus it may become stronger.

Christ delays in order to increase the blessing, itself. While we wait,
the blessing becomes bigger and our hands become stronger to hold it
when it does come. You may be sure that our blessed Lord will give you
a comfortable answer, for do you not know that He has been sustaining
you while you have been pleading and as yet have received no answer?
Did you ever notice, when Joseph's brothers went down into Egypt, that
he made himself strange to them and spoke roughly to them and put them
in prison? But in spite of that, there was one thing he did–when they
went back to Jacob, he filled their sacks for them. He would not smile
upon them, but he would not starve them and, at last, it is said,
"Joseph could not refrain himself," and he, "made himself known to his
brothers. He was, at last, obliged to show his love, but even before he
did that, he always filled their sacks for them. Christ will deal with
you in the same manner–while you are waiting, He will not let you die.

Oh, in what wonderful ways did the Lord support me when, through weary
years, I was seeking His face! I could not say that I had any comfort
that I dared to call my own and yet there flowed into my soul, somehow,
a secret power that enabled me still to hope and still to hold on! For
that I now desire to bless His name and I tell it for the encouragement
of any who may be in soul-trouble as I was. Keep on seeking His Grace,
dear Friend! Believe still, for He must give you a comfortable answer
one of these days.

Consider well that it is contrary to His Nature to refuse to bless. He
is filled to the brim with love and if He does put a sinner back for a
while, it is only because it is right and kind and wise to do so. But
His heart yearns over every seeking sinner. He wants you more than you
want Him! He longs after you. He desires to bless you. He must do
so–it is His Nature to do so!

He must give you a comfortable reply before long, again, for it is
contrary to His Glory to refuse. If He allowed a seeking sinner to die,
where would His Truth be? Has He not said, "Him that comes to Me I will
in no wise cast out"? Our friend, Dr. Barnardo, announces that in his
refuges no homeless boy will ever be rejected–that no destitute child
shall ever be turned away. Suppose somebody could prove–which, of
course, they cannot–that scores of destitute children were turned away
? Why, all confidence in him would be destroyed! And if it could be
proven that Christ ever cast out a

single soul that came to Him, it would take away His honor and glory!
We could never believe Him any more. Perish the thought of such a
thing!

It is contrary to His Word to refuse any seeker and Christ will keep
His word. "Come unto Me," He says, "all you that labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest." If Christ will not give you rest when
you come to Him, what is His promise worth? My friend, Dr. Pierson,
sent me, the other day, an imitation of an American banknote which they
call a "greenback" over there, and on one side of it were these words,
"My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory by
Christ Jesus." A splendid note, that! It had our friend's name on the
back, "Arthur T. Pierson," and he said to me, when he sent it, "If the
Lord does not pay you, I will, for I have endorsed the note." I shall
never have to look my Brother Pierson up and tell him that the note he
endorsed is of no value. There it stands, and stands forever– God will
keep His word. I know it and I want you poor sinners to know it, too!
He cannot run back from His own promise. His Word is His bond! To every
honest man it is so, but to the thrice-holy God, His oath and His
promise bind Him eternally!

Let me add that if Christ does not give a comfortable answer to you who
believingly seek Him, it is contrary to His custom. Here are many of us
who have known our Lord, now, for 40 years, and we can say that His
custom is to hear our prayers and, according to our faith, so is it
unto us. Come along, you blackest sinner out of Hell! Come and wash in
the Fountain filled with blood and you shall be cleansed, as surely as
ever Christ died! Come along, you lowest, meanest, most self-abhorred,
most self-condemned of humankind! Come and look to Him, and trust in
Him–and if you do not find peace at once, yet be sure that you shall
have it before long! "The morning comes." It is not for long that
Christ's mercy can be restrained. He must break forth, like Joseph,
weeping over His Brothers and Sisters! He must manifest Himself to you
in love, tenderness and kindness. I will be bound for Him, any day,
that it shall be so.

IV. Lastly, we come to a very glorious thought. FAITH GETTING CHRIST'S
WORD HAS ALL THINGS. Listen to the text, again–"Jesus answered and
said unto her, O woman, great is your faith: be it unto you even as you
will. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."

Christ's word was a comforting word. How the look on this woman's face
must have been altered when Christ talked to her so! When He answered
her never a word, she doubtless had a long and sorrowful face, and
probably the big tears stood in her eyes. But now He began to talk in
another strain, how happy she felt! The woman was sad no more. So it is
even today! One word from Christ can comfort you, even if they talk
about putting you into an asylum because you are so melancholy. One
word from my Master shall be the balm of Gilead to your wounds! He will
bind up your broken heart. He will comfort you and speak peace to you
as He did to her. It was a comforting word.

It was also a commending word, "O woman, great is your faith!" She had
never been praised like that before. I have no doubt that her husband
had praised her. What good husband is there who does not praise his
wife, even as it is written of the virtuous woman, "Her husband, also,
and he praises her"? But his praise had never been so sweet as this
word from the Lord Jesus! I have no doubt that her daughter had called
her all the sweet names she could think of, for she loved her child,
and it was only natural to believe that her child loved her. But now,
when Christ looks her in the face, and says, "O woman, great"–"ah!"
she may have thought, "He is going to say, 'Great is your sin,' or
else, 'Great is your noise.'" What astonishment must have been hers
when He said, "Great is your faith"! He gave her a gold medal for her
faith, yes, something even better than that–she was put into the class
called, "Highly commended." "O woman, great is your faith!" It was a
commending word and she needed it!

Next, it was a commanding word. Notice that, well. Listen to it–"Be it
unto you." He speaks like a king! And if the Lord now speaks His
gracious word with power, as I pray that He may, He will say,
"Minister, comfort that woman who puts her trust in Me." He will say,
"Ordinances, comfort those weary ones. Bread and wine, be sweet to the
taste of those poor troubled ones." He will say, "Prayer Meetings, be a
joy to those poor tried ones." It is a commanding voice with which the
Lord of Hosts speaks when He says, "Comfort you, comfort you, My
people, says your God. Speak you comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto
her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned."

In addition to being a commanding word, it was a creating word. Why, it
was the very word that God, Himself, used when He made the light! He
said, "Be light." He said to the earth, "Be," and it was! He said to
the heavens, "Be," and they were! The word is a fiat. In the Latin it
is precisely that, a fiat. So here, that same mighty Voice says, "Be it
unto you. Be it unto you." O God, send forth a fiat at this moment to
some poor weary heart! Create light! Create joy! Create

peace! He can create all of these in your heart right now. Oh, that He
might do it by the power of His almighty Grace! The faith of this poor
Canaanite thus obtained for its reward a creative fiat from the lips of
Christ!

Further, it was a complying word. You can see all these adjectives
begin with the same letter–it was a comforting word, a commending
word, a commanding word, a creating word and a complying word. "Be it
unto you even as you will–just as you please, whatever you wish
for–and in the way you wish to have it." Christ capitulates to a
conquering faith. Nothing ever conquered Him yet but faith! His love is
stronger than death. Death could not conquer Christ, nor could all the
powers of Hell. But here He surrenders at discretion to a soul that can
vanquish Him by believing! "Be it unto you even as you will." Do you
need more joy? Do you need full salvation? Do you need perfect rest?
Behold, He says to each of you who can and do believe in Him, "Be it
unto you even as you will."

Thus, lastly, this word became a completing word–"her daughter was
made whole from that very hour." From that very hour she was well
again! Christ speedily finished that work. He was not long about it. It
does not take so long to save a soul as it does for a lightening flash
to become visible! You pass from death to life in an instant. When
lost, ruined, condemned, the man who casts himself at Christ's feet is
saved immediately! It is not the work of hours or weeks, or years, when
you trust to the finished work of Christ. All that required time,
Christ has accomplished. All that now has to be done, can be done in a
moment! When a man is thirsty, it does not take him long to drink when
the water is there. Remember the invitation with which the Scriptures
must conclude, "Let him that is thirsty, come. And whoever will, let
Him take the Water of Life freely." The Water of Life is there–take
it! When a man is hungry, it does not take him long to eat when the
bread is on the table. God can now give you, who came to this
Tabernacle afar off from Him, Grace which shall enable you to be made
near at once! He can bring you immediately out of the blackness of sin
and make you on the instant, whiter than snow. Make David's prayer your
own, "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

Believe my Lord and Master. Oh, why do you not believe Him? Cease your
artful doubts and reasonings! I would now take the hammer and nails and
fasten my unbelief and fear to Christ's Cross. Hang there, you thieves,
and die! You destroy men's souls, you doubts and reasonings! Come here,
simple Faith, you who have no wisdom! You are a mere child, but, O,
simple Faith, you have the key of the Kingdom! Come, and welcome, into
my heart! Will all of you not also believe and trust in Christ, even
now? If you do, you shall be saved! "Be it unto you even as you will."
God bless you! Amen.

Portion of Scripture Read before Sermon–Matthew 15:21-39. HYMNS FROM
"OUR OWN HYMN BOOK"–560, 599, 550.

EXPOSITION BY C. H. SPURGEON MATTHEW 15:21-39

[The sermons available for future use are those preached on Lord's-Day
and Thursday evenings. These were usually shorter than the morning
discourses. The publishers will issue, with the Sermon, the Exposition
that preceded it as often as they are able to do so. They believe that
readers will value all of these utterances of the beloved preacher who
is now with the Lord. They have heard of many sermon readers who
regularly turn to the portions of Scripture expounded by Mr. Spurgeon
and even read the hymns sung at the Tabernacle. Such friends will now
have a very full report of the services held there during the late
Pastor's ministry.]

Jesus had been in conflict with the Scribes and Pharisees. He never
liked such discussions and though He was always victorious in every
controversy, it grieved His spirit.

Verse 21. Then Jesus went from there, and departed into the coasts of
Tyre and Sidon. He was glad to get away and made a journey over the
hills to get at as great a distance as possible from these cavilers.

22. And behold, a woman of Canaan came. A Syro-Phoenician woman, one of
the old condemned race living in Tyre and Sidon.

23. But He answered her not a word. Answers to prayers may be delayed,
but delays are not always denials. Christ's silence must have been a
great trial to the poor woman, but our Lord knew with whom He was
dealing.

23. And His disciples came and besought Him, saying, Send her away; for
she cries after us. Ah, these disciples made a grand mistake! She did
not cry after them–she cried after Him! But so they understood it and,
therefore, they said, "Get rid of her; she disturbs us; when we are in
the street, we can hear her cry. Send her away; for she cries after
us." Ah, Poor disciples, she was not so foolish as to cry after
you–she was crying after your Master! If any here have come only to
hear the preacher, they have made a great mistake! But if you have come
for a word from the Master, I pray that you may be gratified.

24. But He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of
the house of Israel. Christ did what He was sent to do. He was the
Messiah, the Sent One. He would not go beyond His mission, so He says,
"I am sent." He was sent as a Preacher and a Teacher, not to the
Gentiles, but to Israel. He had a larger commission in reserve and was
yet to be a Savior to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews–but for the
present He was to be a Shepherd to "the lost sheep of the house of

Israel."

25. Then came she and worshipped Him, saying, Lord help me. A very
short prayer; but how much there was in it!

26. 27. But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's
bread, and to cast it to the dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the
dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. It is the
faculty of faith to see in the dark. This woman spied out light in what
seemed to be a very dark saying. Did Christ call her a dog? Well, dogs
have their privileges when they lie under the table. Even if their
master does not throw them a crumb, yet they may take that which falls
from his hand. If Jesus would but allow any mercy to drop, as it were,
accidentally, this woman would be content.

28, 29. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is your
faith: be it unto you even as you will. And her daughter was made whole
from that very hour. And Jesus departed from there. When He had done
His business, He was off. Our Lord was a great itinerant–He was always
on the move! He had come all the way to the parts of Tyre and Sidon to
help one woman–and when that one woman had been attended to, He
immediately goes back to His old post by the sea of Galilee.

29, 30. And Jesus departed from there, and came near unto the sea of
Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. And great
multitudes came unto Him, having with them those that were lame, blind,
dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and
He healed them. In the Prayer Meeting held by the deacons and elders
this morning, before I came in here, one of our friends observed in
prayer that there might be many lame, blind and maimed in the
congregation. And he prayed that they might be brought to Jesus. Let
us, by faith, bring them to Him and lay them at His feet. Oh, that this
Word of God, "He healed them," might be true again today!

31. Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to
speak, the maimed to be made whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to
see: and they glorified the God of Israel. Oh, for glory to God! There
is no glory to God which equals that which comes from blind eyes which
have been made to see! And from dumb lips which have been made to
speak! The glories of Nature and Providence are eclipsed by the glories
of Grace. May we see such things today!

32. Then Jesus called His disciples unto Him, and said, I have
compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three
days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting,
lest they faint in the way. Ah, dear Friends, they were willing to put
up with inconvenience to hear the Gospel in those days! Three days of
sermon-hearing! People need sermons wonderfully short, now, and the
sermons must be marvelously interesting, too, or else the people grow
dreadfully tired. If dinner time came around, the dinner bell, at any
time, in these days, would drown all the attraction of the pulpit! But
here were people that attended Christ's ministry for three days and
they had nothing to eat. He had compassion upon them and said to His
disciples, "I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the
way."

33, 34. And His disciples said unto Him, Where could we get enough
bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus
said unto them, How many loaves have you? That is the point. It is idle
to enquire about how much you need. "How many loaves have you?"

34, 35. And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. And He commanded
the multitude to sit down on the ground. It was a token of Christ's
Presence and Power that they were willing to sit down on the ground.
Think of thousands of people taking their places in an orderly way to
feed upon seven cakes and a few little fishes! Without any argument,
the crowd arranged itself into banquet order at the command of Jesus.

36, 37. And He took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks,
and broke them, and gave them to His disciples, and the disciples to
the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled; and they took up
of the broken food that was left seven

baskets full. They were large baskets, too–not like the small
food-baskets mentioned when the 5,000 were fed. The word used here is
the same word that is employed to describe the basket in which Saul was
let down by the wall of Damascus.

38. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and
children. Now, if the women and children bore the same proportion to
the men as they generally do in our congregation, there must have been
a very large crowd, indeed! Why is the number of the women and children
not mentioned? Was it because there were so many? Or was it because
their appetites, being smaller than the appetites of men, the men are
put down as the great eaters and the women and children, as it were,
thrown into the count? What a mercy it is that the Lord adds to the
Church daily a vast number of men, women, and children! May the Lord
sends us many more–until we cannot count them!

39. And He sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the
coasts of Magdala. He had taught the people and fed them–so now He
goes elsewhere to carry similar blessings to others.