The Faith of the Canaanite Woman: Discover the Two Qualities That Made Her Faith Great
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. (Matthew 15:28, KJV)
The faith of the Canaanite woman is a powerful example of unwavering belief in adversity. This devotional explores two qualities that made her faith great. One is obvious—her persistence in seeking Jesus despite rejection. The other is subtle—her pagan background, which you might not expect to produce great faith. Together, these traits reveal the depth of her faith and offer valuable lessons for believers today.
The story in Matthew 15:21-28 tells of a mother desperate for healing for her demon-possessed daughter. Ignored by Jesus and discouraged by the disciples, she persisted, humbly pleading for help. Moved by her faith, Jesus granted her request, healing her daughter and declaring, “O woman, great is thy faith.” (Matthew 15:28, KJV). Jesus not only recognized her faith but called it “great,” highlighting its significance.
The first characteristic is her persistence. Despite rejection from both Jesus and the disciples, she refused to give up. Her humility and unwavering trust in Jesus demonstrated a faith that rose above cultural and social barriers. Convinced that Jesus would heal her daughter, she kept asking, seeking, and knocking until the door opened—an example of complete trust in God.
The second, more subtle quality is her pagan background. The only other person Jesus complimented for “great faith” was also a Gentile(pagan), the Roman centurion (Matthew 8:10). Jesus noted that He had not found such great faith in Israel. Instead of finding great faith, He often rebuked His disciples for their “little faith” (Matthew 8:26; 14:31; 16:8). Like the centurion, the Canaanite woman had no background in Jewish law, yet her faith was greater than that of many in Israel.
Why might a non-Jewish background lead to such faith? The answer is simple: without the Law, Gentiles weren’t burdened by a consciousness of their failures before God. Their trust rested solely in Jesus’ goodness and compassion. In contrast, those with the Law often struggled with guilt and self-condemnation, which hindered faith. Today, many of us might feel unworthy of God’s help due to our flaws—through God’s commandments and even man-made traditions, we become aware of our unworthiness. Few things destroy faith like the belief that God won’t respond to us. Yet, the Canaanite woman shows that true faith is not based on worthiness but on trusting Jesus’ power and mercy.
Meditate
Reflect on the two qualities of the Canaanite woman’s faith—persistence and trust in Jesus’ goodness alone. How do they apply to your life?
Apply the Word
How will you respond to this truth today? How would you describe your faith—little, weak, or great? Have you let your awareness of shortcomings block your trust in God? Or do you rely on Jesus’ goodness like a child? Learn from the Canaanite woman to persist and trust Him completely.
Pray
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you trust Jesus with childlike faith and not let your flaws blind you to His goodness.
Recommended Read
- O Woman, Great is Thy Faith
- We Having the Same Spirit of Faith
- Who are Thou, O Great Mountain?
- Move from Believing to Faith
- When Jesus Saw Their Faith
- All Deshen Devotionals
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