7.24-37

Observations

• Who: Jesus, Gentile woman, deaf man and his friends, crowd
• Where: Region of Tyre and Sidon, Decapolis
• When: Just after the debate with the Pharisees, and explanation to the disciples
• What: an exorcism and a healing; recognition and praise from the crowds of Decapolis
• Contrasts: hidden/found; Pharisee’s questions/Decapolis praise; ‘clean’ Jewish area/’unclean’ Gentile areas
• Connections: the woman has ears to hear; what is hidden – Jesus – is made known
• Responses to Jesus:
• The woman seeks Jesus, understands his parable, and answers back with a parable
• The demon leaves the daughter
• They brought the deaf and dumb man to Jesus
• The man is healed
• The people of Decapolis praise Jesus

Interpretation

• Jesus intentionally enters Gentile regions. The disciples are not mentioned in these stories; it seems that Jesus is alone. It almost seems that Jesus specifically goes to Tyre and Sidon just to meet this woman.
• In spite of Jesus’ words – let the children be fed – Jesus intentionally enters Gentile areas with the good news of the kingdom. He breaks several social taboos in his encounter with the woman: Gentile; woman; possessed/unclean daughter. The interpretation of this? Jesus’ gospel is intended for all peoples. Israel’s purpose was to be a light to the nations, to initiate the rule and reign of God for all peoples. Israel failed in this mandate, instead becoming a people obsessed with nationalism and ritual purity (note the contrast with the Pharisees’ in the previous story and the praise and acceptance of the woman, and the people of Decapolis). This intentional trip into Gentile regions with the good news sets the stage for Jesus’ judgment and rejection of Jerusalem and Jewish nationalism that we will see in chapters 11-13.
• The woman speaks Jesus’ language of parable: she has ears to hear.
• The last time Jesus was in Decapolis he was asked to leave, and sent the healed Demoniac to proclaim how Jesus had saved him. This time Jesus finds people waiting for him, and asking him for help. It looks like the Demoniac’s testimony bore fruit: people are now looking for Jesus, rather than rejecting him. This is a living example of the parable of the mustard seed: the demoniac’s testimony seemed insignificant; yet it impacted people who were ready to come to Jesus.
• The Gentiles praise Jesus – he has done all things well: what a contrast to the rejection of the Pharisees, and Jesus’ condemnation of their hypocrisy.
• Some commentators thing Jesus prayer, with a sigh, and looking to heaven, may be a prayer to God to ‘open’ the Gentile region of Decapolis to the gospel. This could be further emphasis on Jesus’ inclusiveness, of his priority to give more to those who have…

Application

• Jesus intentionally puts himself where he can be found by those with ears to hear, eyes to see.
• The gospel is not constrained by any perceived ‘favored nation status’: Jesus’ kingdom is inclusive, for all the nations, for all peoples.
• Deaf ears, and dumb tongues, can only be opened by Jesus’ special touch.