LESSON 1, INTRODUCTION:

This may be as far from home as Jesus ever traveled.

Tyre and Sidon were definitely Gentile areas.

And the context of our passage suggests that Jesus may have only gone there for a time of retreat.

Yet, there was a lady!

A lady with a sick daughter, demon-possessed really.

And this lady had enormous faith!

She wanted help.

Not for herself, but her daughter.

And she would not be denied!

For one of the greatest stories of persistence and belief in all the Bible, read with me this great paragraph.

"And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: the woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed." Mark 7:24-30

We will meet this lady tomorrow, the Lord willing.

Don't miss it.

                                                                           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Be aware!

If you study this woman carefully, she will become one of your favorite people in all the Bible!

I almost guarantee you!

LESSON 2, VERSE 24:

The first verse of our Text states: "And from thence He arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid." Mark 7:24

The opening words, "and from thence," refer to the first section of Mark 7, which is filled with situations of tense arguing with the Pharisees and scribes. They have tried to "trick" our Lord with silly questions about washing one's hands, cups and pots and vessels, and even money issues, all based on man-made traditions rather than the Word of God.

Jesus is going to "Tyre and Sidon," apparently to get a few days of relief from such constant harassment.

The verb "went" is "aperchomai," meaning "to come apart, to come away." Jesus here is leaving one place, as much as going another place!

"Tyre" is "turos," meaning a "rock."

And "Sidon" is "zidon," meaning "hunting."

The two cities are about 20 miles apart, near the Mediterranean Sea. On Bible maps you will find them in the land of Phoenicia.

Jesus is now far away from Jerusalem and Judea. He's even departed from Galilee. These two cities, Tyre and Sidon, are totally heathen, completely Gentile!

If His Own people do not want Him, Jesus can certainly turn to "whosoever will!"

Next we are told that, "Jesus entered into an house."

Whose house?

We are not given his name, or hers.

But, whose donkey did he ride into Jerusalem?

Whose upper room did He use for the Last Supper?

The Lord of all seems to have a way of providing whatever is needed!

The "house," in Greek "oikia," means a mere dwelling place, someone's home. Is Jesus in your house? Do you acknowledge His Presence? Is he given full control?

Then comes the clause that leads me to say Jesus is in town to rest. "And Jesus entered into an house, and would have no man know it."

"No man" translates "oudeis," not a one, "nobody!" None!

Our Lord needs some time, maybe some time alone!

For days He has met nothing but hatred.

Bickering.

Rejection.

Danger.

Trickery.

Plots to kill Him!

To have no man "know" He was there, Mark uses the verb "ginosko," similar to the whole "learning" idea. Jesus will keep His whereabouts confidential. The verb "would have" is "thelo," meaning "to desire, to wish, to want, to will" something so.

Jesus as a "loner," quiet an unusual picture of our Lord.

But, Mark quickly adds, "He could not be hid."

The verb "be hid" is "lanthano," meaning "to be ignorant of" something. "Unaware!"

Jesus' location was hard to conceal!

He is just too great to be ignored!

Even out-of-town, really out-of-state, just as well say out-of-country, Jesus could not be hidden!

News had spread!

His miracles were now well-known!

People everywhere have needs!

And Jesus is the Answer!

Of course some Christians do a fairly good job of "hiding" the Lord, don't they?

Some Churches as well!

That is, if they had the Lord to begin with!

How about you and me?

Has the "news" spread?

That Jesus lives in our hearts?

There's another way of looking at this, too. Jesus was merely seeking a place to rest, to find some peace and quiet.

Can He find that in my heart?

No worry and fretting?

But plenty of trust and love?

Is the Lord able to be "at home" in our lives?

"And from thence He arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid." Mark 7:24

Looking a little ahead, there is one woman who somehow learned of Jesus' Presence!

And, for her daughters' sake, she would not leave our Lord alone!

Doing whatever is necessary for a little child, this lady earned Jesus' pleasure and blessing!

The Lord willing, more about her tomorrow.

A very special lady indeed.

                                                                             --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3, VERSE 25:

Today we meet the lady.

A Gentile woman whose daughter was possessed by a devil, a demon.

She has come to Jesus, for help.

"For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet." Mark 7:25

The noun "woman" is spelled "gune," a derivative of "ginomai," a verb meaning "to become, to be made." This is an obvious reference to a woman's capacity to "give birth."

"Young daughter" is in Greek "thugatrion," a noun meaning "a female descendent." But, strangely, this noun is "neuter" gender in Greek. The ancient world was not very kind to the ladies, sad to say. Not very thoughtful.

The only other time "thugatrion" is found in the Bible it is translated "little daughter." See Mark 5:23.

An "unclean spirit," two words, "akathartos pneuma," refers to an old "devil." Or, if you prefer, a "demon."

She "had" this thing, the verb "echo." It means "to hold on to." Or "to keep in possession."

While really the demon was "holding" the little girl, the active voice used here tells us that she, perhaps ignorantly, was somehow "holding on to" the demon as well.

Either way, Jesus is about to break the chains!

This lady, the Mom, had "heard" of Jesus!

"For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet." Mark 7:25

I wonder how she heard.

Jesus lived far away, by the standards then prevailing.

In another country, really.

Had she been to Galilee, or Judea, or even Jerusalem?

Had some miracle or sermon been reported to her ears?

She "heard," the verb "akouo," technically meaning she "exercised her auditory ability." She "listened" to some facts about Jesus, something He had done or said or claimed.

And she clearly "believed" what she heard.

She acted upon her faith.

"She came and fell at his feet."

"Erchomai" is "came," meaning "to travel from one place to another." The distance is not indicated.

She "came," and Jesus is the One Who says: "And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37. which includes ladies too!

Good news!

Jesus, first appearances aside, did not reject her, either!

He will grant her request!

"For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet." Mark 7:25 

Next she is at Jesus' feet!

Voluntarily!

"Prospipto" means "to fall down," but "towards" a person. Facing Him, almost in a position of worship!

"At Jesus' feet!"

When Mary does this, sister of Martha and Lazarus, we commend her!

But this Gentile lady is often ignored!

A "nobody."

Dirty, unclean, like the devil that inhabits her child.

But ... not to Jesus!

Not in the end of the story!

Few people have ever fallen at His feet like this, without some kind of good response!

And so will it be with this dear Mom, who has come for her daughter's sake.

Burdened for someone else.

Do I care about others?

Do you?

Have we ever talked to Jesus about them?

That's where this lady's "help" was found, at Jesus' feet!

What a Saviour we serve!

                                                                            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4, VERSE 26:

Jesus' Ministry, at first, was centered on the Jewish people. John 1:11 tells us that "He came unto His Own." That means "His Own Nationality." The Israelites.

But, eventually, they rejected Him.

Then, Jesus turned and offered salvation to the masses, to all the world. To you and me!

"He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." John 1:11-13

The event we are studying happens before that "turn" occurs. Jesus, perhaps traveling more for "rest" purposes than anything else, still primarily desires the salvation of the Jews!

But a Gentile woman, whom we are about to meet, sort of gets "in the way" of that great plan!

She needs some things from Jesus!

Healing, deliverance, freedom, all for her daughter!

Today we study verse 26.

"The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter." Mark 7:26

One older Bible teacher characterizes her as "a Greek in religion, a Syrian in language, and a Phoenician in race."

The word "Greek" is spelled "hellenis." Anything yet today that is "Hellenistic" is understood to be Greek in nature.

She lived in that heathen land, subject to many gods and their resulting cruel and ungodly customs.

The word "Syrophenician" is obviously compound. "Syria" or "suros" means "exalted." Probably called this because of the mountain ranges to its north. "Phenicia" means "land of palm trees," according to the Bible dictionaries. In Greek it is "Phoinike." It then was a territory in the province of Syria, just about 30 miles long and only 3 miles wide.

It's a wonder this lady knew anything about Jesus, anything at all!

But she at least knew enough to try asking Him for help!

He certainly would not harm her!

All He could do was say, "No."

But He didn't even do that!

After a little faithful persuasion!

"The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter." Mark 7:26

The verb "besought" is "erotao," meaning "to ask, to request, to entreat," even "to beg." The root verb "ereteo" means "to speak, to say, to utter" a few words.

She is asking Jesus now!

The same Jesus Who said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

Bring your needs to Jesus!

She did.

The verb string "would cast forth" translates "ekballo." It means "to throw," the "ballo" part, "out," the preposition "ek," something! To throw out an unwanted person! To expel him! To reject, to exclude, to dispel!

The subjunctive mood of "ekballo" here shows that the woman strongly desires this outcome!

"Please," Jesus!

"The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter." Mark 7:26

But she desired nothing for herself!

It's for her daughter.

The noun "devil" is "daimonion," once meaning a "god or goddess," but now just a fallen angel. A demon. The verb "daio" means "to distribute fortunes," of all things! Yes, the devil is a distributor all right! But of bad things, ultimately! Including Hell and all its torment.

That last preposition, "out," as in "out of her daughter," is a standing-alone word placed in the Text for emphasis. "Ek" means "away from," far away from!

This lady wants that demon gone!

Now that the request has been given, how will Jesus respond?

That, fellow Bible students, will surprise us!

But in the end, the little girl gets well!

All because of Jesus!

Come back tomorrow for the next verse.

Until then, feel free to cast your cares on Jesus too!

Peter was right. "Casting all your care upon him; for He careth for you." 1st Peter 5:7

Thank You, Lord!

                                                                         --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 5, VERSE 27:

Today as we study the Gentile woman from Syria in Phoenicia, a lady with strong faith, we must combine the accounts of both Mark and Matthew. One tells us a little something the other does not.

"The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs." Mark 7:26-27

"And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matthew 15:22-24

In Mark the lady approaches Jesus, calling Him by no particular Name or Title at all.

In Matthew, we are expressly told she called Him "Son of David!"

Truth be told, Matthew has given us the likely reason Jesus nearly spurned this woman. She was approaching Him as the "Son of David," His most Jewish Title!

And she was not a Jew!

She was definitely a Gentile, a human being hated by most Israelites!

I have capitalized those particularities in the Verses just printed.

It apparently makes a big difference how one approaches the Lord Jesus Christ!

Now, to today's verse, having said these things for background purposes. "But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs." Mark 7:27

The noun "children," spelled "teknon," here no doubt refers to the Jews, God's "chosen" people.

Let them eat first!

The adverb is "protos," first in time or place or rank!

Remember even Paul: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16, to the Jew first!

Then maybe to the Greeks, the Gentiles!

The Master, Jesus Himself, is going to offer the Bread of Life to His Own people according to the flesh! They will be first served!

The adjective "meet" translates "kalos," meaning "beautiful, excellent, commendable, proper."

"But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs." Mark 7:27

But most astounding of all, Jesus called this woman, or at least compared her to, a "dog!"

A "dog!"

A Gentile dog!

Not belonging to the House of Israel!

And perhaps even more degrading, helping this lady and her daughter would be like "casting" food to such animals! "Ballo" just means "throwing" it out there on the ground.

Some teachers mention the fact that the Lord does not use the exact word for those mangy, filthy wild dogs that roamed the streets of Israel. That would have been "kuon."

Instead she is a "kunarion," still pretty close, but a "little doggie," the "household pet" kind now!

Not a filthy dog, but still a doggie!

Wow!

Jesus has never said anything like this before, not that I can remember, not to a person sincerely seeking Him!

"But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs." Mark 7:27

But, somehow, this woman was not offended!

She kept respectfully "arguing" for her daughter's healing!

And Jesus called her boldness and audacity and persistence ... FAITH!

More about that tomorrow, Lord willing, about her importunity.

For today let's settle on this point. It does not matter what He calls me, as long as the greatest need in my life is provided! Is provided by this wonderful Lord!

He can call me "sinner!"

He did!

He can tell me I am "hell-bound!"

He did!

He can say I am "dead" in my sins!

He has said that, too!

But He also died on the Cross to save me!

He shed His Blood on my behalf!

And thereby He proved His great Love!

I have been born-again!

So, I am now an ex-sinner!

Once I was "hell-bound," but no more!

"Death" has been turned into "Life," abundant Life at that!

All because of Jesus!

She was willing to be called a "dog," as long as her daughter was delivered of that terrible devil!

Gladly so!

What maternal love!

What grand faith!

No wonder her testimony is recorded in the New Testament, twice!

Hearing these words, "But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs," would have made most people mad.

Many would have walked away in disgust.

But not her!

She will just become a hungry little "dog" then!

Eating the "crumbs" from the Master's table!

Jesus' crumbs will be enough to help that daughter!

She will just settle for the "leftovers!"

And in that fact alone, that awesome attitude, that believing "faith," she got her daughter delivered from Satan!

Amen!

                                                                       --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 6, VERSE 28:

She was a quick thinker!

That's for sure.

Jesus had just refused her request, clearly so.

So far here are the events of Mark 7:24-27. "A certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: the woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs."

In other words, "No!"

But then we are told: "And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs." Mark 7:28

Even the verb "answered" contains a hint of what's happening. "Apokrinomai" is obviously built on the "krino" verb stem, meaning "to judge, to discern, to select or choose."

The idea is this. Every time we speak, no exceptions, we should have already "evaluated and weighed and checked" each word carefully! This woman certainly did.

She may have been a Gentile "dog," but she was a wise one!

But watch this. Now she calls Jesus, not the "Son of David" as Matthew first told us, but just "Lord!"

"Kurios" means, at its lowest level, "master, sir, owner," all terms of respect. But, then later, "kurios" comes to mean "God Himself."

I believe she now means the word in the latter sense, Jesus being divine!

If she meant it that way, Jesus as the Son of God, she likely just got saved! Only God knows for sure.

The "yes" is "nai," that is, "verily, truly, yea!" It's a word of strong affirmation, no doubt about it!

That's like saying, "You are right, Lord!"

"You have again spoken the Truth!"

Somehow the words "no" and "Lord" do not seem to mix very well! But "yes" and "Lord" certainly do.

If He is indeed the Lord, the only thing we can say to His reasoning is "yes!" Oh, "yes."

Had she disrespectfully argued with Jesus here, calling Him names and cursing His Person, she would not have helped her daughter at all.

Instead, she takes her place at Jesus' feet, merely as a little puppy dog would have done when near her Master's table! Hungry ... for the very crumbs! The leftovers!

That's what we Gentiles have been enjoying for two thousand years anyway! The leftovers, that which Israel spurned! She, that Nation, was cut away from the Olive Tree of God's Program ... and we, like a wild limb, have been grafted into her place! At least that's the word picture Paul gives in Romans 11:19-23.

"Even the dogs under the table, eat of the children's crumbs." She agrees with Jesus, just adding one more truth to His "illustration!"

But she changes words here for "children" too! Jesus used "teknon." She uses "paidion." The first means "a little child who already looks and acts like his or her Daddy!" The second means "a little child who can be disciplined when necessary!"

That is, "Correct me if I am wrong Jesus. Whip me if You must, but ... could we have a few crumbs from your great table?"

And that request touched Jesus' heart!

Not that Jesus' heart is hard or calloused, but this woman was a member of a cursed group of people!

Idolaters for sure!

The noun "crumbs" is "psichion," just a "little morsel." It's from "psallo," a musical term at first. It means "to pluck" something, like the strings of a harp or psaltery.

"Pinching" a little piece of bread, dropping in onto the flood ... for the scampering puppies below!

Could this "dog" have the "leftovers?"

And the answer was "Yes!"

And her daughter was made well!

And, we suspect, she got saved!

All this happened because of the lady's faith, as we shall see tomorrow, the Lord willing.

Because of "her words!"

Jesus met her needs!

The most obvious one, her daughter's problem, but also her most pressing one, her eternal destiny!

Jesus saves.

                                                                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7, VERSE 29:

Did the lady get what she wanted?

Was her daughter made well?

Mark 7:29 answers those questions. "And He said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter."

This Greek lady, a Syrophenician by birth, a woman from "Canaan" according to Matthew, had found Jesus, even when He had not intended to be found!

She fell before His feet!

She asked and asked and asked, constantly so, for her daughter's deliverance from that awful demon!

She was rebuffed, spurned, compared to a dog, and no telling what else! But she refused to be discouraged! She needed Jesus' Help!

She literally begged for it!

And, finally, her faith overcame any reluctance!

Or better said, her faith found the right approach!

She pleaded with Jesus, not as a Jew, not as a disciple, but as a poor and humble Gentile Mother, wanting peace and rest and wellness for her suffering little child!

It was her words, rather skillfully phrased too, that Jesus honored. Words that gave evidence of faith in her heart!

"And He said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter." Mark 7:29

The noun "saying" is the familiar "logos," which can  mean "speech." It also shows considerable forethought and planning in what she uttered.

When Jesus told her, "Go thy way," He used an imperative verb! Now the Lord is being insistent! Just like the woman was earlier! This verb is "hupago," literally, "to lead under." It's almost "Go away!" Or, "Get out of here now!"

Jesus had come to this area to get away from certain situations, potentially deadly ones. He knew that crucifixion lay ahead, but even that must occur at precisely the right time! Not too soon! And His "Hour" had not yet come.

"Lady, thou hast been granted thy desire. Thy faith hath made thy daughter whole! Go in peace!"

The noun for "devil" is "daimonion," which is a "demon" or at times a false "god or goddess." It's from "daio," meaning "to distribute fortunes!" Yes, bad ones!

"Go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter." Mark 7:29

The verb "is gone out" translates "exerchomai," but as a perfect indicative active. The devil has departed, never to return! Lasting action, here! Gone for the rest of this little girl's life!

And note that we are not here concentrating on a "son," but a "daughter!"

Often in those dark days, in the Greek and Roman worlds, baby girls were abandoned as infants, left in fields and obscure places ... allowed to starve to death!

Why?

Because they were not born as "boys!"

Womanhood had long been devalued.

But not with Jesus!

For a lady, no husband mentioned by the way, our Lord worked this "miracle!"

For a lady's "daughter" even!

Jesus is no respecter of persons!

"Thy daughter" is well.

Notice also Jesus did not "touch" the sick girl.

Neither did He "speak" to her.

She is miles away!

He declared her well, from a distance!

And it was done!

He was some distance from you too, when He saved you! All the way to Heaven!

But He did a good job at that, didn't He?

I close today with the beautiful words of Mark 7:37, about our dear Lord. "He hath done all things well."

Amen!

                                                                        --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 8, VERSE 30:

The Lord had promised her that the little girl was well!

So the Syrophenician lady went back home.

And, sure enough, the demon had left her daughter!

"Cast out" by Jesus!

"And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed." Mark 7:30

Let me mention two or three things about this verse, thrilling things really.

Notice Mark tells us that the house in which they lived was "her house." The adjective "autos" here, translated "her," is written in the genitive case. That shows ownership. This lady "owned" her home! That was extremely unusual in those days. That also indicates she was a hard worker! And pretty smart, intelligent, on top of that! And industrious and much like the Proverbs 31 woman, I suspect.

By the way, where is her husband? He is not mentioned here in Mark 7. Nor is he listed in Matthew 15, the parallel New Testament account of this miracle. She may have been a widow lady. He might have divorced her. He perhaps just left her, all alone with that sick daughter! If so, he is a "bum!" Whatever the case, she got things done for herself and her daughter ... by coming to Jesus! I admire her independence! Her initiative! Her drive and determination! And her quick thinking, too! She is quite a lady! Jesus thought so, too. After all, He told her "no" two or three times, before He ever dealt with that filthy demon!

"Her house!"

When she got home, the devil or demon was obviously "gone out." That's "exerchomai," with the emphasis on "ek," the prefix. It means "away from!" Out of there! Nowhere to be found!

Jesus has power over all the forces of evil!

They must obey His Commands!

And where is the daughter?

"On the bed!"

For the first time in who-knows-when, she is resting!

In a bed!

Demons do not allow much rest!

They harass and torture and irritate their victims.

Often they even cause convulsions.

Restlessness!

But Jesus has sent peace to this little Gentile home!

Is this a good ending, or what?

"And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed." Mark 7:30

But, one question.

Did this Greek lady ever get saved?

Was she born-again?

I think so!

She came to Jesus!

She fell at His feet!

Matthew 15 says that she worshipped Him too!

She called Him "the Son of David," again using Matthew's story.

And here in Mark, she knows Him as "Lord!"

That's enough evidence for me!

I believe she was changed that day, changed forever!

Changed by the Grace of God!

Yes, I mean "saved!"

Now the bigger question is this, "Are you saved?"

Have you met the Lord?

If not, He is still saving sinners!

Changing "dogs" into "sheep!"

Paul said it, and it's still true. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1st Timothy 1:15

You can know Him today!

                                                                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

One of Jesus' greatest miracles ever!