The Heart of Mankind
Discuss It – Matthew 15:10-20
- How did Jesus shift the emphasis away from external issues like unclean and clean foods? (15:10–11)
- How did the Pharisees like Jesus’ statements? (15:12)
- What advice did Jesus give to followers of the Pharisees? (15:14)
- Why did Jesus explain His statements to His disciples? (15:15)
- How did Jesus redefine “unclean”? (15:17–20)
The Canaanite Woman
Discuss It – Matthew 15:21-28
- What is it like to be on the outside of a group looking in?
- For what would you walk 100 miles?
- What behavior on the part of others absolutely drives you up the wall?
What is your greatest success (in the sense of pursuing a goal for a long time and finally reaching it through persistence and determination)? - What is the most desperate feeling and/or situation you have ever experienced?
- In what ways do you tend to be insensitive to those who are different?
- Why do you think Christ responded to this woman as he did?
- For the guy who made the Samaritan the hero in Luke 10, why does Jesus seem so against this Canaanite woman?
- What kinds of lessons do we learn from waiting?
- How does our persistence in prayer show God’s character?
- How persistent are you in your prayers to God?
- What do we learn about this woman?
- What do we learn about Jesus?
- What would Jesus say about your faith today?
Apply It
- When you deal with needy people or outsiders, are you more like the disciples or like Jesus? Why?
- How has Jesus gone a long distance to heal you?
- What long-term, unanswered prayer request do you need to continue bringing before God on a regular basis?
- When was a time you sensed Jesus saying to you, “You have great faith”?
- What encouraging principle from this passage can you share today with a Christian brother or sister?
- What individual in need of help do you need to assist today?
- What matters more: how people behave or their motives and attitudes?
- How do you manage your worldly intake? (That old computer phrase, garbage in/garbage out).