Matthew 15 28

Matthew 15:28 kjv

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 nkjv

Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Matthew 15:28 niv

Then Jesus said to her, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Matthew 15:28 esv

Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.

Matthew 15:28 nlt

"Dear woman," Jesus said to her, "your faith is great. Your request is granted." And her daughter was instantly healed.

Matthew 15 verses

Matthew 15 28 Meaning

Matthew 15:28 details the culminating moment of Jesus' encounter with the Canaanite woman, where He affirms her profound faith. Following a challenging dialogue, Jesus declares her faith to be "great" and grants her earnest request, resulting in the instantaneous healing of her daughter. This verse underscores the power of persistent, humble faith to overcome perceived barriers and receive divine intervention.

Matthew 15 28 Context

Matthew chapter 15 begins with a conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees/scribes concerning ceremonial washings and the keeping of tradition over God's commandment (honor your parents). Jesus challenges their hypocrisy, emphasizing that what defiles a person comes from within the heart, not from outward observance. Following this discourse, Jesus withdraws to the region of Tyre and Sidon, Gentile territory. Here, a Canaanite woman approaches Him, pleading for her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus initially gives no answer, then tells His disciples His mission is primarily to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." When the woman persists, worshipping Him, Jesus challenges her further, stating it is not right to take the children's (Israel's) bread and throw it to the dogs (Gentiles). Her brilliant and humble response, acknowledging the truth but asking for "crumbs," reveals extraordinary faith. Verse 28 is Jesus' commendation of this faith and the subsequent miracle, marking a significant moment of Gentile reception and demonstrating the boundless nature of God's grace in response to genuine belief.

Matthew 15 28 Word analysis

• Then (Tote - Greek): A conjunction signifying sequence, but here also a turning point. It highlights the decisive shift in the dialogue following the woman's profound and persistent plea. It’s not just a time marker, but a signal of the resolution.
• Jesus (Iēsous - Greek): The name "Jesus" itself means "YHWH saves." His identity as Savior and Healer is central here. His action is one of divine authority.
• answered (apokritheis - Greek): From apokrinomai, meaning "to reply, respond." While He had spoken earlier, this is His final and conclusive answer, a reversal of His initial apparent silence or hesitation. It implies that He heard, processed, and is now delivering a verdict.
• and said to her (kai eipen autē - Greek): A direct address, signifying personal interaction. Jesus acknowledges her directly, recognizing her individuality and persistent effort.
• O woman (ō gynai - Greek): Ō is an interjection, often expressing strong emotion. Gynē (woman) is a respectful term for a mature female. Far from being demeaning, in this context, after the severe testing, it indicates a tone of admiration, respect, and deep commendation for her steadfastness and wisdom.
• great (megalē - Greek): From megas, meaning "large, great, mighty, strong." It denotes extraordinary, remarkable, and unusual quality. This is one of only two instances where Jesus uses the exact phrase "great faith" (the other for the Roman Centurion in Matt 8:10), distinguishing her faith as truly exceptional and worthy of special commendation.
• is your faith! (sou hē pistis - Greek): Sou (your) emphasizes personal ownership. Pistis (faith) is more than intellectual assent; it is active trust, conviction, reliance, and steadfast confidence in Jesus' person and power, expressed through her persistent plea. Her faith was dynamic and acted upon.
• Let it be to you (genēthētō soi - Greek): Genēthētō is an imperative, meaning "let it happen, it shall be done, become." It signifies a powerful, divine declaration and authoritative command. It aligns with God's sovereign will and word of creation. Jesus, with full authority, grants her petition.
• as you desire (hōs theleis - Greek): Hōs means "as, like." Theleis (you wish, desire, will). This phrase shows that Jesus is directly responding to her fervent and specific desire, validated by her faith. Her will, when submitted and filtered through great faith, aligns with and receives Christ's granting power.
• And her daughter (kai hē thugatēr autēs - Greek): The direct beneficiary of the miracle.
• was healed (iathē - Greek): From iaomai, meaning "to heal, cure, make whole." The aorist passive indicates a completed action, divinely wrought. The healing was not by human effort but by divine power, in direct response to the mother's faith and Jesus' authoritative word.
• from that very hour (apo tēs hōras ekeinēs - Greek): Apo (from), hōra (hour), ekeinēs (that). This phrase emphasizes the immediate, precise, and verifiable nature of the healing. There was no delay, no gradual recovery; the miracle was instantaneous, demonstrating Jesus' sovereign control over physical ailments and spiritual oppressions across any distance.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then Jesus answered and said to her": This phrase marks the climax of the exchange. Jesus' 'answer' here is not merely a verbal response but a conclusive action, confirming His divine nature and ultimate benevolence, which He had 'tested' by delay and seeming reluctance.
• "O woman, great is your faith!": This is the core commendation. The initial silence, the dialogue concerning Israel's priority, and the "dog" analogy all served to bring forth and highlight the magnitude of her faith. Her status as a Gentile makes this commendation especially remarkable, contrasting with the unbelief often found among Jewish leaders. It signals that true faith transcends ethnic boundaries.
• "Let it be to you as you desire.": This is the divine fiat, the authoritative declaration that grants the miracle. It shows that her desires, born of persistent faith and urgent need, found full resonance with Christ's power and compassion. It speaks to God's readiness to bless those who earnestly seek Him in faith.
• "And her daughter was healed from that very hour.": This confirms the immediate and undeniable reality of Jesus' power. The instantaneous nature of the healing, even from a distance, removes any doubt about the miracle's authenticity and its direct correlation to Jesus' spoken word and the woman's faith. It showcases Christ's sovereignty over time, space, and sickness.

Matthew 15 28 Bonus section

• Theological Significance of "Canaanite Woman": The designation "Canaanite" for a woman from the Tyre/Sidon region is noteworthy. Historically, Canaanites were ancient enemies of Israel. This choice of word by Matthew could heighten the tension and emphasize the radical nature of Jesus' acceptance of her. It prefigures the wider inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant, breaking down perceived ethnic barriers, and setting a precedent for the global reach of the Gospel. Her encounter demonstrates that salvation is for all who believe, not exclusively for the "lost sheep of the house of Israel."
• Jesus' Testing of Faith: Jesus did not lack compassion, nor was He truly unwilling to help. His challenging responses were pedagogical tools to elicit, intensify, and showcase the woman's exceptional faith, serving as a powerful lesson for His disciples and for generations to come. It was a test that brought glory to God and deepened the woman's understanding of her own conviction. It shows that God sometimes allows delays or trials to manifest greater faith.
• Distance Healing: The fact that the daughter was healed "from that very hour" while the mother was still with Jesus, and likely miles away from her home, showcases Jesus' divine power to heal remotely. This echoes the healing of the Centurion's servant (Matt 8:5-13) and further demonstrates His absolute authority over illness, demons, and spatial limitations.

Matthew 15 28 Commentary

Matthew 15:28 captures the profound moment where Christ recognizes and rewards extraordinary faith, particularly significant because it comes from a Gentile. The woman, identified as Canaanite/Syrophoenician, represented everything that stood outside the Jewish covenant. Jesus' initial silence and seemingly harsh replies served not as rejection, but as a crucible to refine and reveal the depth of her trust. Her humble yet sharp response ("Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table") disarmed His challenge and demonstrated profound theological insight and spiritual desperation.

Jesus’ declaration, "Great is your faith!" is a rare and powerful commendation, paralleled only by His praise for the Roman Centurion (Matt 8:10). This indicates that her faith was not just intellectual belief, but active, persistent, and unyielding trust in Jesus' ability and willingness to save, even for an "outsider." Her unwavering plea, despite societal, racial, and initial conversational barriers, underscores the truth that faith—not heritage or status—is the ultimate currency in God’s kingdom. The immediate healing of her daughter, from a distance, emphasizes Christ's omnipotence and immediate response to such faith. It serves as a powerful testament to the accessibility of God's grace and power to all who come to Him with true, believing hearts, transcending all boundaries and prejudices.