Nobody is using this passage this week? Thought: Is there a connection between what Jesus says about defilement being inside, not outside, and His treatment of the Gentile womaan? She represents an "unclean" person, whose faith (from the inside)and her words expressing it, qualifies her for the attention of the Savior, who saves her daughter from the demon. Still thinking..... Janet in NY
I think there is a connection between this passage and the Canaanite woman in Matthew Gospel. I think it is the fact that the Canaanite woman in the gospel asks for "MERCY." She says, "Have mercy on me, O Lord..." As a Canaanite she was once disobedient to God. (Romans 11:30) Jesus demostrates in very strange way that God's mercy is for all people regardless of their past.
Further, I think this Canaanite worman demostrates mercy by asking Jesus to heal her daughter. She wants her daughter who is tormented by a demon (Imprisoned in disobedience) (Roman 11:32) to be released.
Through all our sin & disobedience, God's love is constant. References to God's hustice & wrath do not take into account that it is "God's will that none should perish." If we are condemned, it is our own self-condemnation. God doesn't go back on his word. That's good news for all of us. Ken in WV