It Is Better to Be Healed Than to Be Offended

Note from today’s Bible reading: Matthew 14-15

When Jesus was in the district of Tyre and Sidon, He was approached by a Canaanite woman who wanted Him to help her demon-possessed daughter (Matthew 15:21-22). Initially He ignored her; but as she persisted He said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). A Canaanite from Tyre or Sidon would not be included in this mission.

Yet she persisted, bowing before Jesus and saying, “Lord, help me!” (Matthew 15:25). Jesus’ response probably sounds shocking to us: “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (Matthew 15:26). In our day and age when everyone seems to take offense at everything, it is not hard to imagine how someone would take offense at Jesus’ statement.

Yet she responded, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master’s table” (Matthew 15:27). Whether her initial reaction would have been to take offense or not, this woman knew that such a reaction would not help her daughter. Having her healed was more important than how she felt. When she displayed such faith, Jesus said, “‘O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed at once” (Matthew 15:28).

So remember that it is better to be healed than to be offended. Those who are quick to take offense at every slight (real or perceived) will often miss out on the help they could gain from others. This is especially dangerous if we take offense at Jesus and His word.