In Matthew's Steps: Finding Faith

The First Steps: Read: Matthew 15

Focus Verse: “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” (15:28)

Meditation: Faith’s Home

Where does faith reside? In tall cathedrals? In small country churches? In the rules and regulations, the canon law, of the church? Or someplace else?

This chapter of Matthew centers on this question. “Where is faith?”

It begins with a question, posed by the Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem, who asks Jesus: “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat!”

It might seem so...petty! Who cares if Jesus’ disciples wash their hands? Right? Except that faith, for some, resides in the keeping of law and, if the disciples aren’t keeping the law...they aren’t too faithful? Right?

Of course Jesus has a different view of the matter and argues that point to the Pharisees. “You hypocrites!” he says. “Your law contradicts the law of God!”

Of course no one understands Jesus. Not the Pharisees and not the disciples. They all think that faith resides in keeping laws. To be faithful means to be obedient to the details of the commandments prescribed, not by God but by men. To be understood better, and to speak of faith’s true home, Jesus must play out a kind of parable.

A Canaanite woman, a foreigner, an outsider, and a pagan all wrapped into one comes to Jesus for help with a problem. Her daughter is tormented by a demon. She doesn’t know where to turn. She’s heard that the “son of David” as she calls him is coming into town. And she needs help.

At first Jesus seems to dismiss her. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” he tells his disciples. And even when she throws herself at his feet he exclaims:“It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”

Yet this woman of little note has a great big faith! Even after being dismissed, she still clings to Jesus with the statement: “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table!”

In no law, written or unwritten, does Jesus have an obligation to do anything for this woman. She is an outsider to God’s love. She doesn’t belong to God’s people. If faith resides in keeping commandments, she’s a big fat zero.

But Jesus sees great faith in her! Great faith indeed! And at the pronouncement of such faith, her wishes are fulfilled and her daughter is healed. Faith’s home is shown, not to be in rigid commandment keeping, but in grace-filled relationships. From here Jesus lives out that faith in more grace-filled relationships, healing the sick in the next section, feeding another four thousand in the following section. People are said to have been “...amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the mamed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.”

That last section is the most important. For it is the first time that has been said in Matthew. “They praised the God of Israel!” Grace-filled relationships will do that. They will lead us to faith. They will bring us to God. They will change people’s lives.

Our churches are filled with “commandment-based” relationships. That is, relationships commanded and prescribed by someone else. I have instituted such relationships myself. In the past, I have asked those who wish to be married to attend church “at least once” I tell them. They have come, of course, just that once...and never darkened the door of the church again. I had hoped that a relationship might begin and continue, but that was not to be. The commandment was kept...but faith was never planted.

Of course the largest, most prevalent commandment-based relationship we have is confirmation. Though it is never spoken of or commanded in the Bible, we in the Lutheran church have made Confirmation a rite of passage for our young people as they transition from middle school into high school, from being children to adulthood. For two-years or more we demand that our young people participate in service projects, help at worship, and become involved in the life of the congregation. We force them to be involved, telling them that after confirmation is over, it will be their choice. Unfortunately we fail to tell our children that faith takes root, not during confirmation, but AFTER Confirmation. It happens when we don’t HAVE to do anything. When we worship together, sharing grace-filled relationships, regardless of what we get out of them. Faith happens when we reach out to the needy, not because pastor is telling us to, but because we have an itching in our hearts to do so. Faith happens when the commandment has passed and we do it “out of the goodness of our hearts.”

“God shows his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” These words from Paul remind us of God’s grace-filled relationship with us. God wasn’t obligated to save us. He didn’t HAVE to do anything! He does everything out of grace and love and in the spirit of forgiveness. And we find ourselves believing, trusting, and putting our faith into Christ precisely when we put off our obligations and focus in on grace. We may have commandments and rules and laws that govern most of our lives, but it is only when we step away from those and fall into grace that we will ever find anything resembling faith.

May the Holy Spirit be upon us that He might nurture and foster grace-filled relationships with our neighbors, our friends, and the world that the faith planted within us might be brought to fruition. Amen!

Questions to Ponder...1) What commandment-based relationships do you have? Who do you HAVE to be in relationship with? What is that relationship like?

2) Think of some grace-filled relationships that you are in. What make them unique? Why do you WANT to spend your time in those relationships?

3) Do you want to be in relationship with God? Is God a commandment-based relationship for you(i.e. you HAVE to do it) or is He a grace-filled one?

A Prayer to Pray...
Heavenly Father, you have poured out your grace through the work of your Son. Give us grace that we might want to trust you, love you, and serve you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.