Matthew 15:21-28

A Mama’s Love

Introduction: Now days love is used so loosely in our society.  Love is more than mere infatuation.  Love is more than some tingly feeling.  There is more to love than just words.  Today we are going to look at a mother’s love that was more than that.  It was more than just mere infatuation.  It was more than just words.  It was more than what the society of our day may consider love.  We will observe a love that moved a mother to action.  We will notice a love that moved a mama to intercede.  We will see a mama whose love was persistent.  Literally, a love that acts, intercedes and persists.

I.  (v.21-22a) A Love that Acts

·        Jesus was in Gentile territory

·        “came out” literally means she actively moved from…

·        love will cause you to leave your comfort zones

·        somebody needs to come out

II.  (v.22b) A Love that Intercedes

·        cried out indicates a form of prayer

·        “mercy on me” (she uses language of me, as she stands in for her daughter)

·        her daughter couldn’t do it due to the fact that she was possessed with a devil (what a picture of some our children); don’t know how long she was vexed

·        intercession is unconditional

III.  (v.23-28) A Love that Persists

·        he answered her not a word (v.23)

·        disciples told Jesus to send her away (they were stuck on themselves, “crieth after ‘us’”, she was crying for Jesus)

·        Persistence is needed when you don’t get what you ask for at first; it is “stick-to-it-ness”;

·        Persistent in spite of …

·        His silence/no response (v. 23)

·        Her religion (23-24)

·        Her ethnicity (25-27)

·        Her gender (28) he says woman

·        None of this matter: (illustration)

William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story. The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child's breath. Once when the child was struggling to breathe, the mother, forgetting herself entirely, took the little one into her arms to keep her from choking to death. Rasping and struggling for her life, the child said, "Momma, kiss me!" Without thinking of herself the mother tenderly kissed her daughter. She got diphtheria and some days thereafter she went to be forever with the Lord. Real love forgets self. Real love knows no danger. Real love doesn't count the cost. The Bible says, "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it."

Conclusion: (v.28)

·        She got an Answer-her daughter was delivered based on the prayerful intercession and persistence of a mama who loved.

·        Another mama loved her son all the way to Calvary