Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 15:23

"But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us." — Matthew 15:23 (ASV)

And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

"She is a stranger, and, as far as we can judge, she means to hang on until she gets what she wants. If you will not give it to her, tell her to be gone, for she crieth after us." One thing I notice that they said, which was not true, was, She crieth after us. Not she! She never cried after them; she was crying after Christ. She would have pleaded in vain if she had cried after them, for all they had to say was, Send her away. A very different result came from her crying to the Lord.

Silence was a hard answer, for it is translatable by fear into something worse than the harshest speech. “Not a word,” not a word from Him whose every word is power! This was a heavy discouragement. Yet she was not silenced by the Lord’s silence. She increased her entreaties.

The disciples were mistaken when they said, She crieth after us. No, no, she cried after Him. Should this have afflicted them? Oh, that everyone would cry after Him! Such a blessed annoyance should be longed for by compassionate hearts among the Lord’s servants.

The disciples, however, were driven to appeal to their Master, and though that was something, it was not much. Possibly they meant their complaint to help the woman by obtaining an answer for her one way or another, but their words have a cold look, Send her away. May we never be so selfish as to feel troubled by inquirers! May we never send them away ourselves by cold looks and harsh words!

Still, the disciples were not able to neglect her. They were forced to plead with Jesus about her. They came and implored him. If Christian people are apparently unsympathetic, let us warm them into feeling by our persistent fervor.

And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

"'She crieth after us,' and it is very important that we should not be troubled." We disciples are inclined to think so, especially if we get a little puffed up and become apostles: "Send her away; for she crieth after us."

She knew better than to cry after the disciples; it was the Master whose help she wanted. Some sinners are a great nuisance; they make so much noise in seeking Christ, and it is such a mercy that they do so!

Oh, to have such troublesome people about us all day long, and all night long, too! It would be worthwhile to be troubled in this way. But the disciples said to Jesus, "Send her away; for she crieth after us."

But he answered her not a word. And his disciple came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

She makes too much noise. Oh! the poor disciples! "She crieth after us." That she did not; she cried after the Master, not after them.

Oh! the big disciples, how large they are, and how easily troubled. "She crieth after us."

But he answered her not a word.

Has the Savior become deaf and mute? Will he not hear a suppliant cry? He heard her, but he said nothing.

But he answered her not a word.

Answers to prayers may be delayed; but delays are not always denials.

Christ's silence must have been a great trial to the poor woman; but our Lord knew with whom he was dealing.

But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away: for she crieth after us.

They were under a mistake. She did not cry after them: she knew better than that: she cried after the Lord, after the great Son of David, not after them, but, however, she disturbed them.

And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

Ah, these disciples made a grand mistake! She did not cry after them; she cried after him. But so they understood it: therefore they said, "Get rid of her; she disturbs us; when we are in the street, we can hear her cry. Send her away; for she crieth after us." Ah! Poor disciples, she was not so foolish as to cry after you; she was crying after your Master.

If any here have come only to hear the preacher, they have made a great mistake; but if you have come for a word from the Master, I pray that you may be gratified.