Heart vs Ritual.   What Defiles a Person.   Persistent Faith. 

"Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.” And from that moment her daughter was healed."   Matthew 15:28 

In Matthew Chapter 15 we encounter a series of profound interactions and teachings from Jesus that challenge and expand our understanding of faith and purity. We begin by exploring a debate between Jesus and the Pharisees regarding the importance of human traditions versus God's commandments. This discussion then pivots to a crucial teaching about what truly defiles a person, emphasizing that it's not external practices but the intentions and outputs of the heart that matter most in our spiritual lives.

We also witness the remarkable faith of a Canaanite woman, whose interaction with Jesus underscores the inclusivity of His ministry and the power of persistent faith. Through her story, we see Jesus' message of salvation extending beyond the Jews to all humanity, inviting us to reflect on the boundaries we might unconsciously uphold within our own communities of faith. This episode not only guides us through the scripture but also encourages us to examine the purity of our hearts and the inclusiveness of our actions as we continue to walk in our faith journey.