Matthew's gospel account, written with a Jewish audience in mind, makes the point of mentioning the ethnicity of the woman. Despised as a historical enemy, Canaanite can be seen as a racist term; but, juxtaposed with the house of Israel, this periscope is making a statement about faith – great faith.

Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed."
But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us." But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"
But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."
And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matt 15:21-28, NKJV)

1. What do you observe of the Gentile woman addressing Jesus with the title "Lord, Son of David?" A concordance search, using "Son of David," found two relevant and contrasting passages: the Pharisees and Jesus' mother Mary. What evidence do you observe that indicates the Canaanite woman's religious view?

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?"
They said to Him, "The Son of David."
He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,' saying:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
"Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"'?
If David then calls Him ‘Lord,' how is He his Son?" And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore. (Matt 22:41-45, NKJV)

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. (Luke 1:31-32, NKJV)

2. What do you observe of Jesus' response to the Canaanite woman: "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel," and "it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs?" What does Jesus' figure of speech represent?

3. What is the Canaanite woman saying when she states, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Why does Jesus laud her faith?