But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came up and were pleading with Him, saying, “Send her away, because she is crying out after us.”
In response to the Canaanite woman’s plea, Jesus is silent at first, which may seem surprising. Yet his silence is not indifference, but a testing of faith. God often remains silent so that faith may grow and be purified. This silence was not a rejection, but a waiting for the manifestation of persistent and humble faith. The disciples, for their part, feeling helpless before the woman’s cry, ask Jesus to send her away. Yet there is no mercy in their request; they were simply tired of the noise, not sharing in the woman’s pain. This verse reminds us that when God is silent, he has not forgotten, but is preparing our soul for his grace. And for the believing people, it is an exhortation not to disregard another’s plea, even when it causes great inconvenience.