Single lesson
A Mother's Faith: The Gentile Woman's Daughter
Matthew 15:21–28; Mark 7:24–30
In this lesson, children will read Matthew’s account carefully and compare a few details from Mark without blending them together. They will sequence Matthew 15:21–28, notice the woman’s words and replies, and observe how Jesus answers.
Before you teach
Matthew says Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon, where a Canaanite woman cried out for mercy because her daughter was severely possessed by a demon. Mark also places Jesus in the borders of Tyre and Sidon, entering a house, and Mark calls the woman a Greek, Syrophoenician by race.
Students will be able to sequence Matthew 15:21–28 and name two details Mark 7:24–30 adds, while explaining from the text how the woman asked Jesus for help and how Jesus answered.
Welcome: Listen for Matthew’s order
4 minIntroduce the lesson by explaining that today the class will follow Matthew’s order first, then compare a few details from Mark. Ask children to listen for where Jesus went, what the woman cried out, and what Jesus said at the end. Briefly explain that Tyre and Sidon are place names in the passage.
Matthew 15:21, Matthew 15:22, Matthew 15:28, Mark 7:24
Read Matthew: The woman asks for mercy
8 minRead Matthew 15:21–25 aloud. Help children hear the order in Matthew: Jesus withdrew to the region, a Canaanite woman cried out, the disciples asked for her to be sent away, Jesus spoke about the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and the woman came and worshipped him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
Matthew 15:21, Matthew 15:22, Matthew 15:23, Matthew 15:24, Matthew 15:25
Discuss the replies: Bread, dogs, and crumbs
6 minRead Matthew 15:26–28 slowly. Explain that Jesus spoke about children’s bread and dogs, and the woman answered with the picture of crumbs falling from their masters’ table. Keep discussion close to the words on the page. Children should notice that she answered Jesus and that Jesus then said, “Great is your faith!”
Matthew 15:26, Matthew 15:27, Matthew 15:28
Compare with Mark: What details does Mark add?
5 minNow read Mark 7:24–30 and clearly label it as Mark’s account. Point out details Mark includes: Jesus entered a house and could not escape notice, the woman was a Greek, Syrophoenician by race, she fell at Jesus’ feet, and when she went home she found the child on the bed with the demon gone.
Mark 7:24, Mark 7:25, Mark 7:26, Mark 7:29, Mark 7:30
Make and close: Sequence Matthew, then add Mark notes
7 minChildren arrange Matthew sequence cards in order, then add one or two small comparison notes marked “Mark says...”. Review the ending carefully with both texts named: Matthew says, “Be it done to you even as you desire,” and Mark says the demon had gone out and she found her child at home.
Matthew 15:21, Matthew 15:22, Matthew 15:25, Matthew 15:27, Matthew 15:28, Mark 7:29, Mark 7:30
Questions to explore
In Matthew, what did the woman cry out about her daughter?
Use Matthew’s own words about mercy, “Lord, you son of David,” and her daughter being severely possessed by a demon.
Matthew 15:22
What does the woman say after Jesus speaks about bread and dogs in Matthew?
Look for her answer about dogs eating the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.
Matthew 15:26, Matthew 15:27
What details at the end belong especially to Mark’s account?
Mark says, “For this saying, go your way,” and then says she went home and found the child on the bed with the demon gone.
Mark 7:29, Mark 7:30
Make, think or respond
Matthew Sequence Cards with Mark Comparison Notes
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or markers
- scissors
- Bible for reading aloud
Try it together
- Make five cards for Matthew only: Jesus withdrew to Tyre and Sidon; the woman cried for mercy; she said, “Lord, help me”; she answered about crumbs; Jesus said, “Great is your faith”.
- Mix the Matthew cards and have children place them in order as Matthew 15:21–28 is read aloud again.
- Add one or two small notes on separate slips beginning with “Mark says...”, such as “entered a house” or “found the child on the bed”.
- Place the Mark notes beside the matching part of the lesson without mixing them into Matthew’s sequence.
- Invite children to retell Matthew’s order first, then mention the extra Mark details clearly by name.
This activity helps children follow one Gospel account in order and also notice that Mark includes some different details which should be named carefully.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, reduce the Matthew sequence to four picture cards and let them hold up the correct card as each verse is read.
- For stronger readers, ask them to write “Matthew says...” or “Mark says...” on each card or note and read the matching verse aloud.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “Lord Jesus, thank you for these words about the woman who asked for help. Please help us listen carefully to what Scripture says and trust you as we learn.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 15
21 Jesus went out from there and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.
22 Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!”
23 But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.”
24 But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
25 But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
26 But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
27 But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Mark 7
24 From there he arose and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house and didn’t want anyone to know it, but he couldn’t escape notice.
25 For a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet.
26 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. She begged him that he would cast the demon out of her daughter.
27 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
29 He said to her, “For this saying, go your way. The demon has gone out of your daughter.”
30 She went away to her house, and found the child having been laid on the bed, with the demon gone out.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.