EP 2 - The Deliverance of a Canaanite Woman’s Daughter (6 Lessons)

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The story of the Canaanite woman and her daughter is found in Matthew 15:22-28 and Mark 7:25-30. Below is Matthew’s account in the King James Version:

“And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David. My daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away, for she crieth after us.
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs.
And she said, Truth, Lord. Yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith. Be it unto thee even as thou wilt.
And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”
(Matthew 15:22-28)

From this story, we learn six important lessons about deliverance.

Page Contents

Lesson 1: Deliverance is Global & Inclusive

“And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts and cried unto him…” (Matthew 15:22). The woman in this story was a Canaanite, meaning she was not part of Israel, and she was a Gentile. How was this a problem? Jesus’ ministry was to the Jews, not to the Gentiles, as He declared in Matthew 15:24: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This means that, naturally, she did not qualify for deliverance or getting any other form of help from Jesus. Fortunately, Jesus ended up responding based on her faith, not based on her ethnicity or race.

This teaches us several things:

Deliverance is not just for “our tribe” or “our church” because it has a universal and kingdom-wide scope.
And this means that God may lead you into places outside your familiar zones, to new places and new people, and like Jesus, be ready and willing to cross cultural and territorial barriers in such cases.
When we see deliverance from this larger strategic context, it becomes a tool that can catalyze community transformation, crossover ministry, and evangelism.
Therefore, deliverance is a tool for kingdom advancement, for it can both set free individuals and also open entire families and communities to the power of God.

Lesson 2: Even Children Need Deliverance

The woman said, “My daughter is grievously vexed with a devil” (Matthew 15:22). How do we know that this woman’s daughter was just but a little child? The Greek word used for daughter in Matthew 15:22 is thygatér, while in the parallel account in Mark 7:25 the text uses the Greek word thygatríon, which literally means little daughter or young girl. This confirms that the child was not an adult but a minor under her mother’s care.

This shows that children are not exempt from spiritual attacks. Therefore, parents, guardians, and ministers should not ignore unusual spiritual battles in children. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus welcomed children to come to Him, meaning that even children also need His touch. The Bible gives more examples of children who needed freedom, such as:

The boy with seizures and an unclean spirit in Mark 9:17- 27.
The girl Jesus raised in Mark 5:35-43, where He also removed spiritual confusion and fear from the home.

To learn more about Children’s Deliverance, I recommend you get a copy of this book ‘Children’s Deliverance, by Frank Hammond, on Amazon or at a bookstore next to you.

Lesson 3: Deliverance Is Not Always Instant

Deliverance sometimes takes time, so do not stop praying and do not stop believing. At first, Jesus “answered her not a word” (Matthew 15:23). Later, He said it was not right to give the children’s bread to dogs (Matthew 15:26). The disciples also asked Jesus to send her away because she kept crying after them (Matthew 15:23). Despite these discouragements, rejections, and delays, this woman did not stop pleading for help. She did not get offended. She continued asking until she received what she needed.

This reminds us that the journey toward deliverance will often involve delay, resistance, opposition, and rejection. Through it all, remember the wise saying: “Delay is not denial.” When deliverance is not instant, maintain the five mindsets below:

Persistence – like the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. Persistence keeps you standing.
Restlessness – like when Esau was told that he would break the yoke from his neck when he became restless (Genesis 27:40).
Humility – like this woman who knelt and begged even when it seemed Jesus called her a dog and was unwilling to help. Humility unlocks God’s mercy, for “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
Resistance – resist the devil with firm faith as commanded in 1 Peter 5:8-9. He does not retreat easily—just like Goliath, who appeared for forty days, pressuring Israel (1 Samuel 17:16). The enemy will relentlessly throw one arrow after another until you give up.
Travail – like Jesus praying and fasting forty days before the devil left Him “until an opportune time” (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:13).

Lesson 4: Even Believers Need Deliverance

Jesus said, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to dogs” (Matthew 15:26). Jesus called deliverance “the children’s bread.” This means deliverance belongs first to the people of God. The four facts below about the ministry of Jesus and His teachings prove that deliverance is a ministry first to believers and then to unbelievers:

Audience: Jesus was first sent to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). When He sent out the twelve, He instructed them to go to Israel first (Matthew 10:5-7).
Setting: Jesus delivered many people inside synagogues, such as the man with an unclean spirit in Mark 1:21-28. This shows that church attendance does not equal deliverance.
Covenant: In Luke 13, after delivering the bent-over woman, Jesus declared that covenant daughters should not remain bound (Luke 13:16). Deliverance is part of our covenant inheritance—“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Galatians 3:13).
Spiritual Houses: Focusing on delivering unbelievers is ineffective because, as Jesus explained in Luke 11:24-26, they remain an “empty house.” Without the Holy Spirit dwelling within, unclean spirits return, and the person’s condition becomes worse. It is the Spirit’s indwelling presence in our body—“the temple of God” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)—that keeps us free.

Lesson 5: Faith Plays an Important Role in Deliverance

Jesus said, “Great is thy faith. Be it unto thee even as thou wilt” (Matthew 15:28). The Canaanite woman’s faith unlocked her daughter’s freedom, showing that faith plays an important role in deliverance. There are so many other examples that also show that faith activates miracles, such as:

The woman with the issue of blood touched Jesus by faith in Mark 5:25-34.
The friends who lowered the paralyzed man through the roof demonstrated faith on his behalf in Mark 2:1-12.

This faith can come from two sides:

One, the person who needs deliverance. Remember the father who prayed, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). Also recall that Jesus wept over Jerusalem because of their unbelief and refusal to recognize God’s visitation (Luke 19:41–44). Scripture says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).

Two, someone standing in the gap, like a parent, friend, or intercessor. This validates the ministry of intercession and watchmen. We are instructed to pray “for all men” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). God said He looked for someone “to stand in the gap” (Ezekiel 22:30), and He has set watchmen on the walls who cry out and give Him no rest (Isaiah 62:6-7). This shows that deliverance often involves intercessors or advocates—parents, friends, and spiritual watchmen—not just the afflicted person. This is why we can petition God for the deliverance of our bloodlines and territories.

Our faith rests on powerful spiritual realities found in Hebrews 12:22-24:

The finished work of Jesus on the cross.
The authority of the name of Jesus.
The power of the Holy Spirit.
The blood of Jesus that speaks better things.
The angels of God who serve the saints.
God the righteous Judge.
The great cloud of witnesses cheering us on.

Because of this, deliverance is possible today. Freedom is possible today. Jesus still answers faith.

Lesson 6: Deliverance Can Happen from a Distance

In Mark’s account, we read: “And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.” (Mark 7:30). This verse shows that the daughter was not physically present. Yet Jesus set her free. There are other examples of distance deliverance such as:

The centurion’s servant healed from a distance in Matthew 8:5-13.
The nobleman’s son healed while the father was on the road in John 4:46-53.

This teaches us that:

Jesus is not limited by distance.
His authority is not blocked by location.
Prayer, intercession, and spoken commands can release freedom anywhere.
Distance is never a barrier to the power of God.

Conclusion

The story of the Canaanite woman teaches us many important truths about deliverance.

Her pain pushed her into deep faith.
Jesus delayed at first, yet her persistence opened the door.
Her humility, worship, and trust moved the heart of God.
Her faith crossed boundaries and broke limitations.
The freedom came from the power of Jesus, not from human strength.

Continue Reading More On Spiritual Warfare In The Guides Below:

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SOUL WARFARE: The soul is made up of the mind, will and emotions. What you think affects what you feel, and what you feel pressures what you choose. This is why spiritual warfare always begins with the soul.
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