Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 180:719 (Jul 2023)
Article: Giving Voice To The Dogs: Matthew 15 In An Honor/Shame Context
Author: Steven J. P. Winiarski

BSac 180:719 (July-September 2023) p. 306

Giving Voice To The Dogs: Matthew 15 In An Honor/Shame Context

Steven J. P. Winiarski

Steven J. P. Winiarski is Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek at Baptist University of Florida in Graceville, Florida.

Abstract

This article examines the formal structure and literary context of Jesus’s interaction with the Canaanite woman in an honor/shame culture. This article argues that the Gospel of Matthew intentionally juxtaposed Jesus’s encounter with the Canaanite woman with his preceding encounter with the Pharisees. This contrast reveals that the Pharisees remained silent so as not to risk their honor before the crowd, demonstrating their roles as antagonists. The Canaanite woman, however, risked her honor by challenging Jesus, demonstrating her role as a protagonist.

Matthew 15 consists of three parts. First, Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees. Second, Jesus taught about uncleanliness. Third, Jesus was confronted by a Canaanite woman. While there has been significant research done on each of these parts, there has been little to no attempt to compare and contrast Jesus’s two interactions in this chapter.

The purpose of this article is to examine these two interactions through their literary and sociological contexts in order to demonstrate Matthew’s intentional contrast of these two groups. An examination of this contrast reveals that the Pharisees chose to stay silent to protect their honor before the crowd, demonstrating their roles as antagonists. The Canaanite woman, however, chose to demonstrate her faith tangibly by abandoning any sense of honor and challenging Jesus with her words, demonstrating her role as the protagonist that Matthew’s community should have sought to emulate. First, this article defines and examines the form of both

BSac 180:719 (July-September 2023) p. 307

encounters with special attention to their literary and sociological contexts. Next, it evaluates the status and response of characters in both pericopes and their corresponding actions. Finally, it suggests conclusions that Matthew intended for his audience to gain through his narrative structure and offers practical implications for the modern church.

The Form And Function Of Jesus’s Encounter With The Pharisees

How Matthew arranged the narrative of his Gospel demonstrates an intentional plan to evoke a reaction from his readers.1 The question of form, structure, and purpose of encounter narratives in the Gospels must always be considered. Some may object to the use of form criticism and narrative criticism because it imposes mo...