Matthew 9:21-25

 

Mat 9:21 (KJB)

For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

 

No matter what her reasoning was to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment without being noticed, she nevertheless was determined to touch it. Now maybe she thought that the garment had healing powers but I doubt that because she was probably familiar with the miracles that Jesus was doing in healing the sick, especially the paralytic who may have been that way for many years. So she too thought that it would result in her healing. If He could heal the paralytic, then He could heal her.

 

Mat 9:22 (KJB)

But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

 

Here we have the answer to the question where her faith lied. Her faith was in Jesus and His ability to heal her. Jesus responded to the faith that she had shown in Him and as a result she was healed from that very hour and no longer would she be unclean. She would now have to show herself to the priest so she would be officially permitted to rejoin the Jewish community in Capernaum. The woman was initially frightened. (Mark 5:33 KJV) But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. However, when she told Jesus everything, He did not chide her instead He encouraged and comforted her which resulted in her healing.

 

Mat 9:23 (KJB)

And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

 

After the account with the woman with the hemorrhage, Matthew once again focuses on the situation with the daughter of Jairus. When Jesus entered into his home, He encountered the minstrels which were flute players. Even the poorest of people had at least two flute players accompanying those that mourn. The practice of mourning was a very integral part of the culture of that day. There were probably many people who were mourning because the daughter was a prominent member of the community with her father being ruler in the synagogue. It must have been some scene because the words “making a noise” in the Greek carry with them the meaning of making a tumult. A tumult would be a great noise or uproar of a crowd.

 

Mat 9:24 (KJB)

He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

 

Give place - Withdraw

 

Jesus then comes to the room where the little girl is and then commands the people to leave. He then proceeds to tell them that the maid was not physically dead but she was only sleeping. Once Jesus said this, the lamenting turned into a mocking laugh along with much ridicule. It is amazing how fast the crowd went from mourning to mocking. They were ordered to leave because the Lord Jesus was not going to do any of His miracles in front of those who are mockers and scoffers. Jesus was also teaching His disciples that unbelief hinders the work of God and they are excluded from spiritual blessings. (Heb 3:18-19 KJV) And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? {19} So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

 

Mat 9:25 (KJB)

But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

 

As soon as all the mockers had left the room, Jesus then entered in and all He had to do was to take her by the hand and she rose up from the dead. The three disciples that witnessed this was Peter, James, and John and the girl’s parents. (Mark 5:37-40 KJV) And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. {38} And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. {39} And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. {40} And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. Jesus also spoke to the girl in Aramaic. (Mark 5:41 KJV) And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. Once He commanded her to arise, she was alive again. I wonder how all those who were mocking Jesus felt at that time. There should have been a time of repentance on the part of these mockers but nothing is recorded.

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