PrevMatthew 9:20Next

Matthew 9

And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

And he arose, and departed to his house.

But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

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

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.

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

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

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

And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

What does Matthew 9:20 mean?

Explanation

The referenced verse, Matthew 9:20, recounts a miracle story of a woman with an ailment often identified as chronic hemorrhage, which she had suffered from for twelve years.

According to Jewish law, her condition would have rendered her ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 15:25-27), causing her to be ostracized from society and religious activities.

In a desperate act of faith, the woman reaches out to touch the garment of Jesus Christ, believing that such an action would be sufficient to heal her.

The "hem of his garment" is significant as it refers to the tassels (tzitzit) on the corners of a Jewish man's outer robe, which symbolized obedience to God's commandments (Numbers 15:38-39, Deuteronomy 22:12).

Her touch is a silent plea for healing and restoration, not just physically but also socially and spiritually.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Matthew is set in the first-century Roman-controlled territory of Judea.

At the time, Jewish society had very stringent purity laws, and those who were deemed unclean had restricted access to social and religious community life.

The woman's illness would have placed her in a consistent state of impurity according to Jewish law, which greatly impacted her life.

Her condition, which likely caused anemia and weakness, combined with social ostracization, would have been a tremendous burden.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological standpoint, this story represents several key themes.

These include the power of faith, the compassion of Jesus, and the idea of ritual purity being overridden by the healing touch of Christ.

Traditional interpretations suggest that Jesus brings a new covenant, where faith and grace become the central elements for attaining God's favor, replacing strict adherence to the law.

Some theological perspectives also point out the significance of the woman's direct approach to Jesus, which broke social norms, emphasizing the personal and intimate relationship Jesus offered to individuals.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied in everyday life to encourage acts of faith in the midst of seemingly hopeless situations.

It is also a powerful reminder that societal norms should not hinder one's pursuit of healing and spiritual growth.

Furthermore, it's a call to extend compassion towards those who are marginalized and to recognize the potential in small acts of faith to lead to transformative experiences.

Cross-References

Leviticus 15:25-27: Describes the laws regarding a woman's discharge of blood and the resultant impurity.
Mark 5:25-34: Parallel account of the woman's issue of blood and her healing by touching Jesus' garment.
Luke 8:43-48: Another synoptic Gospel account of the same miracle.
Numbers 15:38-39: Instructions to the Israelites to make tassels (tzitzit) on the corners of their garments.
Deuteronomy 22:12: Commandment to put fringes on the four quarters of the garment.

Language Study

Key words from the original Greek text of Matthew 9:20 include:

"hem": The word used here is "kraspedon" (κράσπεδον), referring to a tassel or fringe of a garment.
"touched": "haptomai" (ἅπτομαι), often used to indicate touching with the intention of manipulating the object, suggests deliberate action on the part of the woman.
"garment": "himation" (ἱμάτιον), a term for an outer garment or cloak, which would have been worn publicly and could carry ritualistic significance.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The woman's act of touching the hem of Jesus' garment can be compared to other ancient practices where the afflicted sought healing through physical touch or by contacting a sacred object or person.

Such practices are found in various cultures, illustrating a common belief in the transference of power or holiness through touch.

In Greco-Roman culture, for instance, touching the robes of a healer or deity's statue was seen as a method of drawing divine power.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern medical perspective, the woman's illness may be understood in terms of a chronic gynecological condition, potentially a type of menorrhagia or bleeding disorder.

The long duration of her condition suggests it could have been a serious and possibly life-threatening ailment, contributing to significant physical and psychological stress.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have offered insights into this verse.

Some emphasize the woman's state of desperation and social alienation, others her remarkable faith in Jesus' healing power.

Commentators like Matthew Henry highlight the strength of her faith in believing that even the slightest touch would suffice for her to be healed.

William Barclay notes the significance of the encounter, illustrating Jesus' willingness to break cultural barriers and prioritize the individual's needs over ritual law.

Contemporary scholars often explore the interplay between Jewish purity laws and the new covenant established through Jesus' ministry.

Matthew 9

Matthew 9

What does Matthew 9:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 9:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?