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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 9:22 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 9:22 presents a moment where Jesus honors the faith of a woman suffering from a condition that causes her to bleed.

This woman, having presumably exhausted other means of healing, believes that if she touches even the hem of Jesus' garment, she will be healed.

According to the narrative, she does so quietly in a crowd, presumably hoping not to draw attention to herself.

When Jesus turns and sees her, he addresses her directly as "Daughter," a term of affection and acknowledgment, and credits her faith as the reason for her healing.

Jesus' statement "be of good comfort" indicates his desire not only to heal her physically but also to offer emotional reassurance and comfort.

The verse concludes by affirming that the woman was indeed healed "from that hour," pointing to the immediacy of the miracle.

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Historical Context

The historical context of Matthew 9:22 is set in first-century Roman-occupied Judea, during the early part of Jesus' public ministry.

The cultural norms of the time meant that a woman with an issue of blood would be considered ceremonially unclean according to Jewish law (Leviticus 15:19-30), thus isolating her socially and religiously.

The fact that she sought to touch Jesus, a rabbi, is even more startling given these societal rules.

Her healing reflects the transformative power of Jesus' presence and undermines prevailing social and ceremonial boundaries.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse is illustrative of several key concepts:

Faith and Healing: It articulates a common theme in the Gospels that faith can be instrumental in one's healing, not just physical but spiritual as well.
Jesus' Authority: It underscores the divine authority of Jesus, who is capable of performing miracles and has power over illness.
Inclusivity of Jesus' Ministry: Jesus does not rebuke the woman for touching him despite her unclean state, which indicates the inclusiveness of his ministry, welcoming those marginalized by society.

Different denominations might emphasize various aspects of this event. For instance, some might focus on the individual action of faith, while others might highlight the community aspect, that Jesus was in a crowd and that the faith event occurred within a communal setting.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be applied in daily life in several ways:

Encouragement of Faith: Believers are encouraged to have faith and to believe that their faith has great power, even in desperate circumstances.
Compassion and Inclusivity: The example set by Jesus encourages individuals to show compassion and not shun those who are ostracized or considered unclean by society's standards.
Seeking Comfort in Faith: In times of distress or illness, individuals can be comforted by their faith.

Cross-References

Mark 5:25-34: This parallel passage in the Gospel of Mark gives a detailed account of the same event.
Luke 8:43-48: Luke also recounts this miracle, providing additional context and details.
Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This verse speaks to the essence of faith, which can be related to the faith exhibited by the woman.
Psalm 147:3: “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” This speaks to God's ability to heal, akin to the healing Jesus performs.

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text from this passage include:

“Thy faith” (σου ἡ πίστις sou hē pistis): This phrase emphasizes the personal nature of faith.

“Pistis” commonly refers to a conviction or belief with respect to man’s relationship to God and divine things.

“Hath made thee whole” (σέσωκέν σε sésōkén se): The Greek verb for "made ... whole" (σώζω sṓzō) means to save or to keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction.

This can mean healing, but it also carries the notion of spiritual salvation, underscoring a deeper aspect to the healing.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparing this narrative to other ancient myths and religions, many cultures have stories of miraculous healing that involve faith or acts of courage. For instance, the Greek myths are filled with gods intervening in human affairs to heal or curse.

However, a distinctive aspect of the story of Jesus and the woman is the humility and quiet nature of the woman's faith, compared with the more direct petitions to deities often found in myths.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the discussion of healing largely centers on medical interventions.

However, there is research on the placebo effect and the influence of faith and positive thinking on health outcomes. Without dismissing the need for medical treatment, some scientific literature acknowledges that a person's belief system can significantly impact their health and recovery process.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have commented on Matthew 9:22. For example:

John Calvin highlighted the true nature of faith and how it was illustrated by the woman's actions.
William Barclay discussed the courage of the woman as well as the love and immediacy of Jesus' response.
**Craig S.

Keener** often emphasizes the historical and cultural context of such passages, noting how Jesus' actions broke with societal norms.

**R.T.

France** points out the importance of faith in Jesus' ministry and the role it played in healing stories within the Gospels.

Each of these commentaries contributes to the understanding of this verse and offers insights into its significance from both a historical and theological standpoint.

Matthew 9

Matthew 9

What does Matthew 9:22 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 9:22 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?