Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 9:20
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind [him,] and touched the hem of his garment:
20. hem of his garment ] See ch. Mat 14:36 and Mat 22:5.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Mat 9:20-22
And touched the hem of His garment.
Touching Jesus
I. How many evils sin hath brought into the world.
II. We are too much disposed to seek human help instead of going directly to God.
III. However deep-seated and desperate the condition of the souls health, the Saviour can help us.
IV. The secrecy with which the afflicted woman sought help of Jesus.
V. The impression which the suffering woman had formed of Jesus. (J. H. Norton.)
Christ the Healer
The sinner and the Saviour.
I. The way in which these two are thrown together. As we say by chance this woman crosses His path; it was a by-errand of the Son of Man.
II. The occasion of their being brought together. It is the incurability of her disease by earthly skill that throws her upon the heavenly Physician. Mans failure brings her to One who cannot fail.
III. The point of connection between them.
IV. The womans need of Christ.
V. Christs need of the woman. The sun needs the earth as truly as the earth needs the sun. You may say, What would the earth be without the sun? Yes; but what would the sun be without an earth to shine upon? What would become of its radiance? All wasted. It would shine in vain. So Christ needed objects for the exercise of His skill, love, and power. The Lord hath need of us.
VI. The womans thoughts of Christ. She is modest, earnest, humble; so full of faith that she deems a touch enough. Like the garden, He cannot but give out His fragrance. The simplest form of connection with Him will accomplish the cure. (A. Bonar, D. D.)
Faiths approach to Christ
I. Faith comes with a deep despair of all other help but Christs.
II. Faith has a Divine power to discover Christ.
III. Faith comes with an implied trust in Christ.
IV. Faith seeks for its comfort, close contact with Christ.
V. Faith, with all its imperfections, is accepted by Christ.
VI. Faith feels a change from the touch of Christ. (J. Ker, D. D.)
The patient of many physicians
I. One touching out of many pressing on Jesus. There was love, power, and nearness enough for all the crowd, yet only one touched Christ for healing. We are near Christ in the house of God and at the holy table, yet perhaps do not by faith touch.
II. Her case is the worst of all.
1. She is the weakest in all the crowd, yet she presses through till she reaches Jesus. Our inability a needful lesson, but earnestness is a power. By grace are we saved. There is always a crowd between Christ and the inquiring soul-a crowd of past sins, evil spirits, etc.
2. She is the vilest of all, the most unfit to touch the Holy One, for her very touch defiles. Christ is cleansing for the vile.
3. Her coming is the worst-timed of all applications; it was unseasonable. He was in the midst of another case. The coming ill-timed He does not refuse.
4. Her coming seems to be in the very worst way; none other appears to have come so ill. She comes by stealth.
III. Her immediate healing.
1. Her coming to be healed is late, and yet immediate; late in reference to the past, immediate in the haste of this afternoon. The reason humbling, because she has spent all. The sinner does not come to Christ first, but after every other refuge has failed.
2. Her cure is immediate, complete, conscious.
3. She cannot depart in health without confessing Christ the Healer. The coiner need not, but the follower must bear the cross of Christ; it is lighter to bear afterward. (A. M. Stuart.)
The issue of blood healed
I. The womans condition, and touch, and cube.
1. Her condition represents that of every sinner.
(1) Diseased.
(2) Unclean and separate from the fellowship of god and His people.
(3) Hopeless of help from earthly physicians.
2. Difference between her touch and that of the crowd.
3. Her faith successful, though imperfect and mixed with error.
II. Why did not Jesus leave the woman in the concealment she sought?
1. That she may confess and glorify Christ before others.
2. That He may confess her and confirm her faith, and confer upon her further and higher blessings.
(1) He confesses her.
(2) He approves and confirms her faith.
3. He adds a further and spiritual blessing-Go in peace. This a word of power. (T. M. Macdonald, M. A.)
The true Healer tried last
Was not the same struggle seen in the case of Luther, issuing, too, in the same result? That cell in Erfurth heard sounds and saw sights of conflict and sorrow enough to make our hearts bleed. What tears that monk shed, what prayers he offered, what lacerations he inflicted upon his flesh to chase away its lusts, what hunger he endured that he might starve his appetites to submission, until he nearly killed the body in seeking to kill its sins, and he was found once and again nearly lifeless on the floor! But what of his sins? They were as vigorous as ever. Plied by many physicians, they yielded not; scourge, hunger, thirst, nightly vigils, all failed; and he had spent nearly all that he had, and was nothing the better, but rather the worse. Nearly all, I say, for he had still a little left. One more physician he had not tried, and that was the eternal city of Rome, which he must see; and there, amid its sanctities and miracles, he must and a perfect cure. He must climb on his bare knees the wondrous stairs of the Santa Scala, and there the burden will roll from his soul for ever. But the burden presses heavier as he climbs; and in the moment of his blackest despair, a remembered text rings in his ears like music from heavens gate, The just shall live by faith, and he rushes from the scene rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and putting no confidence in the flesh. Thus it is that men must despair before they can hope. (E. Mellor, D. D.)
An imperfect faith no hindrance to moral cure
The sun can send some of its light and heat through very murky skies, and the Sun of Righteousness can do the same, and even more. (E. Mellor, D. D.)
There may be much earthly rubbish in the soul that comes to Christ; but if there be in it one gleaming grain of the gold of faith, Christ will receive that soul with all its rubbish; for He knows well that in due time all that is worthless will drop away, that the eye of faith will sweep over a vaster horizon of truth from day to day, until we shall be light in the Lord, and shall not walk in darkness. (E. Mellor, D. D.)
Moral healing sought from selfish desire
Most of the religion of mankind begins in what may be viewed as selfishness, and then becomes transformed into love. Most of religion did I say? I might have said, the natural life of every one of us from childhood has followed the same law. Where is the child that began life with love? Life begins with hunger and other needs. The infant is a bundle of imperious and constant necessities. It loves no one, can love no one. Love has to be begotten, to be wakened up little by little as months roll on, and the expanding babe learns who it is that feeds and fondles it, whose arms they are that enfold it, whose face it is that reflects upon it the very light of heaven. Can anything be more selfish than the cries of the child which seeks nourishment and comfort, caring nothing from whom they come if they do but come? But can anything be more unselfish than the love which at length rises up in the soul? A love which makes the name of mother the sweetest, dearest name on earth; a love which will traverse seas and not be chilled by distance, and which feels that no tears are too many which are shed on the grave where she rests in peace. We cannot begin our Christian life at the highest point, or with the highest motives, any more than our natural life. (E. Mellor, D. D. )
The womans idea in touching the hem
The notions which the woman entertained of Christ were very confused. She was timid and shrinking-a woman probably of a sensitive temperament, her nervous system possibly injuriously affected by her disease; but only ignorance and superstition could have suggested the idea of a furtive touch of our Lords garments. (H. Allen, D. D.)
Sense helps to faith
Some instrumentality for connecting the faith of our souls with Christ we all, perhaps, require. Without it the faith even of the strongest might have difficulty in realizing Christ. Sense is the minister of the soul. We grasp Christ best when the hand of spiritual faith rests upon sensible things; only let us be sure that it is the Christ our spirits grasp, and not the mere sensible thing. (H. Allen, D. D.)
Brazen figures at Caesarea Philippi
This woman was a native of Caesarea. At the gates of her house, on an elevated stone, stands a brazen image of a woman on her bonded knee, with her hands stretched out before her, like one entreating. Opposite to this there is another image of a man erect, of the same materials, decently clad in a mantle, and stretching out his hand to the woman. Before her feet, and on the same pedestal, there is a certain strange plant growing, which, rising as high as the hem of the brazen garment, is a kind of antidote to all kinds of diseases. This figure is a statue of Jesus Christ, and it has remained even until our times, so that we ourselves saw it whilst tarrying in that city. (Eusebius.)
Curing straightway
The woman had not to undergo u tedious process, but was cured straightway. Physicians require time, and must use proper means. They physic you and diet you, and thus cure you gradually. The Redeemer never physicked or dieted His patients. He cured them straightway. (J. C. Jones.)
The cure was perfect-not better, but whole-every whit. All traces of the disease vanished. Complete-perfect. (J. C. Jones.)
Faith foes to Christ
Can you tell why the needle trembles to the pole? The buds feel their way to the spring? Flowers to sunlight? They are made for it, and souls are so made for Christ. (Dr. J. Ker.)
If I may:
I. if i may be allowed.
1. There is nothing to forbid your coming and resting your guilty soul upon Christ.
2. The very nature of the Lord Jesus Christ should forbid your raising a doubt about your being permitted to come and touch his garments hem.
3. Think of the fulness of Christs power to save and make a little argument of it.
4. Suppose you do come, you will not injure Him.
5. You shall rather benefit than injure Him.
6. Others just like you have ventured to Him, and have not been refused.
II. But can I? Faith in Christ is the simplest action that anybody ever performs.
III. I shall be made whole. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Confident timidity
I. Unobstrusively.
1. She said within herself, etc.
2. Came behind Christ.
II. Unceremoniously.
1. Came when Christ was engaged.
2. Touched His hem.
III. Undoubtingly. I shall be whole. Her faith was undoubting, therefore strong to overcome difficulties.
1. Subjective difficulty.
2. Objective difficulty.
3. Undoubting, hence strong to draw blessings from Christ. (J. S. Swan.)
Faith in its manifestations
We may regard the act of this woman as an expression of her faith.
1. Faith is a simple thing as an act. You exercise it when you consult your physician. In religious experience acts of faith are simple, but behind them there is a mental state, mysterious and sublime.
2. Great faith is compatible with great modesty. There may be great faith before God, yet fear before men.
3. Great faith is compatible with great ignorance.
4. Faith saves and then becomes an incentive to holiness. (F. C. Polton, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 20. A woman which was diseased with an issue of blood] . Mulier sanguinis profluvio laborans. Significatur hoc loco, fluxus muliebris, in SANIS, menstruus; in HAC perpetuus. It would be easy to explain the nature and properties of the disease here mentioned; but, when it is said that prudence forbids it, the intimation itself may be thought sufficiently explanatory of the disorder in question. There are some remarkable circumstances relative to this case mentioned by St. Mark, Mr 5:25, &c., which shall be properly noticed in the notes on that place.
The hem of his garment] The tsitsith, or fringes, which the Jews were commanded to wear on their garments. See Nu 15:38, and the note there.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Mark addeth, Mar 5:26,27, that she had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse; when she had heard of Jesus, she came in the press behind, and touched his garment, &c. Luke saith, the border of his garment. In the crowd there cometh a woman that had a bloody flux twelve years. Inveterate diseases are hard to be cured. Nor had means been neglected, she had tried many physicians, and had spent all her estate upon them. She
came behind him, out of modesty, and perhaps shame, desiring not to be taken notice of. That which induced her to come, was the fame she had heard of Jesus, and a persuasion wrought in her heart, (doubtless by the Spirit of God), that if she could but come to touch the hem or border of his garment she should be cured. In this she judged rightly, that Christ was all virtue, and that his virtue was not restrained to his laying his hand upon her. She believed that the oil poured on his head was like that poured on the head of Aaron, which ran down to the skirts of his garment. But if she thought that she could thus steal a cure, and that Christs cures flowed not from his grace and good will, but a kind of necessity, herein she wonderfully erred, and Christ afterward let her know it, though he pardoned her mistake.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And behold a woman which was diseased….. This affair happened in the streets of Capernaum, as Christ was going from the house of Matthew the publican, to the house of Jairus the ruler of the synagogue, which were both in this city. This poor woman’s case was a very distressed one; she had been attended
with an issue of blood twelve years; it was an uncommon flux of a long standing, was inveterate, and become incurable; though she had not been negligent of herself, but had made use of means, applied herself to regular physicians, had took many a disagreeable medicine, and had spent all her substance in this way; but instead of being better, was worse, and was now given up by them, as past all cure. This woman might be truly called , x “the greater profluvious woman”, in the language of the doctors; for if one that had a flux but three days was called so, much more one that had had it twelve years. She having heard of Jesus, and his miraculous cures, had faith given her to believe, that she also should receive one from him; wherefore she
came behind him, through modesty, being ashamed to come before him, and tell him her case, especially before so many people; and fearing lest if her case was known, she should be thrust away, if not by Christ, yet by the company; she being according to the law an unclean person, and unfit for society:
and touched the hem of his garment; which was the , or “fringes”, the Jews were obliged to wear upon the borders of their garments, and on it a ribband of blue; see Nu 15:38 in both which places Onkelos uses the word , the same with
, used here, and in Mr 6:56 and rendered “hem”. The Jews placed much sanctity in the wear and use of these fringes; and the Pharisees, who pretended to more holiness than others, enlarged them beyond their common size; but it was not on account of any peculiar holiness in this part of Christ’s garment, that induced this poor woman to touch it; but this being behind him, and more easy to be come at, she therefore laid hold on it; for it was his garment, any part of it she concluded, if she could but touch, she should have a cure. However, we learn from hence, that Christ complied with the rites of the ceremonial law in apparel, as well as in other things.
x Ib. Issure Bia, c. 6. sect. 7, 8. & in Misn. Nidda, c. 4. sect. 7.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The border of his garment ( ). The hem or fringe of a garment, a tassel or tuft hanging from the edge of the outer garment according to Nu 15:38. It was made of twisted wool. Jesus wore the dress of other people with these fringes at the four corners of the outer garment. The Jews actually counted the words Jehovah One from the numbers of the twisted white threads, a refinement that Jesus had no concern for. This poor woman had an element of superstition in her faith as many people have, but Jesus honours her faith and cures her.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Hem [] . Rev., border. The fringe worn on the border of the outer garment, according to the command in Num 14:38. Dr. Edersheim (” Life and Times of Jesus “) says that, according to tradition, each of the white fringes was to consist of eight threads, one of them wound round the others; first seven times, with a double knot; then eight times with a double knot; then eleven times with a double knot; and, lastly, thirteen times. The Hebrew characters representing these numbers formed the words Jehovah One.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And, behold, a woman,” (kai idou gune) “And behold (your attention is called to) a woman,” a special woman in need, one widely known for her extended illness and medical treatments that had been in vain, Mr 5:25; Luk 8:43.
2) “Which was diseased with an Issue of blood twelve years,” (haimorroouse dideka ete) “Suffering from a flow of blood for a period of twelve years;” She was held to be unclean by Jewish law, for twelve years, so that her husband could not touch her, without also being considered unclean, Lev 15:25.
3) “Came behind him,” (proselthousa opisthen) “Approaching behind,” as He was on His way to the home of Jairus, the Rabbi synagogue ruler. Being unclean, with womanly shame, and chronic ill health, shrinking, desiring to conceal herself, she approached Him from behind.
4) “And touched the hem of his garment:” (hepsato tou kraspedou hou himatiou autou) “Touched the fringe or tassel of his garment;” To her it seemed that she believed that she would be healed if she touched Him, as surely as if He touched her. She perhaps feared He would not touch her, knowing her to be unclean. The hem or tassel of His garment was nearest to her, and the most sacred of the garments, Num 15:37-40; Deu 22:12.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
20. And, lo, a woman who had been afflicted with a bloody flux. For twelve successive years the bloody flux had lasted, and the woman was so far from being negligent in seeking remedies, that she had spent all her substance on physicians All this is expressly stated by the Evangelists, that the miracle may shine with brighter glory. When an incurable disease was removed so suddenly, and by the mere touch of a garment, it is perfectly obvious that it was not accomplished by human power. The thought of the woman that, if she only touched Christ’s garment, she would immediately be cured, arose from an extraordinary impulse of the Holy Spirit, and ought not to be regarded as a general rule. We know how eagerly superstition is wont to sport in foolish and thoughtless attempts to copy the saints; but they are apes, and not imitators, who take up some remarkable example without the command of God, and are led rather by their own senses than by the direction of the Spirit.
It is even possible that there was a mixture of sin and error in the woman’s faith, which Christ graciously bears and forgives. Certainly, when she afterwards thinks that she has done wrong, and fears and trembles, there is no apology for that kind of doubt: for it is opposed to faith. Why did she not rather go straight to Christ? If her reverence for him prevented, from what other source than from his mercy did she expect aid? How comes it, then, that she is afraid of offending him, if she was convinced of his favorable regard?
Yet Christ bestows high commendation on her faith. This agrees with what I have lately noticed, that God deals kindly and gently with his people, — accepts their faith, though imperfect and weak, — and does not lay to their charge the faults and imperfections with which it is connected. It was by the guidance of faith, therefore, that the woman approached to Christ. When she stopped at the garment, instead of presenting herself in prayers that she might be cured, inconsiderate zeal may have drawn her a little aside from the right path; particularly as she soon afterwards shows that she had made the attempt with some degree of doubt and uncertainty. Were we even to grant that this was suggested to her by the Spirit, it still remains a fixed rule, that our faith must not be driven hither and thither by particular examples, but ought to rest wholly on the word of God, according to the saying of Paul, Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, (Rom 10:17.) This is a highly necessary warning, that we may not dignify with the name of faith any opinion which has been rashly embraced.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(20) Behold, a woman . . .The issue of blood was probably of the kind that brought with it ceremonial uncleanness (Lev. 15:26), and this accounts for the sense of shame which made her shrink from applying to the Healer openly, and from confessing afterwards what she had done. It is significant that the period of her sufferings coincided with the age of the rulers daughter. His sorrow was sudden after twelve years of joyful hope; hers had brought with it, through twelve long years, the sickness of hope deferred. St. Mark and St. Luke add (though in the latter some MSS. omit the words) that she had spent all her substance on physicians, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse; and the former states (what is, of course, obvious) that she came because she had heard of the things concerning Jesus.
Touched the hem of his garment.The incidental notice is interesting as making up, together with Mat. 14:36, Joh. 19:23, all that we know as to our Lords outward garb. There was first, nearest the body, the coat or tunic () without seam, woven from the top throughout; then, over that, the garment or cloak (), flowing loosely after the manner of the East; and this had its border or fringe, probably of a bright blue mingled with white, that on which the scribes and Pharisees laid stress as being in accordance with the Law (Num. 15:38), and which they wore, therefore, of an ostentatious width (Mat. 23:5). Later tradition defined the very number of the threads or tassels of the fringe, so that they might represent the 613 precepts of the Law.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
52. EIGHTH MIRACLE HEALING THE ISSUE, Mat 9:20-22 .
20. Behold, a woman The evangelist’s narrative makes this, as it were, a miracle within a miracle. See notes on Mar 5:25-34.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And behold, a woman, who had a discharge of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border (or ‘fringe’ or ‘tassel’) of his cloak. For she said within herself, “If I do but touch his garment, I will be made whole.” ’
In the crowd that followed Jesus was a woman who ought not to have been there, for she was permanently ritually unclean (Lev 15:25). She had a flow of vaginal blood that never stopped flowing. (Luke tells us that she had spent a fortune on doctors, and now she was in poverty and all hope had gone). But she had heard of Jesus, and no doubt disguised in some way, crept into the crowd around Him. She knew that what she was about to do was unforgivable, and would not want her neighbours to know that she was there. For when she touched this prophet she would be making Him ritually unclean, together with all the people around her who touched her. Religiously she was human dynamite. But her desperation overrode everything else and quietly and surreptitiously she made her way through the crowd and touched either the hem of His robe or the tassel required to be worn by all Jewish males in Num 15:37-38 (compare Mat 14:36). The idea of the tassels which every Jewish male was supposed to wear in order to indicate his concern for God’s commandments would be of great interest to his Jewish readers.
She only touched the hem of His garment,
As to His side she stole,
Amidst the crowd that gathered around Him,
And straightway she was whole.’
She may thus in fact have touched one of the tassels that every Jewish man had on his garment (Num 15:38), but either way it was effective. Immediately she sensed the change in her. For the first time in years the flow of blood had dried up. She was healed. She would hardly have been able to believe it. It would have seemed too good to be true.
It was a picture of what could also happen to Israel if only they too would reach out and touch Jesus. As God had promised to the woman in Ezekiel 16 so long before, full restoration was available when she was ready to turn to Him.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
An interlude:
v. 20. And, behold, a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment.
v. 21. For she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole.
v. 22. But Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith had made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.)
Another applicant for help, a woman that had a bloody flux, a disagreeable, weakening disease, rendering Levitically unclean, Lev 15:1-33, having spent all her substance in the fruitless quest of health. From behind she came, partly from shame on account of her uncleanness and morbid sensitiveness due to her condition, partly from humility. Only the fringe of His coat she wanted to touch, the outer of the four tassels which Jesus, in accordance with the commandment, Num 15:38, wore to remind of the commandments. She had the firm conviction, based on her simple faith in His almighty power, that such a mere touching would suffice to render her whole. There was no cunning and superstition in her action. Only a living, strong faith could have such certainty that a mere touch of the garment’s hem would restore to health. She hoped, incidentally, to remain undetected in the dense crowd which was pressing about the Lord, Mar 5:30-32. But Jesus felt the touch, just as He knew of her presence and her eager desire. He turned around, and seeing her, He added His comforting assurance to the miracle which had even then taken place. All fear must vanish at His kind words, at His cheering tone of voice, in rhythmic cadence. She has entered, by her faith, into the close and honoring relation of a daughter to Him, and that same faith has gained from Him the fulfillment of her wish. She is a healed woman. He sets forth her faith as an example before the people, just as He found it necessary, about this time, to encourage the ruler with the words: Fear not, only believe, Mar 5:36. “Thus thou seest what faith is and does, when it clings to the person of Christ, namely, such a heart as deems Him its Lord and Savior, the Son of God, through whom God revivals Himself and has promised us His grace, that for His sake and through Him He wants to hear and help us. That is the true spiritual, internal worship, when the heart deals with Christ and calls upon Him, though it speak not a word, and gives Him the right honor, believes Him to be the true Savior, who knows and hears also the secret desires of the heart, and proves His help and power, though He does not at once and externally permit Himself to be felt and handled in such a manner as we think.”
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Mat 9:20 . The particular kind of haemorrhage cannot be determined. Some: excess of menstruation. Others: haemorrhoids. From its having lasted twelve years , it may be inferred that the ailment was periodical .
] out of modesty. ] LXX. Num 15:38 , . Such was the name given to the tassel which, in accordance with Num 15:38 f., the Jew wore on each of the four extremities of his cloak, to remind him of Jehovah’s commands. Lund, Jd. Heiligth. ed. Wolf, p. 896 f.; Keil, Archol. 102; Ewald, Alterth. p. 307.
The article points to the particular tassel which she touched. Comp. Mat 14:36 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him , and touched the hem of his garment:
Ver. 20. And, behold, a woman, &c. ] This history and occurrence comes in here by a parenthesis, and by a sweet providence, for the exercise and increase of Jairus’s faith and patience. Jairus could have wished her far enough at that time, because she hindered our Saviour from making haste to his dying daughter. But she shall be dead outright, the woman cured, and he thereby confirmed, ere his desire shall be accomplished; that God in all may be glorified.
Which was diseased, &c. ] And had lavished money out of the bag for help, but had had none, Isa 46:6 . Nay, she had suffered many things of the physicians, who had well nigh officiously killed her, and had utterly exhausted her. a This made Chaucer take for his motto, Farewell, doctor; and the Emperor Adrian cry out upon his deathbed, Many physicians have killed the king, . Dio.
Came behind him ] Either as abashed of her blushful disease, or because she could not come before him for the crowd, &c.
a Medici persaepe aegros officiose occidunt.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
20. ] The , see ref. Num., was the fringe or tassel which the Jews were commanded to wear on each corner of their outer garment, as a sign that they were to be holy unto God. The article, as in ch. Mat 14:36 , designates the particular tassel which was touched.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 9:20-22 . The story is suspended at this point by an interlude.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Mat 9:20 , : a new applicant for help appears on the scene, on the way to Jairus’ house. , a woman who had suffered for twelve years from some kind of bloody flux. : realistic feature; from womanly shame or the morbid shrinking of chronic ill-health, or out of regard to the law concerning uncleanness (Lev 15 ). , Hebrew (Num 15:38 ), fringes at the four corners of the outer garment, to remind of the commandments. In dress Jesus was not nonconformist. His mantle, , had its like other people’s. , touched one of the tassels; the least possible degree of contact enough to ensure a cure, without notice; faith, superstition and cunning combined. Mat 9:21 . : such was her little private scheme. Mat 9:22 , . . Matthew’s narrative here is simple as compared with that of Mark and Luke, probably a transcript from Apostolic Document, concerned mainly about the words of Jesus. So far as our evangelist is concerned the turning round of Jesus might be an accident, or due to consciousness of a nervous jerk instinctively understood to mean something. , , again as in Mat 9:2 , a terse, cordial sympathetic address; there child to a man, here daughter to a mature woman. , no notice taken of the superstition or the cunning, only of the good side; mark the rhythm: , again in Luk 7:50 , where, with , it forms a couplet. , perfect, not future, to convey a feeling of confidence = you are a saved woman. , and so she was from that hour. A true story in the main, say Strauss and Keim, strictly a case of faith-cure.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat 9:20-22
20And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak; 21for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.” 22But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.
Mat 9:20 “a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years” We learn more details about this account from Mar 5:26 and Luk 8:43. Apparently she had spent all of her money on doctors and had received no help. We know of some of the magical cures in rabbinical Judaism from the Talmud, particularly Shabb, 110 A and B. One of the cures was to carry ostrich eggs or barley corn obtained from the dung of a white donkey around one’s neck. One can imagine the grotesque kinds of cures this woman had tried during these twelve years. This particular kind of illness made her ceremonially unclean and unwelcome in regular Jewish worship services (cf. Lev 15:25). Also she was probably physically exhausted most of the time.
Mat 9:21 “if I only touch His garment, I will get well” There was an element of superstition in this woman’s faith and yet Jesus honors even her weak faith (third class conditional sentence). Based on Lev 15:19 ff. it would have been illegal for her to touch a rabbi because it would have made Jesus ceremonially unclean. Jesus was more concerned with people than He was with ceremonial laws!
The garment referred to was possibly (1) Jesus’ outer robe (cf. Joh 19:2) or (2) Jesus’ prayer shawl (talith), which He used to cover His head during worship (cf. Num 15:38-40; Deu 22:12; Mat 23:5) and worn on the shoulders at other times.
Mat 9:22 “your faith has made you well” This is literally the term “saved.” It was used in its OT sense of “physical deliverance” (cf. Jas 5:15). This woman’s faith, weak though it was because of superstition, was still honored by Jesus. In the NT it is the object of ones faith that is the issue.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
a woman, &c. Not the same miracle as in Mar 5:25 and Luk 8:43. See App-138.
an issue of blood = a hemorrhage. Greek. haimorroeo. Occ only here.
hem: the tassel at one of the four corners, to touch which was a mark of profound respect. But see App-188, and compare Num 15:37-41.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
20.] The , see ref. Num., was the fringe or tassel which the Jews were commanded to wear on each corner of their outer garment, as a sign that they were to be holy unto God. The article, as in ch. Mat 14:36, designates the particular tassel which was touched.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 9:20. , a woman) Eusebius[421] narrates that the statue of this woman and of the Lord healing her was still in existence in his time.-H. E., Bk. vii., c. 17.-, from behind) sc. out of modest humility.- , the hem or fringe) See Num 15:38, S. V. Our Lord performed even that part of the law. There is no valid argument from the dress which our Lord then wore to the efficacy of relics.
[421] A celebrated ecclesiastical historian; born about A.D. 267; became Bishop of Csarea in Palestine, A.D. 313 or 315; and died A.D. 338 or 340.-(I. B.)
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Mat 9:20-22
Jesus Heals the Woman with an Issue of Blood
Mat 9:20-22
20-22 And behold, a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years.-This interruption naturally delayed the arrival of Jesus at Jairus’ house; the woman is described as having “an issue of blood twelve years.” We not told any of the particulars of the nature of the hemorrhage, but the obvious supposition is probably correct. (Lev 15:19-33.) She had suffered for twelve years and had sought in vain physicians to heal her, but grew worse rather than better. She had faith in Jesus’ power to heal her. Jesus and his disciples were following Jairus, and a multitude of people was following them; this poor woman “came behind him, and touched the border of his garment”; literally “border” means a tassel of threads suspended from each of the four corners of the upper garment; it means the fringe worn on the border of the outer garment. (Num 15:38.) She had said or reasoned within herself that “if I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole.” Her faith in Jesus’ power to heal her was so great that she thought that if she could but just touch his garment or the fringe on his garment she could be made whole. Such a faith moved her to press her way through the crowd to Jesus and stretch forth her hand that she might touch his garment. She had heard of Jesus and believed that she would be cured by touching the border of his garment. She did this. Matthew omits the facts narrated by Mark and Luke that Jesus insisted on being told who had touched him; the disciples taught that it was preposterous to make such inquiry as there was a great multitude thronging about him. Jesus turned and saw the woman and said, “Daughter, be of good cheer; thy faith bath made thee whole.” Her faith had brought her to Jesus; it had caused her to press through the thronging multitude to reach him, and now she was blessed by the recognition of her faith and a complete cure of her ailment. Her faith had been rewarded by the restoration of her health. Her faith was not the source of the healing, but it brought her into touch with Jesus who had the power to heal.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
behold: Mar 5:25-43, Luk 8:43-56
an issue: Lev 15:25-33
touched: Mat 14:36, Mar 5:28, Mar 6:56, Mar 8:22, Act 5:15, Act 19:12
hem: Mat 23:5, Num 15:38, Num 15:39, Deu 22:12, Luk 8:44
Reciprocal: Exo 39:26 – hem Mat 8:15 – touched Luk 6:19 – sought Act 4:22 – forty
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
9:20
On the way to the ruler’s house an afflicted woman sought relief from a chronic case of hemorrhage of blood of twelve years’ standing. Her only contact with Jesus was that of touching the hem of his garment. There was no literal curative properties in the clothing of the Lord, but the woman thought there was and her faith was manifested by touching it which induced him to favor her.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him; and touched the hem of his garment:
[Diseased with an issue of blood.] Zeba; in Talmudic language. The Talmudic tract may serve for a commentary here.
These things were acted in the streets of Capernaum: for there Matthew lived, and there Jairus also: and in his passage from the house of the one to the house of the other, this diseased woman met him. Weigh the story well, and you will easily judge what is to be thought of that story concerning the statues of this woman and Christ, set up at Paneas, or Caesarea Philippi: of which Eusebius speaks.
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
While Christ is on his way to the ruler’s house, a diseased woman comes behind him, touched his garment, and is instantly healed; the virtue lay not in her finger, but in her faith; or rather in Christ, which her faith instrumentally drew forth.
Observe here, how faith oft-times meets with a sweeter welcome than it could expect. this poor woman came to Christ trembling, but went away triumphing; Christ bids her be good comfort, thy faith hath made thee whole.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Mat 9:20-22. And, behold, a woman which was diseased According to the circumstances of her disease, as mentioned by Mark and Luke, it was incurable by any human power, and she herself knew it to be so, having been afflicted with it for twelve years, and tried the skill of many physicians, probably of all that were of note in the country; and having spent all that she had upon them, and yet could not be healed by any, nay, nor relieved in any measure; for, after all their endeavours to remove her complaint, she was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. But having heard of Jesus, and the wonderful cures which he had wrought, she believed that his power was sufficient to heal her also. Being ashamed, however, publicly to mention her case, and learning that many had before been healed by touching him, she, out of bashfulness and humility, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment The womans distemper being of such a nature as to render those unclean whom she touched, perhaps she durst not lay her hand on the person of so great a prophet, nor touch any part of his garment but its hem; to touch which, however, she believed was sufficient to effect the cure. For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole Thus showing, as well the strength of her faith, as the greatness of her humility; and straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up, namely, by the invisible power which Christ secretly exerted, for he well knew both what was passing in her mind, and what she did. And Jesus turned him about, &c. It was necessary that the ministry of the Son of God should be rendered illustrious by all kinds of miracles, and that the whole people of the country where he lived should have the highest idea and the firmest persuasion of his power. And it was for advancing these great ends, that the success of this womans attempt equalled the faith by which she was influenced. And for the same reasons, Jesus would by no means allow her faith to remain unnoticed and unapplauded. Therefore, immediately turning about in the crowd, he asked, says St. Mark, Who touched my clothes? This he did, that the woman might be brought to make a confession of the whole matter; that the power of her faith, and the greatness of the cure, might be made manifest, to the glory of God and for the instruction of others; and he might have an occasion given him of encouraging and comforting her, that she might persevere in the exercise of similar humility and faith, during the rest of her life. And when he saw her When, in consequence of his making this inquiry, she came forward toward him, and confessed what she had done, he said, in a most gentle and condescending manner, Daughter, be of good comfort Gr. , take courage: thy faith hath made thee whole Thou hast received a cure through thy faith in my power and goodness: hold fast that faith therefore unto the end. Doubtless she was struck with fear when Jesus turned and looked upon her, lest she should have offended him by touching his garment privately; and the more so because she was unclean according to the law. Lev 15:25. Hence Mark says that she came forward fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, and fell down before him. And the woman was made whole from that hour This incidental miracle appears very grand, when the relation it bears to the principal one is considered. Jesus is going to give a specimen of that almighty power, by which the resurrection of all men to immortality shall be effected at the last day; and behold, virtue, little inferior to that which is capable of raising the dead to life, issues from him through his garment, and heals a very obstinate disease, which, having baffled the powers of medicine for twelve years, had remained absolutely incurable, till the presence of Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life, chased it away. The cure, though complete, was performed in an instant, and the woman knew it by the immediate ease which she felt, by the return of her strength, by the cheerfulness of her spirits, and by all the other agreeable sensations which accompany sudden changes from painful diseases to perfect health. This Mark expresses shortly and elegantly, ( ,) She felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
THE BLOODY HEMORRHAGE
Mat 9:20-22; Mar 5:25-36; Luk 8:43-50. Mark: A certain woman, being with a hemorrhage of blood twelve years, and having suffered much from many physicians, and spending all things in her possession, and being profited as to nothing, but rather having come to the worst, hearing concerning Jesus, coming behind in the crowd, touched His garment. For she said, If I may touch His garments, I shall be saved. And immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she knew that she was healed from her disease. The presumption is that this woman did not have lung hemorrhage, as they are not apt to survive so long. We have no intimation as to the character of the hemorrhage. It must have been very serious, as she had availed herself of all possible medical aid, even submitting to financial bankruptcy. We have the significant statement, polla pathousa hupo pollon iatron, having suffered much from many physicians, involving the conclusion that these physicians, instead of relieving the ailment, had greatly augmented her suffering. Doubtless this is a very significant truth; in the majority of cases, the medical treatment only adds to the suffering of the patient, without curing the disease. This poor victim of a twelve years hemorrhage had not only suffered much gratuitously, without receiving any benefit, but had expended all of her living and come down to poverty. Now that she has nothing, the physicians will not medicate her; therefore, in her hopeless desperation, she is in good fix to turn over the work to Jesus. You see, from this illustration, that there is no real conflict between Divine healing and medical treatment, as they seldom come in competition; the people, like this woman, going to the ultimata thula with physicians before they really turn over the case to Jesus, and trust Him alone to heal them. And immediately, Jesus knowing in Himself that the power had gone out from Him, turning in the crowd, He said, Who touched My clothes? And His disciples said to Him, You see the crowd treading upon You, and You say, Who touched Me? And He was looking around to see the one having done this. And the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done unto her, came and fell before Him, and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, Daughter, thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace, and be thou whole from thy disease. Here we see an indisputable confirmation of bodily healing through faith, precisely as the soul is healed through faith.
We do not get what we ask for, but what we believe for, our faith being the measuring line of our reception from God. The human side of Divine healing is simple faith in Jesus for that very thing, as He is no respecter of persons. The great law, As your faith is, so be it unto you, is applicable to the body as to the soul. We do not say you must discard your physician, but we do say that you must have faith in Jesus alone to heal you. Perhaps if Jesus had come along at an earlier day, when she was paying out her money and looking to those physicians to heal her, her faith in them would have vitiated her faith in Jesus, and thus defeated her healing. Your physician may help you, like your nurse; but you make a great mistake when you look to them for healing. In this I do not depreciate the medical profession, as the most competent physicians I have met in my extensive travels have confessed to me their utter incompetency to heal the sick, but only to assist nature, it being the province of God alone to give health and life.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
A hemorrhage is an uncontrolled bleeding. This woman had suffered with one somewhere in her body for 12 years. Many commentators assume it had some connection with her reproductive system. In any case bleeding rendered a Jewish person ritually unclean (cf. Lev 15:19-33). She should have kept away from other people and not touched them since by doing so she made them unclean. However hope of healing led her to push her way through the crowd so that she might touch Jesus. She apparently believed that since Jesus’ touch healed people, if she touched Him she would get the same result. The fringe of Jesus’ cloak (Mat 9:20) was probably one of the four tassels that the Jews wore on the four corners of their cloaks to remind them to obey God’s commands (Num 15:37-41; Deu 22:12; cf. Mat 23:5).