Matthew (Written)

Wednesday, 23 April 2025

He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. Matthew 9:24

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“He said to them, ‘You withdraw! For not she died, the damsel, but she sleeps.’ And they derided Him” (CG).

In the previous verse, Matthew noted that when Jesus came into the house, He saw the pipers and those tumultuating. Now Matthew continues the thought, saying, “He said to them, ‘You withdraw!’”

In place of the idea of withdrawing, Mark’s gospel reads a bit differently, saying, “When He came in, He said to them, ‘Why make this commotion and weep?’”

There is no contradiction because both thoughts can easily be sewn together. Matthew focused on one thing, Mark on another. Thus, the entire thought could be expressed as, “When  He came in, He said to them, ‘Why make this commotion and weep? You withdraw!’” Understanding this logical and harmonious sequence of thought, Jesus continues with, “For not she died, the damsel, but she sleeps.”

In these words, Jesus uses a new word to describe the girl, korasion. It is a diminutive form of the word koré, a maiden. It will be seen only in Matthew and Mark. As an explanation of the word, Strong’s Lexicon says –

“The term ‘korasion’ is used in the New Testament to refer to a young girl or maiden. It is a diminutive form, often implying youth or smallness, and is used to describe a girl who is not yet of marriageable age. The term is used in contexts that highlight the innocence and vulnerability of young girls.”

A word that suitably translates this Greek word would be damsel. As for Jesus’ words, in saying that she is not dead, it would be misleading unless the thought is fully understood. The girl is dead in the sense that her soul has departed. There was no life left in her body. However, because of Jesus’ power and authority, she was not “dead and gone.”

Rather, like Lazarus in John 11, he was dead but with the surety of being restored to life –

“When Jesus heard that, He said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’”
…
Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” ¹³ However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
¹⁴ Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. ¹⁵ And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” John 11:4 & 12-15

Understanding the usage of the word by Jesus, He replaces the thought of death with that of sleep. Those gathered to mourn, however, knew what the state of being dead meant and what it looked like. Being mourners, they would have been around enough dead to identify the state with ease. Therefore, hearing Jesus’ words, they would have thought He was off His rocker. Thus, it says, “And they derided Him.”

Not knowing who Jesus is or the power He possessed, it would be like any other person coming into a bedroom or morgue where a dead person lay. The life had departed, and the end had come. If the person said, “This child is alive,” it would be a ridiculous proposition, and those hearing it would scold the speaker and tell him he had no idea what he was talking about.

However, the difference between such a scenario and the arrival of Jesus is infinite in scope. The Lord God had entered the death chamber.

Life application: It is extremely difficult for us to get our minds around the state of death. This is especially true when it is sudden and unexpected. Here is a vibrant child, brother, friend, coworker, etc. Each day you get up, and he is there. His not being there is the last thing one would think of because we are geared towards normalcy in such situations.

However, there may come a day when that person is suddenly dead. When this occurs, our minds actually shut down in various ways. The process of accepting that death has occurred can take a while. Even if we know it is true, we keep resurrecting the memory of the life that was, trying to reinstate it and mentally overcome what has taken place.

Eventually, there is the thought of complete loss because the state of death is fully accepted, and the connection is severed. Depending on the person, there are all kinds of things our minds will then make up. There are scenarios where the person is “in a better place,” is free from some enemy he may have faced (such as a physical limitation of some sort), etc.

For the Christian dealing with a departed believer, however, there is no need to make up such things in the mind. They are actually a reality that exists. The Bible absolutely assures us that because of Jesus, believers have entered a state of sleep that is only temporary in nature.

Whatever physical or mental trials we faced in life are set aside. And whatever supposed permanency the state of death brings about for others is voided in Christ. In Him is life. When a person comes to Jesus through belief in the gospel, His life is transferred to that person. The physical death we experience cannot overcome the spiritual life we have been granted.

Therefore, when the call is made at Jesus’ coming, it will be impossible for the believer to remain physically dead. Jesus’ word is the command of life. Nothing can override it, and nothing can block what He commands. Have faith in this. In Christ, death is defeated. Our separations may be painful, but they are temporary blips on the way to eternal glory –

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14

We are so grateful to You, O God, for giving us life, even while we live in these bodies of death. Unless Jesus comes first, we are set to return to the dust. But because of what He has accomplished, that will be a short nap leading to an eternal state of wonder and delight. Death? No fear here! Jesus has prevailed. We shall rise again. Hooray for Jesus! Amen.

Tuesday, 22 April 2025

When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, Matthew 9:23

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And Jesus, having come into the house of the ruler, and having seen the pipers and the crowd tumultuating.” (CG).

The previous verse noted that the woman who was bleeding for twelve years was saved through her act of faith. Now, the narrative returns to the death of the ruler’s daughter from verses 18 & 19. It continues with, “And Jesus, having come into the house of the ruler.”

Again, Matthew focuses on the overall narrative concerning Jesus’ actions but omits other details recorded by Mark and Luke. For example, Mark records the narrative this way –

“And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.’
³⁵ While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?’
³⁶ As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not be afraid; only believe.’ ³⁷ And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. ³⁸ Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue…”

Now, understanding the expanded context that falls between Matthew 9:22 and 9:23, it next says, “and having seen the pipers.”

Here the aulétés, pipers, are introduced. The word is from auleó, to play the flute or pipe. A single word that carries the correct meaning is piper. These people are only mentioned by Matthew. Mark and Luke focus on the mourners instead.

The Pulpit Commentary, citing several sources, says, “Even the poorest among the Israelites [his wife being dead] will afford her not less than two pipes, and one woman to make lamentation.” This, then, would be a sign of respect and something that a family would not do without. Along with these pipers, it also says, “and the crowd tumultuating.”

This would be the family and any paid professional mourners. These mourners are noted in Ecclesiastes 12:5 –

“For man goes to his eternal home,
And the mourners go about the streets.”

Mourners are mentioned elsewhere, such as in the Book of Jeremiah. As for the word translated as tumultuating, it is also a new word, thorubeo. It signifies to be in a tumult, disturb, clamor, make an ado or uproar, etc.

In this case, there would be wailers of various sorts, but the most tumultuating of the tumultuators would be the tumultuous women famous in the Middle East for their extremely loud (like a shrill) ulululululululu sounds.

These are produced by screaming while moving the tongue in such a way as to be exceedingly tumultuous. This calls attention to the location so that others will know an event is taking place. This loud ululululululu sound is heard at feasts of joy (such as weddings) as well as times of great mourning and lamentation.

Life application: If you have never heard the sounds referred to above, go to YouTube and type in something like “Ululation.” Up will come videos of women really going at it. That way, you can find out what it would have been like at such an event as described in this narrative.

Understanding the context, you can then practice making the same sound. Once you have it perfected, be sure to try it at church on Sunday morning while the pastor is meticulously interpreting Scripture. Maybe he will designate a special place for you for future sermons.

Lord God, it is a real treat to visit various parts of the world or even churches in our land that have people of other ethnic backgrounds as they worship and praise You from their own cultural backgrounds. You have sent Jesus, the Christ of the nations, to bring You glory, praise, and honor from all tongues. Be glorified in our praise, O God. Amen.

Monday, 21 April 2025

But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. Matthew 9:22

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And Jesus, having turned and having seen her, He said, ‘You take courage, daughter. Your faith, it has saved you.’ And, the woman, she was saved from the very hour” (CG).

In the previous verse, the woman with the hemorrhaging said to herself, “If only I shall touch His cloak, I will be saved.” Matthew now continues with, “And Jesus, having turned and having seen her.”

Matthew goes to the heart of the matter, omitting a few details provided by Mark and Luke. In Luke’s account, it says –

“And Jesus said, ‘Who touched Me?’
When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, ‘Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, “Who touched Me?”’
⁴⁶ But Jesus said, ‘Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.’ ⁴⁷ Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.” Luke 8:45-47

Only after all of this occurred does the following, as recorded by Matthew, continue the narrative, “He said, ‘You take courage, daughter.’”

Here are two new words, one right after the other. The first is the verb tharseó. It signifies to have courage or be encouraged, coming from tharsos, confidence, boldness, etc. The next new word is thugatér, a female child. In this case, Jesus would have spoken it as a Hebraism signifying a kindly address. Having said that, He next says, “Your faith, it has saved you.”

Most translations say, “made well,” “healed,” or something similar. The word, however, is sózó, to save, rescue, deliver, etc. An object lesson is being given to the reader as he follows Jesus’ words. This is confirmed again in the next words, saying, “And, the woman, she was saved from the very hour.”

The meaning of “that very hour” is explained in the verses from Luke noted earlier, meaning immediately. Her healing was instant, and it continued on from that time. It is an expression seen elsewhere, such as in Acts 16 –

“And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And he came out that very hour.” Acts 16:18

In two verses, the word sózó has been used three times. It is thus a witness to the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. It isn’t the touching of the tassel that brought about the change, except in her faith that it would be so. In the turning of Jesus to the woman, the emphasis is on the Person, Jesus, nothing else.

She needed to be saved, she believed that He could do it, her touching His tassel is the equivalent of her presenting her need to Him, but without wanting to be recognized in the process. Thus, her faith was in the capability of the Person, who then, in fact, saved her.

Life application: The woman had an issue of blood for twelve years. She, by faith alone, was brought to a state of complete healing. One could make a general comparison of her to those in the church. The narrative doesn’t say it, but it is clear from the events that the woman merely heard about Jesus, believed that He was capable of saving her, and she, by faith, reached out for salvation.

She can be used as a symbol of the church who have only heard of Jesus and what He is capable of and who, by faith alone, reaches out to Him for healing. The word is heard, the message is believed, and the salvation is realized.

Her twelve years of hemorrhaging can be equated to the church (the number of government), which is brought directly from a state of uncleanness to a state of salvation and being deemed clean. There are no works involved, and the one who is far away is brought near by the blood of Christ.

This woman was set apart from the congregation because of her issue. Thus, she can be considered as being brought near in this regard. God is giving us object lessons to understand what He is doing and will do through the coming of Christ to save the people of the world.

Pay heed to the simplicity of the message of this woman’s healing. There is nothing in the account that says we need to come through a pope, a rite of baptism, or anything else that some churches lay upon the people as some sort of requirement for being saved. Instead, the purity of the gospel stands. All are saved by grace through faith with nothing added. Be sure to keep the gospel simple. God in Christ has done it all. Hallelujah and Amen.

Lord God, thank You for making the process of salvation so simple. Jesus did the work, we hear the message, we believe the word, and we are saved. From there, we are sealed with Your spirit, cleansed and purified unto eternal salvation. Hooray for Jesus! Amen.

Sunday, 20 April 2025

For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” Matthew 9:21

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“For she said in herself, ‘If only I shall touch His cloak, I will be saved’” (CG).

In the previous verse, it noted the woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years. She came behind Jesus and touched the hem, meaning the tassel, of His garment. In doing this, we read, “For she said in herself.”

The verb is imperfect. It would be as if she was saying, “This will work, this will work, I know this will work.” She didn’t just say it as a passing thought, but it was an ongoing motivation that she was saying to herself, “If only I shall touch His cloak, I will be saved.”

Whether she had seen other miracles of Jesus or whether she had only heard of His power to heal, she was internally convinced that He could do what she hoped for. In fact, the parallel accounts in Mark and Luke tell us that this was her only hope –

“Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, ⁴⁴ came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.” Luke 8:43, 44

This woman had not only had a bleeding discharge for twelve years, but she had taken every path she could in order to find healing, and none could help. In the process, she had spent everything she had, but nothing worked. In hearing about Jesus, she had either seen or heard of healings that were completely effective.

Because of this, she trusted that the God of Israel had sent a Person who could tend to the needs of the people. Whether she felt He was the coming Messiah or just a prophet of the Lord, her faith in the God of Israel who had sent her was sufficient to save her from her affliction.

Life application: Matthew’s gospel noted that Jesus healed a leper on the way to Capernaum. It also noted that Jesus healed the centurion’s servant by a mere spoken word. Taking these two accounts together is probably what forms the basis for this woman’s faith.

She knew He could heal someone with a bodily affliction that rendered that person unclean according to the Levitical law. And not only could He do so, but He was also willing to do so. Further, she would have heard that Jesus, by a mere spoken word, was able to restore a paralytic.

Taking these two accounts together, which surely would have circulated in the area, this woman was able to deduce that Jesus could heal her and that it did not require His actively reaching out to touch her.

In her humility concerning her shameful condition, something that would have caused the people around her to avoid her at all costs, she determined to not bother Jesus with a direct appeal. Instead, she possessed the faith that He could save her apart from such things.

We can learn from her example. The Bible provides various truths about Jesus and salvation, but they are not all lumped into one paragraph. Rather, there will be instruction about what Jesus’ ministry means to us in Romans. There will be an explanation of how to appropriate that in Romans as well, but also in 1 Corinthians.

Ephesians and Colossians will build upon those things and explain the underlying process of how that takes place. In other words, like the woman who probably pieced together the basis for her faith from the accounts she had heard about, we also must piece together the basis for our faith from the record of Jesus and the explanation of what He has done.

God has logically structured the Bible to give us a full and detailed explanation of what He would do, what He was doing, and what He did in and through Jesus. He has also explained that process in detail after His coming.

The more we read the details provided in Scripture, the more perfectly we will understand the process. And further, the more we understand the process, the more grounded our faith will be. When troubled times come to our lives, we will be able to firmly avow that our faith remains strong. How will we do that without being grounded in the word that explains our salvation and position in Christ?

Lord God, thank You that we are saved by grace through faith. It takes the pressure off us to know that Jesus has done it all for us. Help us contemplate this marvelous salvation, study the process of it, and catalog what occurred so that we will stay strong and resolute in the faith we now possess. Amen.

Saturday, 19 April 2025

And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. Matthew 9:20

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And, you behold! A woman, blood-flowing twelve years, having approached behind, she touched the tassel of His cloak” (CG).

In the previous verse, it said that Jesus arose and followed the ruler and that His disciples followed Him also. Now, the narrative continues, saying, “And, you behold! A woman, blood-flowing twelve years.”

Two new words are seen here. The first is haimorroeó. It is derived from haima, blood, and rheó, to flow as water. Thus, it is a blood-flowing. It is only used here in the New Testament, but the Greek translation of the Old Testament uses it in Leviticus 15:33 to indicate the blood-flowing of menstruation. It is used this way in classic Greek medical writings as well.

According to Levitical law, this would make her unclean –

“If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her customary impurity, or if it runs beyond her usual time of impurity, all the days of her unclean discharge shall be as the days of her customary impurity. She shall be unclean. ²⁶ Every bed on which she lies all the days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her impurity; and whatever she sits on shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity. ²⁷ Whoever touches those things shall be unclean; he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.” Leviticus 15:25-27

The next new word is dódeka, twelve. It is a prominent number in Scripture. When it has typological or spiritual meaning, EW Bullinger notes that it signifies “perfection of government, or of governmental perfection.” For example, there are twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. They form the structure of the establishment of the nation of Israel and the church. Of this woman, it next says, “having approached behind.”

Another new word is introduced here, opisthen, signifying “from behind.” As she was unclean, she would not want to be seen or approached by another, lest they touch her and become unclean as well. As such what she is attempting to do is done stealthily to conceal her presence. Once she had approached him, it says “she touched the tassel of His cloak.”

Another new word, kraspedon, is seen. It is uncertain where it is derived from, but it signifies a margin, as in a fringe, border, hem, etc. In this case, it would be the tassel of His garment –

“Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ³⁸ ‘Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. ³⁹ And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, ⁴⁰ and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God. ⁴¹ I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.’” Numbers 15:37-41

These tassels were mandated by the Lord to spur the memory of the wearer of his obligation to the commands of the law. This extreme edge of the garment was what she reached for. It is what Malachi prophesied of hundreds of years earlier –

“But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings.” Malachi 4:2

The garments were cut in a way that they had four edges. The edge or wing of the garment is where the tassels would be affixed. Whether the woman knew of the prophecy of Malachi, or whether the prophecy merely referred to the events surrounding His powers exuding even from these wings, the fact that the healing was prophesied means that a change should be expected in the woman.

Her faith led her to the steps of the Messiah in anticipation of cleansing. What will transpire, therefore, will lead to another validation of the ministry of Jesus Christ, confirming Him as the One prophesied to come.

Life application: Healings such as the one anticipated in Malachi are recorded to validate that Jesus is the Messiah. If the woman will be healed in the verses to come, the purpose of the event will have been realized and recorded.

A Person was prophesied to come and do certain things in order to fulfill the Scriptures that were written about Him. When those things were fulfilled, there is now no longer a reason for them to be fulfilled again.

This is the problem with taking verses like these in Matthew and claiming that we can be healed like the woman. The validation of who Jesus is was for Israel. With the prophesies fulfilled, their fulfillment was recorded. Therefore, in Scripture we also have the validation that Jesus is the fulfillment of the role of Messiah.

Israel needs no more validation, and they should not expect it. They have the word and must accept what it says by faith. We have the word and are to accept it by faith. We should not expect the healings to come as they did at the time of Jesus’ ministry.

Instead, we can pray for them and allow God to be God. If He chooses to heal, we will be healed. If He allows our affliction to continue, it will do so. Don’t take verses out of their intended context. What is recorded has a context and a purpose that may not apply to us today.

Lord God, we know that You can do all things. When we pray for relief, it is because we desire it. But You may see a greater purpose in our afflictions. Help us to understand and accept Your will above all else. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.