Matthew 9:18-26 - The Great Interruption

We are in the book of Matthew, going through the miracles of Jesus. This is a story of two miracles, one occurring in the midst of the other. 

A little seminary lesson to kick off this morning…

Matthew abbreviates the stories to highlight certain important Jewish points to emphasize Jesus is the Messiah. Matthew is writing to a Jewish audience.

Luke is writing to Theophilus, which means “lover of God”, who we believe to be a significant person in the early Church who then circulated the gospel account. 

Mark’s account is pastoral, to encourage and build up the faith of the Church in the face of dangerous persecution. 

Anyway, Matthew for sure, condenses this story, focusing on the faith-response rather than the chronology. We will be drawing from parallel passages in Mark / Luke

Matthew 9:18-26

While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region.