Matthew 9:23-26

Matthew 9:23-26

[23] And  when Jesus  came  into  the ruler's  house,  and  the minstrels  and  the people  making a noise,  [24] unto them,  Give place:  for  the maid  not  dead,  but  sleepeth.  And  him  to scorn.  [25] But  when  the people  were put forth,  he went in,  and took  her  by the hand,  and  the maid  arose.  [26] And  the fame  hereof  went abroad  into  all  that  land. 

What does Matthew 9:23-26 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Perhaps Matthew of all the Gospel writers who recorded this incident mentioned the flute players because he wanted to stress Jesus" complete reversal of this situation. Even the poorest Jews hired flute players to play at funerals. [1] Their funerals were also occasions of almost unrestrained wailing and despair, which Matthew 9:23 reflects.
The crowd ridiculed Jesus by laughing at His statement ( Matthew 9:24). They thought He was both wrong and late in arriving, too late. They apparently thought He was trying to cover up His mistake and would soon make a fool of Himself by exposing His only limited healing power. However "sleep" is a common euphemism for death ( Daniel 12:2; John 11:11; Acts 7:60; 1 Corinthians 15:6; 1 Corinthians 15:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15; 2 Peter 3:4), and it was so in Jesus" day. [2] .
Jesus touched another unclean person. His touch rather than defiling Him restored life to the girl. Other prophets and apostles also raised the dead ( 1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:17-37; Acts 9:36-42). However, Jesus claimed to be more than a prophet. This miracle showed He had supernatural power over man"s last enemy, death. The Old Testament prophets predicted that Messiah would restore life ( Isaiah 65:17-20; Daniel 12:2).
"The raising of the dead to life is a basic symbolism of the gospel (e.g, Romans 4:17; Ephesians 2:1; Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:13). What Jesus did for the dead girl he has done for all in the Church who have experienced new life. There is too, beyond this life, the Church"s confidence that Jesus will literally raise the dead (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:22-23)." [3]
Matthew recorded that everyone heard about this incident ( Matthew 9:26). Consequently many people faced the choice of believing that Jesus was the Messiah or rejecting Him.
"We must learn to trust Christ and His promises no matter how we feel, no matter what others say, and no matter how the circumstances may look." [4]
Jesus" power to bring life where there was death stands out in this double instance of restoration, two witnesses for the benefit of Jewish readers especially.
"It is interesting that Jairus and this woman-two opposite people-met at the feet of Jesus. Jairus was a leading Jewish man; she was an anonymous woman with no prestige or resources. He was a synagogue leader, while her affliction kept her from worship. Jairus came pleading for his daughter; the woman came with a need of her own. The girl had been healthy for12years, and then died; the woman had been ill for12years and was now made whole. Jairus" need was public-all knew it; but the woman"s need was private-only Jesus understood. Both Jairus and the woman trusted Christ, and He met their needs." [5]