What does this passage show about Jesus’ power over sickness and death?

This passage shows that Jesus’ power reaches into situations that look completely hopeless. A synagogue ruler believes his daughter is already dead, yet still asks Jesus to lay His hand on her. On the way, a woman who has suffered bleeding for twelve years is healed by simply touching His garment in faith. Jesus then takes the dead girl by the hand and she rises. He also opens blind eyes and frees a man who cannot speak because of a demon. All of this shows that no disease, no demon, and not even death itself can stand against Him.

Why did the woman with the issue of blood only touch the hem of Jesus’ garment?

The woman had been sick for twelve long years and seems to come in shame and fear, not wanting to draw attention to herself. She believes that even a small contact with Jesus, just touching the edge of His garment, will be enough for healing. This shows both her desperation and her confidence in His power. Her faith is not perfect, but it is real. Jesus turns, calls her “Daughter,” and says, “Be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.” He does not rebuke her for coming this way, but gently receives and honors her faith.

Why did Jesus say the ruler’s daughter is not dead but sleeping?

When Jesus comes to the ruler’s house, the mourners are sure the girl is dead. Jesus says, “The maid is not dead, but sleepeth,” and they laugh at Him. He is not saying she never truly died, but speaking about death as sleep, something from which He can easily wake her. This picture is often used for those who will be raised again. By using this word, Jesus shows His authority over death and gives a different view of it. For Him, raising her is as simple as waking someone from sleep, and He proves it when she rises at His touch.

What does according to your faith be it unto you mean for the two blind men?

The two blind men follow Jesus, calling Him “Son of David,” which shows they see Him as the promised king. When they reach the house, Jesus asks, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They answer, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touches their eyes and says, “According to your faith be it unto you,” and their eyes are opened. This does not mean faith itself has power apart from Him. It means He is pleased to work in line with the trust they place in Him. Their faith takes hold of His mercy and power, and He responds to that trust with healing.

What does it mean that the people were like sheep without a shepherd?

When Jesus looks at the crowds, He sees more than their outward needs. The passage says He is moved with compassion because they are faint and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. This picture means they lack true spiritual guidance and care. The leaders who should have been feeding, leading, and protecting them have failed. Instead of being safely gathered and taught, they are worn out and wandering. Jesus’ reaction is not anger but deep pity. He feels for their weakness and lost state, and this feeling leads into His words about the plentiful harvest and the few workers.

What does Jesus mean by the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few?

After seeing the crowds and feeling compassion for them, Jesus tells His disciples, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” The harvest picture shows many people ready to be gathered into God’s kingdom, needing teaching, care, and the good news. Yet there are not many true workers who will give themselves to this task. It is not that God is unwilling, but that people are slow to go. Jesus does not first tell the disciples to organize themselves, but to pray. They are to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field.

Why does Jesus tell the disciples to pray for labourers instead of sending them immediately?

Jesus will soon send His disciples out, but here He first tells them to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send labourers. This teaches that real work for God does not start with human plans, but with calling on God. The mission is His harvest, not theirs, so He must be the one who raises up and pushes out workers. Prayer also shapes their hearts. As they pray for workers, they begin to share His compassion for the scattered crowds. Often, those who truly pray this way become willing to be part of the answer, but the first step is seeking God’s help.

How can someone today apply the faith shown by Jairus and the sick woman?

Both Jairus and the woman with bleeding come to Jesus in deep need. Jairus falls before Him when his daughter has died. The woman, weak and unclean in the eyes of society, presses through the crowd just to touch His garment. Their faith is not perfect, but they both bring their helpless situation to Him. Today, this means not waiting until our faith feels strong, but coming to Jesus honestly in our fears and pain. We can call on Him in prayer, trusting His power and His kindness. He does not turn away those who come, even with weak or trembling faith.

Matt.9.18

Matthew 9:18

Q: Why did some people praise Jesus while the Pharisees said He worked by the prince of devils?

When the mute man oppressed by a demon is healed and begins to speak, the crowds are filled with wonder and say, “It was never so seen in Israel.” They see that what Jesus is doing is new in its depth and reach. The Pharisees, however, refuse to accept this and claim, “He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.” This shows how hard and blind their hearts have become. Faced with clear good, they twist it and call it evil. The same miracle leads some to worship and others to accuse, revealing that the problem is not in the work itself but in the heart that looks at it.

KJV

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.

The Healing Touch of Jesus

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.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.