Matthew 9:18-26 Meaning: Bold Faith in the Face of Death
18While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
19Jesus got up and followed him, as did his disciples.
20Behold, a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment;
21for she said within herself, “If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.”
22But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, “Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
23When Jesus came into the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd in noisy disorder,
24he said to them, “Make room, because the girl isn’t dead, but sleeping.” They were ridiculing him.
25But when the crowd was sent out, he entered in, took her by the hand, and the girl arose.
26The report of this went out into all that land.
18While 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.
19And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
20And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
21For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
22But 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.
23And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
24He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
25But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
26And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
18While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
19And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
20And behold, a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:
21for she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole.
22But Jesus turning and seeing her said, Daughter, be of good cheer; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
23And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute-players, and the crowd making a tumult,
24he said, Give place: for the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
25But when the crowd was put forth, he entered in, and took her by the hand; and the damsel arose.
26And the fame hereof went forth into all that land.
18While he is speaking these things to them, lo, a ruler having come, was bowing to him, saying that `My daughter just now died, but, having come, lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.'
19And Jesus having risen, did follow him, also his disciples,
20and lo, a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, having come to him behind, did touch the fringe of his garments,
21for she said within herself, `If only I may touch his garment, I shall be saved.'
22And Jesus having turned about, and having seen her, said, `Be of good courage, daughter, thy faith hath saved thee,' and the woman was saved from that hour.
23And Jesus having come to the house of the ruler, and having seen the minstrels and the multitude making tumult,
24he saith to them, `Withdraw, for the damsel did not die, but doth sleep,' and they were deriding him;
25but, when the multitude was put forth, having gone in, he took hold of her hand, and the damsel arose,
26and the fame of this went forth to all the land.
18As he spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler coming in did homage to him, saying, My daughter has by this died; but come and lay thy hand upon her and she shall live.
19And Jesus rose up and followed him, and [so did] his disciples.
20And behold, a woman, who had had a bloody flux [for] twelve years, came behind and touched the hem of his garment;
21for she said within herself, If I should only touch his garment I shall be healed.
22But Jesus turning and seeing her, said, Be of good courage, daughter; thy faith has healed thee. And the woman was healed from that hour.
23And when Jesus was come to the house of the ruler, and saw the flute-players and the crowd making a tumult,
24he said, Withdraw, for the damsel is not dead, but sleeps. And they derided him.
25But when the crowd had been put out, he went in and took her hand; and the damsel rose up.
26And the fame of it went out into all that land.
Meaning in one sentence
Matthew 9:18-26: Jesus raises a dead girl and heals a woman, showing that desperate faith brings his power into our hardest moments.
Context
Matthew 9 sits in the early part of Jesus' Galilean ministry, a time of growing opposition but also growing faith. Jesus has just finished responding to John the Baptist's disciples about fasting. Now two interruptions come his way. A synagogue ruler, named Jairus in Mark and Luke, falls at Jesus' feet. His daughter has died, yet he believes Jesus can bring her back. Jesus turns to go with him, but on the road a woman who has suffered from a bleeding condition for twelve years touches the edge of his cloak. She is healed immediately. Then Jesus continues to Jairus's house, where professional mourners have already gathered. He tells them the girl is only sleeping, and they laugh at him. He clears the room, takes the girl by the hand, and she rises. The news of this spreads across the region.
Key Words
Three words open the heart of this passage. First, the ruler 'worshiped' Jesus (proskuneō). The Greek pictures someone bowing down to kiss the hand of a king. This leader of the synagogue, a man of status, laid his dignity aside because he believed Jesus could do what no one else could. Second, the woman 'touched' his garment (haptō). The word carries the idea of fastening onto something, lighting a fire. She did not brush past him; she reached out with everything she had. Third, Jesus commends her 'faith' (pistis). Not her good intentions or her courage alone, but her trust that Jesus was enough. The same faith that drove the ruler to worship and the woman to reach out is what Jesus still responds to today.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have treasured this passage for different reasons. Protestant commentators like Matthew Henry see the two miracles as woven together to show Jesus' compassion for 'the ruler in his grief and the woman in her shame.' Wesley notes the ruler's immediate faith even as he faced death. Calvin focuses on the woman's faith, which he says was mingled with fear but still commended by Christ. Catholic interpreters often point to the woman's touch as a foreshadowing of sacramental contact with Christ's healing power. Orthodox readers see the raising of the girl as a sign of Christ's victory over death, which the Church celebrates at every Pascha. Despite these different emphases, all agree that Jesus invites desperate people to trust him.
A common misunderstanding
A common misunderstanding is that the girl was not actually dead but in a coma, and Jesus corrected a misdiagnosis. In fact, the mourners' loud wailing and instruments (v.23) indicate a real death. Mark and Luke say messengers arrived to report that she had died. Jesus calls death 'sleep' not to deny reality but to show he has the power to wake her. He is not correcting their facts; he is announcing his authority over what everyone thought was final.
Living This Out
Your situation may not look exactly like the ruler's or the woman's, but the desperation is familiar. A health diagnosis that won't go away. A relationship that feels dead. A prayer you have repeated until your voice is raw. This passage asks you to bring that thing to Jesus again this week, not with polished faith, but with real need. The ruler did not pretend to have all the answers; he just threw himself at Jesus' feet. The woman did not wait for an invitation; she reached out. You can do the same. It might be a whispered prayer on your way to work, or a moment of silence before a hard conversation. Jesus turned around for the woman, and he stopped for the ruler. He is not too busy for your one real need.
Main takeaway: Jesus has power over what seems hopeless, and he welcomes the faith that reaches for him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus helped a sad dad whose little girl had died. Jesus went to her and held her hand, and she woke up! On the way, a sick woman touched Jesus' coat and got better. Jesus wants us to come to him when we are scared or sad.
For ages 9, 12
In this story, a leader named Jairus asked Jesus to help his daughter who had died. While Jesus was walking to Jairus's house, a woman who was sick for twelve years touched his cloak and was healed. Jesus said her faith made her well. Then he went to the girl, took her hand, and she got up. Jesus has power over everything, even death. When you face something that seems impossible, you can bring it to Jesus, just like they did.
Questions People Ask
Why does Matthew put the woman's story inside the story of Jairus's daughter?
Matthew often groups miracles to show Jesus' authority. Here, he shows Jesus healing a long-term illness and raising a dead girl within moments of each other. The woman's twelve years of suffering match the girl's twelve years of life. Both stories emphasize faith and Jesus' power.
Was the girl actually dead or just sleeping?
She was dead. Mark and Luke report that messengers came from the house saying she had died. The mourners were already wailing. Jesus called her death 'sleep' to show that he would wake her, just as you wake someone from sleep.
What is the significance of the woman touching the 'fringe' of his garment?
The fringe (kraspedon) was the tassel Jews wore on their prayer shawls, as commanded in Numbers 15:38. It symbolized the commandments. Her touch was an act of faith, not magic. She believed that even the edge of Jesus' clothing carried his healing power.
Why did Jesus tell the mourners to leave?
Jesus often avoided public spectacle. He allowed only the girl's parents and three disciples to witness the miracle. The mourners laughed at him, so he sent them out. This also kept the event from causing a riot.
What does 'your faith has made you well' mean? Is faith the power that heals?
Jesus is not saying her faith itself was the power. The Greek word sōzō can mean heal or save. Her faith was the channel through which she received Jesus' power. It is not the strength of faith but the object, Jesus, that heals. He commended her trust in him.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study