What does Matthew 9:19 mean?

In this instance, Jesus does not hesitate to respond to a request for physical healing. His mission on earth included healing God's people and freeing them from demon possession. The purpose of this is to demonstrate truth: Matthew showed previously that these miracles fulfilled prophesy, providing even more evidence that Jesus was the Messiah (Matthew 8:17).

This event likely takes place in Capernaum, Jesus' adopted hometown (Matthew 4:13). This is probably where Jairus served as an authority in the Jewish synagogue. We know from Luke that Jairus's only daughter is about 12 years old (Luke 8:41–42). Jairus kneels before Jesus to ask for help. Matthew quotes him as saying the girl has "just died," while Mark and Luke understand him to have said that she is dying. Most likely, messengers arrived to give the man sad news as he was speaking to Jesus.

Jesus gets up, probably from reclining around the dinner table, and heads toward Jairus's house with His disciples. They will experience at least one brief delay, however.