Matthew 9:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

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

NASB: But Jesus, turning and seeing her, said, 'Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.' And at once the woman was made well.

CSB: Jesus turned and saw her. "Have courage, daughter," he said. "Your faith has saved you." And the woman was made well from that moment.

NLT: Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, 'Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.' And the woman was healed at that moment.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

A woman has touched the edge of Jesus' cloak or, perhaps, the tassels dangling from the corners of it. For 12 years, this woman has suffered with a disease that caused an ongoing "discharge of blood" that may have been menstrual in nature. She had exhausted her resources trying to get help from doctors, but the symptoms only got worse. When she heard about Jesus miraculously healing so many people, she planned to touch His garment. She believed that would heal her (Matthew 9:20–21).

Matthew now reports that even in the crush of bodies around Him, Jesus noticed when this woman touched His cloak. He turns and calls her daughter, telling her to "take heart," using the same Greek term spoken to the paralyzed man (Matthew 9:2), as well as to the disciples when He encouraged them in the face of persecution (John 16:33). Jesus credits her faith as the trigger for her healing: In an instant, she was healed.

Once again, Matthew condenses the story while Mark and Luke add details. Jesus asks who touched Him. Peter is confused by the question and points out that Jesus is surrounded by people who are pushing in on Him. Who isn't touching Him? Jesus clarifies His question, "Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me" (Luke 8:46).

The woman realizes that she will be found out and decides to come forward, trembling. She falls down before Jesus and describes what she has done and why. She finishes by saying that she has been healed (Luke 8:47).

Jesus tells the woman her faith has made her well. He is not saying that her faith, by its own power, has made her well. The power to heal her came out of Him. He felt it. Her faith, though, compelled her to turn to Jesus for help, to believe that touching His cloak could heal her. Then His power proved that her faith in Him was right. Her faith healed her in the same way that swallowing medicine "heals" a disease—neither the person, nor their power, is responsible. All they can do is access the power of someone or something else.

Matthew 9:18–26 begins with the arrival of a ruler of the synagogue. He tells Jesus that his daughter has just died, but that she will live if Jesus comes and lays His hand on her (Mark 5:21–24). Jesus and the disciples are following the man to his house when a woman in the crowd touches the edge of Jesus' garment. As also indicated in the gospel of Mark, she is immediately healed from a 12-year illness (Mark 5:25–29). Arriving at the home of the man, Jesus sends away the professional mourners. He takes the dead girl's hand, and she is restored to life (Mark 5:35–43).

Matthew 9 continues to show how Jesus authenticated His claims to be the Messiah by powerful miracles of healing and casting out demons. He heals a paralyzed man after telling the man his sins are forgiven. He calls Matthew to follow Him and eats dinner with Matthew and other tax collectors. He answers questions from Pharisees and others. A woman who touches His cloak is healed from a 12–year illness, and Jesus raises a dead girl back to life. He restores sight to blind men and speech to one who is demon oppressed. He is filled with compassion for the crowds.

Matthew 9 follows the same pattern of Matthew 8, showing through miraculous works of healing that Jesus is truly the Messiah. Christ forgives the sins of a paralyzed man and heals him. He calls Matthew to follow Him and eats with tax collectors and sinners. A woman is healed by touching His garment and a dead girl is given life by the touch of His hand. Two blind men see, and Jesus casts out a demon, restoring speech to its victim. Finally, Jesus declares that the harvest is plentiful and tells His followers to pray for workers. Chapter 10 builds on this compassion as Jesus commissions the Twelve to go and deliver His gospel to the people.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.