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Things that Matter
Life Matters
Matthew 9:18-38

Matthew 9:18-26 (Monday and Tuesday)
"While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live." Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed." Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment. When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region." (NIV)
1) Sunday, I mentioned the passing of my special friend. I cannot tell you the absolute faith this woman had that even while on her death bed, God would touch her body and restore her to complete health. I, too, dared to believe for this miracle. God reminded me that Lazarus was four days in the grave when Jesus raised him up. More so, one great day, Jesus is going to raise all the dead, broken bodies back to life that have been in the grave for ions of time. Nothing is impossible for our God! So, I knew in my heart that if God chose to, He could still lift up my sister. Did my friend's faith fail? Did mine? Did God fail both of us? No, a thousand times, NO! I have never seen the glory of God like I witnessed it that day in that room when my friend died and went home to be forever with the Lord. Oh, His presence was so thick, so heavy (sort of like that darkness that fell on Abraham--Genesis 15:12)—the entire room was filled with His glory! I so wanted to flee from His presence, but God would not! Funny, a few days later, I was standing in line at the bank and a man came out of nowhere and started speaking to me, giving God the glory for raising his son from a life-threatening coma that was the result of a terrible accident. I was so excited for him and praised God with him. But, I had to share this dear friend's testimony with him and let him know that God's healing power was just as evident in her death! I didn't tell him this, but one day, his son will still taste the sting of death. My friend, on the other hand, had her faith completed in death. She was given the gift of eternal life and a brand new body—one made especially for her by God Himself. Glory, indeed! Praise Him when he heals on this earth and praise Him with He heals us eternally! Amen!
2) This ruler was probably from a nearby synagogue. More than likely, he was aware of the tension between the other religious leaders and Jesus (Matthew 7:28-29; Matthew 9:1-13.) Perhaps he had questions and doubts himself. Be sure that the risk this man was taking was great. By seeking out Jesus, he and his family could be excluded from participation in temple worship (John 9:1-23.) Believe me, that's major if you are Jewish because not only would you have been ostracized from the synagogue, but it was very likely from one's own family and friends as well. A lot was a stake here! So, you can be certain that not only had he heard of Jesus' healing power—he believed it without a shadow of doubt! Mark 5 tells us that when this man first reached Jesus, his daughter was still alive. Mark 5 also tells us that Jesus had just stepped away from the scene of another great miracle to heal this ruler's daughter. However, there was an interruption that delayed Jesus' immediate response to this ruler's (Jairus') request. What was it?
3) How do you respond to delays in your prayer requests? What was Jairus' response?
4) Matthew 9 and Mark 5 make it clear that the child died before Jesus could reach her. What were Jesus' words to Jairus upon hearing the pronouncement of death?
5) How could the "delay" have helped strengthen Jairus' faith?
6) These two individuals that came to Jesus for healing could not have been further apart in gender, position, or their social status. Yet, both knelt at His feet. What does that speak to you of the way God looks upon us as individuals?
7) What do you feel was this man's motivation in seeking out Jesus? How about the woman's?
8) Do you read anything in this passage that indicates that either believed that Jesus was the Christ, the long awaited Messiah?
9) Up to this point in Matthew, Jesus was a curiosity, an irritant, a disruption in the ritualistic lives of the religious rulers. However, these two miracles in particular are seen by many commentators to be a definite turning point in the events that led up to Jesus' crucifixion. It was after these healings that the religious rules wanted to do away with Christ and all that followed Him! What was so different about these two instances?
10) This passage speaks twice of touch. In one instance, it was the desire for Jesus to reach out and touch (one coming on behalf of another). In the other instance, it was the desire of a human being to reach out and touch Him (one pleading for ones self), even if it was only the hem of His garment. Several obstacles were in the way of those who wanted to receive Jesus' touch. What were they?
11) Have you ever experienced the blessing of touch (Please read Gary Smalley's wonderful book, "The Blessing"!)? Did you feel touch to be healing, even if only to calm and comfort? Share. Now, I want you to try and imagine yourself in this woman's place. How long it had been since this woman had been touched—12 years. Remember under Jewish law, "she" was unclean, for the duration of her bleeding. She dare enter the temple to worship and no one would dare to approach her! Unclean (Leviticus 5:2-3; Leviticus 11:39; Leviticus 13:45-46; Numbers 5:1-3; Leviticus 15:19-27)! Ever felt that way yourself—unapproachable to man and certainly to God? That was the situation Jesus faced in both these miracles. Under Jewish law, touching the dead (the child) or touching a woman during her menstrual cycle made a "clean" individual "unclean". The religious ruler certainly was aware of the law, yet he came boldly and without hesitation asked Jesus to do this "unclean" thing. The woman did seem considerate of the law and she tried to at least be secretive, honoring Christ by not touching His person. Still, Jesus, the Law Giver, did not hesitate. What was Jesus' motivation? What was lacking in the hearts of the religious rulers (Matthew 9:13?)
12) It is interesting to note, that the child who was raised back to life had actually lived for 12 years. The woman, who had been unclean, had, for all intents and purposes, been "dead" to society for 12 years. Hmmm!
13) Mercy and compassion always, always trump the law! Praise God! Ever wonder if what you are doing is the right thing? Judge it according to the law of love (1 Corinthians 13:4-13!) Love never fails!
14) Would you say that both these individuals knew exactly who to turn to? To whom or what do you turn to in desperate situations?
15) hy is it we often wait until things are so dire before we turn to Christ?

Matthew 9:27-31 (Wednesday)
"As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" when he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region." (NIV)
1) Now, talk about irony! Jesus had been preaching to the leaders and rulers and they didn't get it! Yet, here are two blind men, yes blind, but they "saw" Jesus for Who and What He is! To be given the title of Son of David is to acknowledge that Jesus is the expected Messiah (2 Samuel 7:8-29), the rightful King of the Jews!
2) After acknowledging Jesus as the Christ, why do you suppose Jesus asked the men if they believed He was able to give them sight? (Yes, Lord!) Profession!
3) What exactly did Jesus mean when He said, "According to your faith will it be done to you."? 4) Why did Jesus command the men not to mention their healing?
5) Why do you suppose they did not keep silent?

Matthew 9:32-34 (Thursday)
"While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. and when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."" (NIV)
1) Yes, there are recorded healings, even the raising of the dead in the Old Testament Scriptures, but nothing, nothing of the magnitude of the healings and miracles performed by Christ. Jesus was moved by compassion for the people, but what was the main purpose behind His many, many miracles?
2) The miracles were obvious—they could not be denied, so why did the Pharisees (a segment of the religious rulers at the time of Christ) claim that God was not the power behind Jesus' miracles?

Matthew 9:35-38 (Friday)
"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (NIV)
1) Just because you are a member of a church, it doesn't mean you are necessarily being shepherded. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for His sheep. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. These religious rulers wanted to keep their flock in bondage to the law and even added more rules and regulations upon them (called oral tradition!) How did Jesus' laying down His life free us from the law, as well as, rules and regulations (Romans 7:14-25, 8:1-19; Revelation 1:4-7?) Glory!
2) Compassion. In a previous study we mentioned that this word comes from the Greek roughly translated, meaning "gut". Jesus was moved in the very depth of his being for these people. He still is moved for each of us today in that exact same way. That's why He commands us to pray for workers to go out and harvest souls. Be like Isaiah and say to Jesus, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:1-8)

Take time to read all of Mathew 9 and Mark 5. What a day in the life of Christ! Oh, Praise Him!