And behold a woman who was troubled with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment.

“Mark and Luke say that He took with Him three disciples only, namely, Peter, James, and John; He took not Matthew, to quicken his desires, and because he was yet not perfectly minded1; and for this reason He honours these three, that others may become like-minded. It was enough meanwhile for Matthew to see the things that were done respecting her that had the issue of blood, concerning whom it follows; And, behold, a woman who had suffered an issue of blood twelve years, came behind and touched the hem of his garment.”

“(part. e Beda.) Or; The ruler of the synagogue signifies Moses; he is named Jairus, ‘illuminating,’ or, ‘that shall illuminate,’ because he received the words of life to give to us, and by them enlightens all, being himself enlightened by the Holy Spirit. The daughter of the ruler, that is, the synagogue itself, being as it were in the twelfth year of its age, that is, in the season of puberty, when it should have borne spiritual progeny to God, fell into the sickness of error. While then the Word of God is hastening to this ruler’s daughter to make whole the sons of Israel, a holy Church is gathered from among the Gentiles, which while it was perishing by inward corruption, received by faith that healing that was prepared for others. It should be noted, that the ruler’s daughter was twelve years old, and this woman had been twelve years afflicted; thus she had begun to be diseased at the very time the other was born; so in one and the same age the synagogue had its birth among the Patriarchs, and the nations without began to be polluted with the pest of idolatry. For the issue of blood may be taken in two ways, either for the pollution of idolatry, or for obedience to the pleasures of flesh and blood. Thus as long as the synagogue flourished, the Church languished; the falling away of the first was made the salvation of the Gentiles. Also the Church draws nigh and touches the Lord, when it approaches Him in faith. She believed, spake her belief, and touched, for by these three things, faith, word, and deed, all salvation is gained. She came behind Him, as He spake, If any one serve me, let him follow me; (John 12:26.) or because, not having seen the Lord present in the flesh, when the sacraments of His incarnation were fulfilled, she came at length to the grace of the knowledge of Him. Thus also she touched the hem of His garment, because the Gentiles, though they had not seen Christ in the flesh, received the tidings of His incarnation. The garment of Christ is put for the mystery of His incarnation, wherewith His Deity is clothed; the hem of His garment are the words that hang upon His incarnation. She touches not the garment, but the hem thereof; because she saw not the Lord in the flesh, but received the word of the incarnation through the Apostles. Blessed is he that touches but the uttermost part of the word by faith. She is healed while the Lord is not in the city, but while He is yet on the way; as the Apostles cried, Because ye judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. (Acts 13:46.) And from the time of the Lord’s coming the Gentiles began to be healed.”

“Having set forth the miracles by which remedies are applied against the dangers of sin, here he sets forth those by which remedies are applied against the dangers of death. And it is divided into two parts: for first he narrates how he restored life; second, how the works of life proceed, there at "And as Jesus passed from thence." Concerning the first, first the invitation to perform the miracle is set forth; second, a sign, there at "And behold a woman," etc.; third, the preparation for the miracle, there at "And when the crowd had been put out." Concerning the first he does four things. First the time of the invitation is described; second, the person inviting; third, the invitation itself; fourth, the acceptance of the invitation. He says therefore, "As he was saying these things," namely in the house of Matthew. But there is an objection: because Mark and Luke recount it in a different order, namely that this man came to Jesus after he had crossed over. Augustine resolves this: that when something pertaining to time is set down in the Evangelists, if it is set down immediately in sequence, then the order of the history is represented; and therefore when it is said here "as he was saying these things," the order of the history is signified; but in Mark and Luke it is referred to the order of his own memory. Or it can be said that there was some intermediate place where this happened. For sometimes they do not say whether something happened immediately, afterward, or at what time it was done. There follows, "Behold, a ruler." Here the person inviting is set forth, namely the ruler of the synagogue, and he is called Jairus, meaning "enlightening" or "enlightened." In Genesis 23:6: "You are a prince of God among us." There follows the invitation: and he does two things. First he showed reverence, because he approached in person. Likewise he adored. Likewise he confesses his power, because he says "Lord." This ruler signifies the ancient fathers, because they approached through desire, and believing that Christ would come, they worshipped him; Psalm 131:7: "We will worship in the place where his feet have stood." Likewise they confessed: "Know that the Lord himself is God," Psalm 99:3. There follows the danger: "My daughter has just now died." The contrary is found in Luke 8:41 and in Mark 5:22, for there it says: "My daughter is at the point of death." "And while they were on the way, servants met him," etc. Augustine resolves this: that when this Jairus set out, she was already at the point of death, and he believed that he would not find her alive; therefore he was asking more that Christ would come and raise her, than that he would heal her; hence he says "my daughter has just now died," etc., as if to say: I believe that she is already dead. The others therefore spoke according to what had actually happened; but Matthew reported according to the intention. Therefore Augustine gives a good instruction, that it is not necessary that the same words be reported; but it suffices that only the intention be stated. But why did the servants say, "Do not trouble the master"? This seems to have been a mark of unbelief. It must be said that this would be true if they said this from the Lord's own intention; but they did not know his intention. Chrysostom expounds it thus: it is the custom of some, when they wish to move someone to pity, to exaggerate the evil; therefore, in order to move him the more, he said "she has died." This daughter is the synagogue, which is the daughter of the ruler, namely Moses, which died through unbelief; Luke 19:42: "but now it is hidden from your eyes," etc. But it seems that in this man faith was joined together with unbelief, because his believing that Christ could raise her was of faith; but his believing that Christ, being absent, could not do it, this was of unbelief. Hence this man seems similar to Naaman, who said: "I thought that he would come out to me, and standing, would call upon the name of the Lord his God, and touch the place of the leprosy with his hand, and heal me," etc., 4 Kings 5:11. "But come, lay your hand upon her, and she will live." Mystically, here is signified the longing of the fathers for the Christ who was to come; hence they said: "Come, lay your hand," that is, Christ, as in Psalm 143:7: "Send forth your hand from on high." "And Jesus, rising up, followed him." "Rising up," namely from the meal. Here is found an instruction concerning the mercy of Christ, because at that man's petition he went at once, as is found in Isaiah 30:19: "As soon as he shall hear, the Lord will answer you." Likewise he gives an example to prelates concerning solicitude, that they should be solicitous at once to come to the aid of sinners. Likewise he gives an instruction about obeying, because he took his disciples with him, as is found in Hebrews 13:17: "Obey your superiors." But he did not take Matthew, because he was still weak. "And behold, a woman." He gives an example of power: and he does three things. First her infirmity is described; second, the commendation of the woman, there at "for she said within herself," etc.; third, the kindness of Christ in healing, there at "But Jesus, turning," etc. He says therefore, "And behold, a woman." As is found in Leviticus 12, a woman who suffered a flow of blood was unclean, and did not dwell among people; therefore she did not approach him in the house, but on the road. And this signifies the Gentile world, which entered in at the fullness of the Jews, as is found in Romans 11:25: "Blindness in part has happened in Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles should come in." This woman, that is, the synagogue, has a flow of blood, namely the error of sacrificial blood. Or it can be turned to refer to carnal sins; hence "flesh and blood shall not possess the kingdom of God," 1 Corinthians 15:50. This woman had been suffering for twelve years, and the ruler's daughter was twelve years old; hence this woman began to suffer when the ruler's daughter was born. "She came up from behind and touched the hem of his garment." Here is set forth the commendation of the woman, from her own humility, and from the faith which is of the greatest avail for obtaining what is sought. She came up, and touched the hem from behind. Why from behind? Because she was reckoned unclean; hence whatever she touched was unclean according to the law, and therefore she feared that he would reject her. Likewise she did not dare to touch anything but the hem. It was commanded in the law that on the four corners of the garment they should wear fringes, and there they had little bells for the remembrance of the commandments of God, and so that they might be distinguished from others by this; and Christ wore this garment. Mystically this signifies the Gentile world, which approached through faith. But from behind, because not while he himself was living. Likewise she touched the garment, that is, his humanity, and only the hem, because she touched him only through the apostles. "For she said within herself: If I shall touch only his garment, I shall be healed." Hilary says: great is the power of Christ, because it overflows not only in the soul, but from the soul into the body, and from the body into the garments. And thus all things that touched the body of Christ we ought to hold in reverence; Psalm 132:2: "Like the ointment on the head, that ran down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, which ran down upon the hem of his garment," etc. That which ran down upon the beard, that is, the divinity into the flesh; and upon the hem of his garment, that is, into the apostles. "I shall be healed." Thus if we do likewise, and cling to him, we shall be saved. For "everyone who shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." "But Jesus, turning, and seeing her, said: Have confidence, daughter." Here the kindness of Christ is set forth. And first it is shown by deed, because he "turned to her." And why? Lest she lose confidence: for since she had approached furtively, she did not believe that he would turn toward her. Likewise, so that her faith might be drawn forth as an example. Likewise, so that he might show himself to be God: hence he turned with a turning of mercy, and looked upon her with the eye of pity; Zechariah 1:3: "Turn to me, and I will turn to you." Likewise his kindness is shown by word, when he says "have confidence": because she had approached in fear, therefore he addresses her gently; Isaiah 30:15: "If you return and be quiet, you shall be saved." Likewise he calls her daughter, lest she lose confidence; John 1:12: "He gave them power to become the sons of God." Likewise he gives her hope: "your faith has made you whole." Hence our salvation is from faith, as is found in Romans 3. And there follows the effect: "and the woman was made whole from that hour"; and not from the hour in which Christ spoke, but from the hour in which she touched him. "And when Jesus had come into the ruler's house, and had seen the flute players," etc. Here the raising is set forth: and he does four things. First the signs of death are described; second, hope is given, there at "Withdraw," etc.; third, the raising itself is set forth; fourth, the effect is set forth. He says therefore, "when he had come... and had seen," etc. And why did the flute players come? The crowd came as is customary to happen even now regarding the dead; but the flute players came because it was the custom that flute players would come, and sing mournful songs, so as to rouse others to weeping, as is found in Jeremiah 9:17: "Consider, and call for the mourning women, that they may come." These flute players are the false teachers: for their tongue and their devices are against the Lord, so as to provoke the eyes of his majesty. But the crowd is the Jewish people; Exodus 23:2: "You shall not follow the crowd to do evil." This one the Lord raised up in the house: for the Lord raised up three dead: the girl in the house, the young man at the gate, Lazarus in the tomb. For some die by sin, but are not carried outside, and this is through consent to sin, but they do not go forth outwardly through works. But another is carried outward to the act; and this one is signified by him whom he raises at the gate. But another, through habit, lies in the tomb, who is signified by Lazarus. This girl, therefore, signifies the sinner who is in hidden sin, namely in the mind. The flute players are those who foster him in sin; Psalm 10:3: "the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul." The crowd is thoughts: and this the Lord heals. Hence he says, "Withdraw, she is not dead." Here he gives hope: "she is not dead," that is, to himself; but "she sleeps," because it is as easy for him to raise her up as it is for someone to rouse another from sleep. The like is found in John 11:11: "Lazarus our friend sleeps," etc. "She is not dead." And why did he speak in this way? Because "they laughed him to scorn." But why did he wish to be mocked? This was so that they would not be able to speak against the miracle. Hence first he made the adversaries confess, so that afterward they could not contradict it. "And when the crowd had been put out, he went in." And why was the crowd put out? Because it was not worthy to see. The crowd are the Jews who are not converted. And morally, in order that the soul may be raised up, it is necessary that the crowd of thoughts be driven out; and then the Lord enters. "He went in, and took her by the hand," etc. Psalm 117:16: "The right hand of the Lord has wrought strength." He holds the hand of the sinner when he offers him help. "And the girl arose," namely to life; so too may we, through the help of God, arise from sin. There follows the spreading of the report through all the land.”

“For she said within herself,.... That is, she thought within herself, she reasoned the matter in her mind, she concluded upon it, and firmly believed it; being strongly impressed and influenced by the Spirit of God, and encouraged by instances of cures she had heard were performed by persons only touching him; see Luk 6:19 if I may but touch his garment. The Arabic version reads it, "the hem of his garment", as before; but is not supported by any copy, nor by any other version: her faith was, that if she might be allowed, or if she could by any means come at him, to touch any part of his garment, she should have a cure: I shall be whole, or "I shall be saved"; that is, from her disease, from which she could have no deliverance, by the advice and prescriptions of all her former physicians, and by all the means she had made use of.”