This study focuses on Matthew 9:18-26, where Jesus heals a woman with a bleeding condition and raises a girl from the dead. Begin by reading the passage slowly, invite the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to the deeper truths of the text. Pray for insight into how Jesus’ compassion, power, and authority can impact your own life. Ask Him to help you to recognize areas in your life where you need His healing touch and to build up your faith in His ability to restore what seems lost.
Remember to pray for your IBS study and take time to record your observations, interpretations, and reflections in your study notes. Let’s begin now, one step at a time.
In short: In Matthew 9:18-26, Jesus heals a woman with a 12-year hemorrhage by her faith and raises a synagogue leader’s daughter from death, by demonstrating His power over sickness and death.
Step 1: Basic Observation
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Selected Passages | Matthew 9:18–26 |
| IBS Title | Jesus Heals and Raises the Dead |
| Author of the Passages | Apostle Matthew |
| Identity of Author | Matthew, a tax collector and one of the twelve apostles |
| Genre of the Passages | Narrative |
| Time | Relative: Early in Jesus’ ministry, during His travels |
| Place | A synagogue leader’s house and the surrounding area |
| Repeating Words | Jesus: V18, V19, V22, V25, V26 Daughter: V18, V22 Heal: V21, V22 |
| Main Keyword | Find Yourself |
| Central Keywords | Faith, Healing, Restoration, Jesus’ Power, Authority, Life |
| Central Figure | Jesus Christ |
| New Title | a. Jesus Heals a Woman with Bleeding. b. Jesus Raises the Dead. c. The Power of Faith in Jesus. d. Jesus Brings Life and Restoration. |
7 Fact Finding Questions (7 FFQs)
1. Who are the people?
- Jesus: Healer with power over life and death.
- Synagogue Leader: Desperate father seeking help for his daughter.
- Woman with Bleeding: Faithful woman seeking healing.
- Disciples/Onlookers: Witnesses to the miracles.
2. Where are they? Why?
- Location: The synagogue leader’s house.
- Reason: The daughter is dead, and the woman needs healing.
3. When does it happen?
- Timing: Early in Jesus’ ministry.
4. What is the main event?
- Event: Jesus heals the bleeding woman and raises the dead girl.
- Theme: Faith, healing, authority over death.
5. How is it described?
- Healing: Woman touched Jesus’ cloak in faith.
- Resurrection: Jesus raised the girl with a touch and a command.
6. Why does it happen?
- Purpose: To reveal Jesus’ power and strengthen faith.
7. So what?
- Trust in Jesus’ power to heal and restore, no matter the situation.
Step 2 – Interpretation
Context: In Matthew 9:18-26, Jesus demonstrates His power over both sickness and death. A synagogue leader, desperate for his dying daughter, approaches Jesus in faith, by believing that He can heal her. On the way to the house, a woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years touches Jesus’ cloak and she was instantly healed. Jesus then raises the dead girl, which was showcasing His authority over life and death. These miracles highlight the importance of faith, Jesus’ compassion, and His ability to restore life, by offering hope and healing in impossible situations.
| Main Points | Subpoints | Verse(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Faith in Jesus’ Power | The woman’s healing through faith in His cloak. | V20-22 |
| The synagogue leader’s faith in Jesus to raise his daughter. | V18-19 | |
| 2. Jesus Heals the Woman with Bleeding | She touches Jesus’ cloak in faith. | V20-21 |
| Jesus affirms her faith: “Your faith has healed you.” | V22 | |
| The woman is healed instantly. | V22 | |
| 3. Jesus Raises the Dead Girl | The synagogue leader pleads for Jesus to heal his daughter. | V18 |
| Jesus goes with him, despite the mourners’ doubt. | V19-24 | |
| Jesus declares the girl is only “asleep” to the mourners. | V24 | |
| He takes her by the hand, and she is resurrected. | V25 | |
| 4. The Authority of Jesus | Jesus demonstrates authority over sickness, death, and despair. | V22, V25 |
| The crowd’s disbelief contrasts with Jesus’ confidence and power. | V24 |
Immediate Context
| Context | Passage | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Before | Matthew 9:9-17 | Jesus calls Matthew, eats with sinners, and teaches about new wine in new wineskins. He explains His mission to call sinners, not the righteous. |
| After | Matthew 9:27-34 | Two blind men are healed, Jesus warns them to remain silent. A mute, demon-possessed man is healed, and the crowds are amazed at Jesus’ authority. |
Study Questions
- What motivated the synagogue leader to approach Jesus?
- How does the synagogue leader express his faith in Jesus’ power to heal?
- Why do you think the woman with bleeding chose to touch Jesus’ cloak instead of directly asking for healing?
- What can we learn from the woman’s actions in approaching Jesus in faith?
- How does Jesus address the woman after she is healed, and what does it show about His interaction with faith?
- What is significant about Jesus calling the woman “Daughter” in verse 22?
- Why does Jesus dismiss the mourners in the synagogue leader’s house?
- What does Jesus mean when He says, “The girl is not dead but asleep”?
- How does the crowd react to Jesus’ statement in verse 24? What does this reveal about their faith or lack of it?
- What is the significance of Jesus touching the dead girl’s hand?
- What does the resurrection of the girl reveal about Jesus’ power over life and death?
- How do the people in the house respond to the girl’s resurrection?
- What role does faith play in both miracles, the healing of the woman and the raising of the girl?
- Why do you think Jesus often performed miracles quietly or with limited witnesses?
- How can these events deepen your understanding of Jesus’ authority and compassion?
Step 3 – Personal Reflection
Reflect on Matthew 9:18-26. How does the faith shown by the woman and the synagogue leader encourage you to trust Jesus with your own struggles?
Matthew 9:18-26 MCQs
1. Who approached Jesus in Matthew 9:18 for help?
a) A Pharisee
b) A synagogue leader
c) A Roman centurion
d) A blind man
Answer: b) A synagogue leader
2. What was the synagogue leader’s request to Jesus?
a) To heal his servant
b) To raise his daughter from the dead
c) To cast out demons
d) To cure his wife’s illness
Answer: b) To raise his daughter from the dead
3. How long had the woman been suffering from bleeding?
a) 5 years
b) 7 years
c) 10 years
d) 12 years
Answer: d) 12 years
4. What did the woman believe would heal her?
a) A prayer from Jesus
b) Jesus’ touch
c) Touching Jesus’ cloak
d) Jesus’ word
Answer: c) Touching Jesus’ cloak
5. What was Jesus’ response to the woman’s faith?
a) “Your faith has saved you.”
b) “Your faith has healed you.”
c) “You are healed by my power.”
d) “Go in peace, your sins are forgiven.”
Answer: b) “Your faith has healed you.”
6. What did Jesus say about the dead girl?
a) “She is not dead, but asleep.”
b) “She is dead, but I will heal her.”
c) “Let the dead bury their own.”
d) “She will be healed if you believe.”
Answer: a) “She is not dead, but asleep.”
7. How did the crowd react when Jesus declared the girl was not dead?
a) They were astonished.
b) They laughed at Him.
c) They worshipped Him.
d) They were silent.
Answer: b) They laughed at Him.
8. What did Jesus do to the dead girl?
a) He prayed for her.
b) He touched her and raised her.
c) He spoke to her from a distance.
d) He commanded the demons to leave her.
Answer: b) He touched her and raised her.
9. What happened after Jesus raised the girl?
a) The people were silent.
b) News spread through the region.
c) The synagogue leader thanked Jesus.
d) The girl went back to school.
Answer: b) News spread through the region.
10. What is a key theme in Matthew 9:18-26?
a) Jesus’ anger toward unbelief
b) Jesus’ authority over sickness and death
c) Jesus’ desire for wealth
d) Jesus’ avoidance of crowds
Answer: b) Jesus’ authority over sickness and death
Related IBS: Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 5:1-11, John 5:1-15, Mark 1:40-24
