A Woman with an Issue of Blood Matthew 9:20

Matthew the apostle shared how Jesus was telling the Pharisees about pouring “new wine” in old “wineskins”, and as He was talking, “behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshiped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.” In chapter nine and verse twenty of his book, Matthew shared how, “a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him” where we read:

And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years,

came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

The verse reads, “And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and, behold” or “and lo and see” “a woman” which means “a female human being”, “which was diseased with an issue of blood” which is all one Greek word “haimorroeō” from which we get the English word “hemorrhaging” and means “to have a discharge or loss of blood” “twelve years” which means “twelve years long”. Matthew shared about a “woman” who had been “hemorrhaging” for “twelve years”.

The verse goes on to say, “... came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: ” Matthew continued with the words, “came behind” or “approached and drew near to the backside of” “him” which means “Jesus”, “and touched” or “and fastened herself, adhered to and clung to” “the hem” which means “the extremity or prominent part, edge, skirt or fringe” “of his garment” which means “of Jesus' upper vesture, clothes or raiment”. Matthew shared how this “woman” “drew near the backside” of Jesus and grabbed the “extremity” of His outer clothing.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see can imagine the desperation of this “woman with an issue of blood”. More than likely there was a crowd of people surrounding Jesus, and this woman was pressing through them just to grab His clothing edge. God loves this kind of desperation, and those who desire to have a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus do best when they desire Him this way. Let all who read these words imagine the passion, intention and purpose of this “hemorrhaging” “woman” and cling to Jesus in this manner today.

Next time Matthew shares how the woman said, “if I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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