Minstrels and People Making Noise Matthew 9:23

 

Matthew the apostle wrote concerning Jesus sharing about sewing “new cloth” on an “old garment” and pouring “new wine” into “old wineskins” whenbehold, 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. And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; your faith has made you whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” In chapter nine and verse twenty-three of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus, “came into the ruler's house, and saw minstrels and the people making a noise” where we read:

And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

The verse reads, “And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “Jesus” which refers to “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “came” or “arrived, appeared and followed” “into the ruler's house” which means “the the certain commander, chief, leader and magistrate's abode, edifice, dwelling place and habitation”. Matthew continued Jesus' following the “certain ruler” to his “house” where his “daughter” lay dying and was already dead at this point. (See Luke 8 for another account of this story)

The verse goes on to say, “... and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,” Matthew continues the words, “and saw” or “and perceived, noticed, discovered and discerned” “the minstrels” which means “the flute players or pipers” “and the people” or “and the crowd or multitude who have flocked together within the house” “making a noise” which means “set on an uproar, disturb, thrown into confusion and troubled in mind”. Matthew shared how Jesus “saw” “pipers” and a crowd of people “making troublesome noises” within the house.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see the conditions which were inside the “certain ruler's house”. People were crowded inside and mourning over the loss of his daughter. Pipers were playing, noisy grievers were making their sadness known as we might imagine for the loss of any little girl. We notice how these things did not deter Jesus' purpose in any way because “death” was and is not an obstacle for Him. Jesus said, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16), and everyone who believes and trust in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” shall receive God's wonderful gift.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus said, “give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleeps”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.