Not Dead But Sleeping Matthew 9:24

Matthew the apostle shared how, “there came a certain ruler, and worshiped” Jesus “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. And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise.” In chapter nine and verse twenty-four of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus said, “give place: for the maid is not dead but sleeping” where we read:

He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleeping. And they laughed him to scorn.

The verse reads, “He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleeping.” Matthew began with the words, “He said” or “Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto them” which refers to “the people and minstrels making noise”, “Give place” or “move back, retire, depart, turn aside and withdraw”: “for the maid” which means “because, since and on account that the damsel or girl” “is not dead” or “is not perished or dying ”, “but sleeping” which means “nevertheless and notwithstanding is asleep”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the people who were being noisy to move back because the “little girl” was asleep and not dead.

The verse continues, “And they laughed him to scorn.” Matthew added the words, “and the laughed him” or “and the people who were making noise derided Jesus” “to scorn” which means “to derision, disrespect and ridicule ”. Matthew shared how the people reacted to Jesus in a disrespectful and deriding manner.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus once again took over a dire situation. Everyone in the house believed this situation was beyond altering, and they resorted to grieving and mourning to cope with the loss of this “maid”. Jesus had a different plan in mind, and as He cleared the room and said the girl was “sleeping”, people derided Him. God has a plan, and although situations may be dire, He is able to do whatever He desires. He wants people to trust in Him and have faith in His Son Jesus Christ, and when they do, they shall discover that He is a “sovereign” God who came to “seek and to save” all who “believe”.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus, “went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose”, 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.