What does Matthew 9:25 mean?
Jesus has come to the home of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue. Jairus asked Jesus to come and make his sick 12–year-old daughter well (Matthew 9:18–19; Mark 5:21–24). By the time Jesus and the disciples arrived, the girl was reportedly dead, and a group of professional mourners was already playing flutes and wailing. Jesus told them to go away because the girl was only sleeping (Matthew 9:23–24).The crowd of mourners was ushered out of the house. We know from Luke that only five people remained inside with Him: Peter, James, John, and the girl's parents (Luke 8:51). Now Jesus goes to the girl and takes her by the hand. Mark reports that He spoke to her, saying "Talitha cumi," meaning "little girl, I say to you arise" (Mark 5:41). The girl did exactly that.
By touching a dead body, Jesus would have become ceremonially unclean under the law for seven days (Numbers 19:11–21). But since the girl immediately returned to life, He was not guilty of touching a corpse. Jesus repeatedly uses His power to restore cleanness to those who were unclean under the law.
Matthew 9:18–26 begins with the arrival of a ruler of the synagogue. He tells Jesus that his daughter has just died, but that she will live if Jesus comes and lays His hand on her (Mark 5:21–24). Jesus and the disciples are following the man to his house when a woman in the crowd touches the edge of Jesus' garment. As also indicated in the gospel of Mark, she is immediately healed from a 12-year illness (Mark 5:25–29). Arriving at the home of the man, Jesus sends away the professional mourners. He takes the dead girl's hand, and she is restored to life (Mark 5:35–43).
Matthew 9 continues to show how Jesus authenticated His claims to be the Messiah by powerful miracles of healing and casting out demons. He heals a paralyzed man after telling the man his sins are forgiven. He calls Matthew to follow Him and eats dinner with Matthew and other tax collectors. He answers questions from Pharisees and others. A woman who touches His cloak is healed from a 12–year illness, and Jesus raises a dead girl back to life. He restores sight to blind men and speech to one who is demon oppressed. He is filled with compassion for the crowds.
