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Explanation for:
Matthew
9
:
23
And when Jesus was come into the house of the ruler, and saw the minstrels and the multitude making a rout,
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Even now, the young woman remains lifeless in the ruler’s residence, while those who present themselves as instructors merely play the flute and chant songs of mourning. The assembly of the Jews is not comprised of true believers, but rather consists of those who foster discord."},{"author-name":"Ambrose of Milan","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88871ceef8c96e0998cd0_Ambrose%20of%20Milan.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Anyone who lacks faith is ridiculed. Let those who consider themselves lost grieve for their own! Where there exists belief in the resurrection, what is perceived is not death, but eternal peace. The words of Matthew affirm that there was a multitude of musicians and a tumultuous gathering in the residence of the synagogue leader (see Matt. 9:23). In accordance with the traditional practice, flute players were engaged to evoke sorrow and provoke mourning, for without such expressions, the synagogue could not spiritually rejoice amidst the somber rhythm of the law and its written dictates."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Because the daughter of the chief was unwed, she was honored with wedding wails, in accordance with the established custom."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"It was customary to summon mourners to evoke sorrow during times of disaster. Mark documents this situation; refer to his narrative in Mark 5:35 and following."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In the East, traditional mourning practices often included making cuts on the deceased's body, pulling out their hair, and engaging in deep expressions of grief (Jer. 9:17, Jer. 16:6, 7, Ezek. 24:17). Family members and relatives frequently sought out additional mourners, sometimes hiring professionals whose role was to mourn during these times (Jer. 9:20, Am. 5:16). These lamentations typically highlighted the admirable qualities of the departed: their beauty, strength, talents, and familial joys, while also questioning, almost reproachfully, why they had left their loved ones behind. Accompanying these expressions of sadness were often the sounds of flutes or whistles. Mourning for an ordinary individual lasted for eight days, whereas a month of mourning would follow for someone who had made a significant impact in life. Mourners not only wept in the deceased's home but also traveled to the gravesite, filling the air with their cries and sorrowful expressions. Jewish law (Deut. 14:1) prohibited making cuts on the body or removing hair, so grief was instead expressed through loud cries, music, covering the face with garments, tearing of clothes, and refraining from washing or anointing their bodies. They would also cast ashes or dust upon themselves (Job 1:19, Job 2:12, 2 Samuel 1:2-4, 2 Samuel 14:2, 2 Samuel 15:30, Mark 14:63, etc.).\\n\\nThe “people” referred to includes a crowd (ὀ'χλος - cf. Luke 6:19) of both mourners and friends of Jairus, along with other onlookers. The atmosphere was chaotic with weeping, shouting, and music, naturally creating confusion, likely heightened by the anticipation of an extraordinary event. When Jesus said she was “not dead, but asleep,” it is incorrect to interpret this as suggesting the girl hadn’t truly died, implying merely a state of unconsciousness. Such an interpretation does not align with the narrative intent of the Evangelist or the nature of Christ. Earlier, Jesus had referred to death itself as sleep (John 11:11), and the apostles similarly described the deceased as being asleep (Acts 7:60, 2 Pet. 3:4, 1 Cor. 15:6, 18, 1 Thess. 4:13-15). Here, Christ does not utilize the term \\"sleep\\" to denote mere slumber; rather, he speaks of the true death of the young girl, conveying the teaching that while the physical body ceases to function at death, the soul continues to exist and has the power to revive the body, allowing a person to rise again, akin to awakening from sleep."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"When Jesus arrived at the home of the deceased, he paused at the entrance, instructed the onlookers not to follow him, and entered the dwelling accompanied solely by the father of the departed and his three closest disciples—Peter, James, and John. Inside, he observed the mourners and musicians, along with a chaotic assembly of curious spectators surrounding the lifeless woman."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Resurrection of Jairus' Daughter\\n\\nThe restoration of health for the woman who had been bleeding interrupted Jesus as He made His way. During this time, news reached Jairus that his beloved daughter had passed away, and someone told him not to trouble the Teacher any further. It was as if despair had settled in Jairus' heart; he had hoped that Jesus would bring healing to his daughter, and witnessing the miraculous healing of a critically ill woman had bolstered that hope. But now, that hope had vanished; his precious daughter was gone, beyond the reach of healing. Observing the deep sorrow of the grieving father, Jesus offered reassurance, saying, \\"Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be saved.\\" Jairus struggled to grasp these words, as he had seen Jesus heal many, yet raising the dead was still an uncharted territory for him. He followed Jesus in silence, the crowd trailing behind with curiosity about what Jesus would do for one who had lost the chance of healing. \\n\\nAccording to Jewish tradition, grieving families would not only mourn their loss but would also engage professional mourners, who made a living expressing sorrow; often, this mourning was accompanied by music. Thus, at Jairus’ home, the atmosphere was filled with weeping, wailing, and the somber sounds of flutes, particularly among those of affluence. Upon arriving at Jairus’ house, Jesus witnessed the musicians and the commotion, with people weeping and crying out loudly (Mark 5:38); everyone was overcome with grief and lamentation (Luke 8:52)."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The event likely caused a delay, and for Jairus, each passing moment was invaluable. However, he was not the only one in distress seeking the compassion of the Savior, and his silence indicates that his sorrow did not lead him to selfishness. At that moment, a messenger approached him with the stark news: ‘your daughter is dead,’ followed by a remark that seemed to carry both irritation and sarcasm: ‘do not trouble the Master.’ Although the message was not directed at Jesus, He overheard it. Out of a compassionate desire to alleviate the sorrow of the grieving father, He gently reassured him with the profound words, ‘Do not be afraid, only believe!’ When they arrived at his home, they encountered the chaos created by hired mourners and loud wailers, who, with their disruptive noise and self-pitying gestures, disrespected the quiet dignity of true mourning and the solemnity of death."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The healing of the woman who bled served as an encouragement for Jairus, bolstering his trust in the Lord's miraculous abilities. While Jesus was offering His final words of reassurance to her, messengers arrived from the ruler of the synagogue’s home with the heartbreaking news: Thy daughter is dead; what more can the Master do? \\"Christ wanted them to be assured of the girl’s death, so they would have no room for doubt regarding her resurrection” (St John Chrysostom). On hearing this news, the Lord addressed the father, saying: “Do not be afraid, but believe, and she will be saved” (St. Athanasius of Alexandria). “He does not ask for faith out of His own need for assistance, for He is the Lord and the Source of faith; rather, He intends to demonstrate that He only responds to those who truly believe, not out of pretense” (St. Athanasius of Alexandria). Upon entering the home, He encountered a scene of great turmoil, with mourners expressed through wailing and loud lamentations."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"When Jesus arrived at Jairus' home, He told the grieving family and mourners, “The maiden is not dead, but asleep.” With this statement, Christ foretells the resurrection of the girl and emphasizes that death does not signify the complete end of life. Even when the body ceases to function, the spirit continues to exist and possesses the power to revive the body (cf. Jn. 11:11). The Gospels make it clear that what occurred with Jairus’ daughter was a true resurrection, not merely a revival from a state resembling sleep. This is particularly highlighted in Luke's account, where he notes that those present laughed at Jesus, believing the girl to be dead. Their disbelief is evident, as they mocked His assertion that she was merely sleeping. Luke specifically states that when the Lord commanded, “Maiden, arise!” her spirit returned, which had indeed been separated from her body for a period. \\n\\nIn the room with the deceased girl, Christ took only her parents and three of His disciples—Peter, James, and John—whom He honored to witness this pivotal moment. Even these witnesses were instructed by the Lord not to disclose what had transpired (Mark, Luke). The atmosphere was such that revealing this significant miracle could have led to unintended repercussions for Christ; it could spark excessive enthusiasm among the people that leaned towards the carnal and provoke further hostility from the scribes and Pharisees. Moreover, this directive may have held personal significance for Jairus; it encouraged him to reflect in quiet, away from the noise of public reactions, thereby strengthening his faith in Jesus. Until that moment, he had remained unmoved by previous miracles, including the healing of the man possessed by demons in the synagogue, which he had overseen (Mk. 1:21), and the healing of the paralytic (Matt. 9:1). It was only his own urgent need that drove him to seek Jesus. His faith was alive but sought deeper conviction.\\n\\nDespite the command for the witnesses to remain silent about the miracle, news of it nonetheless began to spread throughout the region (Matthew). Once Jesus departed from Jairus' house, all present—the relatives and mourners—saw the girl restored to life and health, and they undoubtedly began to share this incredible news widely. However, due to the restraint of the direct witnesses, especially her parents, the rumor circulated gradually and lacked the compelling immediacy of firsthand accounts, which limited its impact on the audience."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"As soon as the Lord spoke these words, Jairus was informed that his daughter had passed away. Yet, Jesus reassured him, saying, Do not be afraid, but trust that I can bring her back to life. Upon arriving at the house, He found it filled with chaos. Such a scene could have posed a threat to their faith. The Lord declared that the girl was not dead, but merely sleeping; they mocked Him in disbelief. He sent them all away, and, being alone with the parents and a few disciples, He took the girl’s hand and called out, ‘Maiden, arise,’ and she was restored to life. The parents, astonished, received the instruction to remain silent. This command for silence was due to the potential danger from the Pharisees and the volatile reactions of the crowd. It is within these specific, private moments that we can understand why the Lord chose when to reveal Himself publicly or when to conceal His identity; although He instructed silence here, He publicly proclaimed the healing of the woman who bled, and later, when on the other side of the Lake of Gennesaret, He commanded the testimony of His deeds to be shared."}]}
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