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25— A CERTAIN WOMAN, etc.—Her malady not only unfitted her for the relationships of life, but made her cere monially unclean; everything that she touched and every one who touched her became unclean also. This malady is typical of the foulness of the inner springs of life itself and of the defiling consequences to ourselves and others in our outward relation ships. TWELVE YEARS—Imagine the mental agony as well as the physical pain; the growing hopelessness and despair! 26— SUFFERED MANY THINGS—Anyone who knows the kind of remedies prescribed in those days can well imagine that! SPENT ALL THAT SHE HAD—With hope deferred that “maketh the heart sick.” A true picture of the conscious sinner seeking for deliverance everywhere except in the right place. NOTHING PROFITED . . . . BECOMING WORSE— A type of all who seek earthly physicians and remedies for the sickness of the soul. 27— HAVING HEARD CONCERNING JESUS—Brought by the report of others; we never know how our testimony may benefit, nor whom. COMING IN THE CROWD BEHIND— She would naturally desire to be inconspicuous; she was desiring to do what would be considered bold and unwomanly. She would not approach His face for: (1) men did not speak to women in public (cf. Jno. 4:27) ; (2) He was a great Rabbi, and therefore an object of awe and reverence; (3) she was unclean and ought not to have been in public at all. Note that her necessity and her faith made her greatly daring; holy boldness always has its reward. 28— SHE SAID—i.e., to herself; she would not have dared to say it to anyone else. EVEN IF ( kai an )—The Greek word kai here, and elsewhere at times, means “even” ; this should be remembered; it is important in places. I MAY BUT TOUCH HIS CLOTHES (the border, cf. Luke 8:44)—She touched the talith, i.e., the fringe which they were commanded to wear (cf. Num. 15:38-40), the emblem of their belonging to God and also (as it was blue) the emblem of His love for them. (Blue in the Bible is the emblem of love; cf. ilsa. 54:11. Upon what are our foundations laid but upon the Love of God?) Truly if we can come into covenant relationship with His love, we shall be healed. 29— IMMEDIATELY . . . DRIED UP—One living touch of the living Lord is sufficient for salvation from the direst spiritual malady. SHE KN EW-^-We shall always realize the effects of every true contact with Christ. HEALED FROM THE SCOURGE—The disease was penal, the consequence of sin, though not necessarily her sin, 30— POWER HAD GONE OUT OF HIM—Christ’s mir acles were probably worked with loss of physical nervous energy; we cannot expect to work spiritual miracles without similar cost to ourselves: dilettanteism is of no use in the service either of God or man. WHO TOUCHED MY CLOTHES?—He did not ask for information, but for confession. Confession is a very important factor in salvation (cf. Rom. 10:9). 31— THE CROWD THRONGING THEE—Many thronged around, but only one touched; it is one thing to be near Christ; it is another thing to really touch H im ; but only the latter brings perfect healing. SAYEST THOU?—The disciples did not real ize the difference; nor, sometimes, alas, do we. 32—LOOKED ROUND TO SEE HER—Note, He knew it was a woman, how? He had not seen her; He knew all things by His divine knowledge. He did not look around to dis cover her, but to look upon her, and that look brought her to His feet; there is a wonderful power in the look of Christ (cf. Luke 22:61,62). 33— FEARING AND TREMBLING—Fearing His dis pleasure ; trembling with awe at the result and with natural nervousness at discovery before the crowd. TOLD HIM ALL THE TRUTH—Ever the surest way to escape the divine anger. We need not hesitate to make the confession, for He knows it all beforehand.
16— TOLD THEM—Hitherto they had heard nothing except that the swine had been destroyed; now they learn the reason for their destruction. 17— BEGAN TO BESEECH HIM' TO DEPART—They had not done so up to now, but they could not brook the loss of the swine; what might they not lose next? The healing and happiness of the man were nothing to them compared with their earthly gains. So men still put the things of earth before Christ and the good of their fellows, to their eternal loss; for note, He heard their prayer and departed, never to return; so also may we drive Him from ourselves. 18— THE DEMONIAC BESOUGHT, etc.—Either (a), in the spirit of gratitude or (b) from fear lest the old enemies should capture him again. It should be the cry of every truly Christian heart: ■“Let me be with Thee, where thou art, My Saviour, my eternal rest.” Gratitude demands it, and in His presence we are safe from all our foes. 19— WOULD NOT SUFFER HIM—Why? because He had “some better thing” for him. GO HOME AND TELL—To be a missionary to our fellows is better even than to depart and be with Christ (the apostle meant more “pleasant” when he said departing is better). Note the scope, or at least the beginning of the work—at home, to his friends; here is the first sphere for all Christian labor; he who is unwilling to testify at home will never make a successful missionary to outsiders. HOW . . . THE LORD HATH DONE—No man can effectually testify for Christ until Christ has done something for him. This personal witness-bearing is the most effective of all testimony (cf. Psa. 66:16; John 1:41, 42, 46). Usually Christ forbade publication of His works, but here He did not intend to return (until His second coming), so He leaves the man as His ambassador. So also does He leave us today. Are we fulfilling oUr mission? Note: He never leaves Himself without a witness. 20— BEGAN TO PREACH IN DECAPOLIS—i.e., the ten cities, the name of a region containing ten cities rebuilt by the Romans. Note how much more he did than he was commanded to do; he could not keep the good news to himself. AND ALL MARVELED—We do not read that any were convinced; neither miracles nor preaching are effective without the influence of the Holy Ghost. 22-23-—Note here four conditions of effectual prayer: (1) The Ruler came to Christ; (2) he worshiped; (3) he besought; (4) he believed as to the result. Without these four things we cannot expect, much less claim, an answer to our prayers. ONE OF THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE—Not a priest, but a layman, a presiding elder. MY LITTLE DAUGHTER—St. Luke tells us that it was his only one. She was about twelve years old. AT THE LAST EXTREMITY—(The “even now dead” of St. Matthew was rather figurative than actual; no doubt the father said both.) Christ was the last hope and re source of the parents’ despairing hearts, as He so often is. COMING . . . PLACE THY HANDS—He thought the actual presence and touch necessary; he could not say “Speak the word only,” like another suppliant; yet Christ honors the limited faith as well as the wider. (“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, etc”) THAT SHE MAY BE SAVED; AND SHE SHALL LIVE—There is no doubt as to the result; the faith, if it is limited, is strong, and such faith adds a prevailing power to prayer. 24r—DEPARTED WITH HIM—Christ was at everyone’s call; so should His servants be. MUCH PEOPLE . . . . . PRESSED HIM—Consider the wearing nature of the continual crowds and its drain upon the nervous energy. We do not always realize what Christ’s work cost Him physically and mentally.
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